Transparency in All Aspects of Life

I rarely get upset about politics to the point that I am vocal about them. I usually just don’t see the point because my little voice has most likely already been echoed by many others on the same topic. But last Thursday at the ARPA meeting in Boulder I became upset with what I am simply calling a lack of transparency. And the more that I think about it, there is a lack of transparency in nearly every aspect of our every day lives. We should make ourselves aware of that and how we can change for the better.

When the Chamber of Commerce was informed that the first ARPA meeting was that same evening, several Chamber members took note, me being one of them. When I was told WHAT the ARPA meeting would be discussing, I was upset that the meeting notice posted by the Commissioners in the paper hadn’t really detailed how important these meetings are and that public comment was desired, requested, and needed. We’re talking about $2.4 million dollars being put into our county - everyone should know about this and be informed. I also asked Bruce Binkowski if a second meeting, in Whitehall, would be possible. He said he would talk to the commission.

I tried to attend that evening’s zoom meeting, but technical difficulties on the presenter’s end prevented me from being able to.

The next day I received public notice for the paper that a second meeting would be held, but again in Boulder. Jefferson County is a very large county- one of the largest in the state - and having such important meetings in one location, to me, does not lend itself to informing the majority of the county or obtaining the desired public comment. Again, the notice did not spell out the importance of the meeting. In my error as the Editor, I did not harp on the importance of these meetings, thinking it wasn’t my place. I’m trying to fix that now. Myself and a Whitehall Town Councilor were two of just a handful of Whitehall residents who attended in person, with several on the Zoom call, which again had technical difficulties.

I’m working to be more transparent. I’m working to make the paper as transparent as possible, without being biased and opinionated. However, I will express my opinion in my editorial, where it is appropriate. PLEASE attend the June 2nd meeting and represent Whitehall in providing public comment in how and where this money is distributed.

The Commission needs help and guidance from its constituents from ALL areas of the county on where this money should go, and where it shouldn’t go. Public comment obtained through the first meeting mentioned many Boulder area projects, with a sprinkling of Whitehall projects listed.

In the name of transparency and informing the public, the Whitehall Ledger published the handouts provided at last Thursday’s meeting in hopes that Whitehall residents would read them now, get informed, and bring detailed questions and considerations to the June 2nd meeting. As of this moment, public comment on this matter is only open until June 4th, giving Whitehall residents previously uninformed just two days to respond. Get informed. Do it for yourself and the county.

Think about transparency today and how we can make a difference in our personal and professional lives by making sure the details are there for the taking the first time around, not the third or fourth.