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Live Streaming

šŸŽ„ Why Live-Streaming Public Meetings
is No Longer Optional

šŸ›ļøĀ The Case for Transparency, Accessibility, and Modern Governance
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Despite the rise ofĀ remote work, virtual events, and digital accessibility, many government meetings are stillĀ “In-Person Only – No Remote Participation Allowed.”

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This outdated approachĀ excludes millions of citizensĀ who want to stay engaged with their communities but face barriers to attending in person.

The good news?Ā Live-streaming is simple, affordable, and already the norm in many places.

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āœ…Ā All 50 state legislaturesĀ now live-stream their public meetings.
āœ… A growing number of states, includingĀ Vermont, Massachusetts, and Indiana, require live-streaming.
āœ…Ā YouTube is free, and any smartphone or tablet can broadcast a meeting with ease.

So why aren’t all local governments on board?

Here areĀ 30 compelling reasonsĀ why live-streaming should be aĀ standard practice for public meetings.

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šŸ„Ā Health & Safety: Why In-Person Only is a Risky Policy

1ļøāƒ£Ā Contagious Illnesses – People often don’t know they are sick. Requiring attendance in personĀ puts everyone at risk.

2ļøāƒ£Ā Elderly Accessibility – Many seniors, especially taxpayers who have contributed for years,Ā can’t travel safely.

3ļøāƒ£Ā Disabled & Unwell Residents – Many individualsĀ face serious health conditionsĀ that make attending in person impossible.

4ļøāƒ£Ā Immunocompromised Individuals – At least 25% of AmericansĀ are either immunocompromised or live with someone who is. Live-streamingĀ protects their health.

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āš–ļøĀ Legal & Ethical Considerations

5ļøāƒ£Ā Negligence Concerns – Failing to provide a reasonable accommodation (like live-streaming)Ā could be considered negligence.

6ļøāƒ£Ā Climate Smart Commitments – NY now has over 432 Local Govts. that have ratified the official NY ā€œClimate Smartā€ pledge, now covering over 9 Million New Yorkers.Ā Ā 

7ļøāƒ£Ā Ethical Use of Taxpayer Funds – Government employees often receiveĀ travel reimbursementsĀ to attend meetings. Remote participationĀ saves public money.

8ļøāƒ£Ā Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – The ADA predates the internet, butĀ future updates could mandate live-streaming.Ā Why wait to do the right thing?

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šŸŒĀ Social Impact: Who Gets Left Out?

9ļøāƒ£Ā Military Service Members – Those stationed away from homeĀ deserve to stay connectedĀ with their local government.

šŸ”ŸĀ Working Citizens – Taking time off work to attend a meeting isn’t realistic forĀ many employees.

1ļøāƒ£1ļøāƒ£Ā Caregivers – Parents and family caregiversĀ can’t always leave homeĀ to attend meetings.

1ļøāƒ£2ļøāƒ£Ā Frequent Travelers – Work or personal travelĀ shouldn’t mean losing access to local government.

1ļøāƒ£3ļøāƒ£Ā Seasonal Residents (“Snowbirds”) – Many New Yorkers leave in winter butĀ still want to engage.

1ļøāƒ£4ļøāƒ£Ā Women’s Safety – Many women feelĀ unsafe attending nighttime meetings alone.

1ļøāƒ£5ļøāƒ£Ā Low-Income Residents – Travel costs, includingĀ gas, parking, and public transport,Ā can be a barrier.

1ļøāƒ£6ļøāƒ£Ā People Without Transportation – Not everyoneĀ owns a car or has reliable public transit.

1ļøāƒ£7ļøāƒ£Ā Unfair Rules of Decorum – Some in-person meetings imposeĀ controversial or discriminatory rulesĀ that discourage public participation.

1ļøāƒ£8ļøāƒ£Ā Local News Journalists – AsĀ newsrooms shrink,Ā live-streaming makes it easier for journalists to cover meetings and keep the public informed.

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šŸ’°Ā Economic & Environmental Benefits

1ļøāƒ£9ļøāƒ£Ā Reduced Personal Travel Costs – The 2025 IRS mileage rate is now 70 cents/mile, and rising each year. Live Streaming eliminates unnecessary expenses.

2ļøāƒ£0ļøāƒ£Ā Saving Public Funds – Remote participationĀ reduces travel reimbursement costsĀ for public employees.

2ļøāƒ£1ļøāƒ£Ā Avoiding Childcare Costs – Many caregivers mustĀ pay for childcare or respite careĀ just to attend a meeting.

2ļøāƒ£2ļøāƒ£Ā New York’s Geography – 54,000+ square milesĀ make travel to meetings impractical for many residents.

2ļøāƒ£3ļøāƒ£Ā Mountainous & Rural Areas – Bad weather and difficult terrainĀ make some trips unsafe, especially in winter.

2ļøāƒ£4ļøāƒ£Ā Extreme Weather Events – Flooding, ice storms, and heat wavesĀ are now more frequent. Remote access is a necessity.

2ļøāƒ£5ļøāƒ£Ā Canadian Wildfire Smoke – Public health officials nowĀ urge people to stay insideĀ during smoke events, but many governments stillĀ refuse to offer remote access.

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šŸ‘©ā€šŸ’¼Ā Public Employment Benefits

2ļøāƒ£6ļøāƒ£Ā Attracting & Retaining Talent – Remote work is nowĀ the #1 most desired job feature.Ā Requiring live-streaming supports recruitment efforts.

2ļøāƒ£7ļøāƒ£Ā Protecting Public Employees’ Health – Reducing exposure toĀ contagious illnessesĀ improves job safety and reduces sick leave.

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🌟 The Bigger Picture: Trust, Transparency & Community Branding

2ļøāƒ£8ļøāƒ£Ā Boosting Public Engagement – TheĀ easier it is to participate, theĀ more engagedĀ a community will be.

2ļøāƒ£9ļøāƒ£Ā Restoring Trust in Government – Transparency matters.Ā Live-streaming makes governmentĀ more accessible and accountable.

3ļøāƒ£0ļøāƒ£Ā Stronger Community Branding – A town or city that refuses to live-stream public meetingsĀ looks outdated, disconnected, and unwelcoming to new residents, businesses, and investors.

ManyĀ rural areasĀ are struggling toĀ attract and retain young workers.Ā At a time whenĀ demographics are shifting, outdated policies make itĀ harderĀ for local governments to stay competitive.

šŸ‘‰Ā Live-streaming public meetings is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

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šŸĀ The Bottom Line

Live-streaming public meetingsĀ is affordable, easy to implement, and already common in many states.

It promotesĀ public health, transparency, economic savings, and civic engagement.

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So why aren’t more municipalities doing it?Ā The excuses are running out.

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šŸ“¢Ā If you support live-streaming in your community, speak up!
šŸ“©Ā Share your thoughts or suggestions with us at: live-stream@nyopengov.org