A push is growing to make some pandemic-era changes to the state’s open meetings law permanent before they expire next year.

Transparency advocates are hoping to see a hybrid of in-person and virtual participation, with specific in-person expectations for elected officials.
Paul Wolf, president of the New York Coalition for Open Government, which also participated in the proposal, stresses the need to underscore the importance of both in-person and virtual participation in any changes made to the law or quorum requirements.

“We don’t favor all virtual,” he said. “We favor what’s called a hybrid. If you want to attend in person you should be able to attend in person if you’re a member of the public.”