Tell Bay Area transit agencies to preserve online & dial-in public comment

During the pandemic, virtual public meetings turbocharged transit advocacy across California, enabling many more people to speak up for rider and worker safety, integrated and equitable fares, service restoration, and more.

As the L.A. Times editorial board pointed out, “For the first time, addressing elected officials in public meetings no longer means fighting traffic, spewing pollutants, finding (and paying for) parking and sitting in a crowded room just to wait for the paltry minute or two that might be allocated for each speaker. People with mobility limitations, previously without access to public meetings, can participate equally. Constituents can dial in, log on or otherwise connect from home, office or car and weigh in on matters that directly affect them.”

Members of the MTC Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force participate in a virtual meeting in May 2020. (Photo by Seamless)

Members of the MTC Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force participate in a virtual meeting in May 2020. (Photo by Seamless)

The ability to provide public comment by dialing in by phone or Zoom was enabled by executive orders issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom in March 2020. The orders suspended portions of California’s open meeting and public access laws and empowered public agencies to conduct their business remotely without endangering the public.

Now, as the state plans for a full reopening in June - and Gov. Newsom’s executive orders are slated to sunset once California is no longer in a state of emergency - transit agencies and other boards have started to discuss how future public meetings will be managed.

These discussions have important implications for California residents and advocates.

Without attention and advocacy now, Californians across the state may lose virtual access to public meetings when the pandemic ends. This will make public advocacy for more seamless and frequent transit - and many other areas of interest to our region - much more difficult.

That’s why it’s so important to speak up now in support of continued virtual and dial-in access to public meetings. 

One important opportunity is happening tomorrow, May 26, when AC Transit staff will ask its board for direction on whether to implement “hybrid” board meetings starting this summer. These hybrid meetings would combine an in-person Board gathering with technology enabling members of the public to make public comment remotely, and/or allowing Board members and staff to participate in the meeting virtually/remotely. If the Board is interested in hybrid meetings, staff are recommending standing up a six-month hybrid meetings pilot program, after which the agency would re-evaluate.

Seamless Bay Area strongly supports AC Transit moving forward with hybrid meetings, and we encourage AC Transit riders to call into tomorrow’s meeting to voice their support during discussion of Agenda Item 7.J: 

This is also an important moment to raise this topic at other Bay Area transit agency board meetings as they plan for the future.

While there aren’t agenda items specifically focused on virtual public comment at these upcoming Board meetings, transit riders and advocates are encouraged to attend these meetings and share their support for continued virtual access during general public comment: 

—

MTC Meeting - Wednesday, May 26 at 9:35 a.m. PT

BART Board meeting - Thursday, May 27, 9:00 a.m. PT

SamTrans Board meeting - Wednesday, June 2, 2:00 p.m. PT

  • Agenda will be posted here

Caltrain Joint Powers Board meeting - Thursday, June 3, 9:30 a.m. PT 

  • Agenda will be posted here

WETA Board meeting - Thursday, June 3, 1:30 p.m. PT

  • Agenda will be posted here

VTA Board meeting - Thursday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. PT 

  • Agenda and meeting details will be posted here

Enhanced access to public boards and leaders via virtual meetings has been one of the few silver linings of the pandemic. It would be a major setback for California residents and advocates to lose this essential access now.

Stephanie Beechem