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Is Secrecy Sustainable?
The newly created Sustainability Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday September 27, 2006-- behind closed doors. I probably couldn't have gone, but called just in case. Are such secret meetings legal? Maybe.
New York State does have an Open Meetings Law which sounds like a hymn to openness: " Every meeting of a public body shall be open to the general public..." Public Officers Law Article 7, Section 103 (a).
Since, as we know, much of the real work of government is carried out by three men in a room, there must be some lawyerly exceptions hidden away in this statute. (and there are. For example: is the Sustainablity Advisory Board a "public body?") But are such hidden meetings good policy?
http://dailygotham.com/blog/daniel_millstone/is_secrecy_sustainable
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probably not, but
I basically agree with the questions you raise, and would like to be in on what they're talking about...
But as a counterpoint (or simply a note) I'd like to point out that big, good things often come most easily at the hands of dictatorial-style power, a la London's congestion pricing and transportation reforms, and New York's original subway and freeway infrastructure.
Not saying this is the best way to go about it, but I've had my share of committee meetings and such where so many disagree on what to do that nothing gets done. Some of the best things that could happen to this city would probably be opposed by most of its residents if they were given a chance.
These meetings may be secret but at least there is a good range of respected people on the roster...