by Alice Fried

“Sunshine” or transparency and accountability in government, is a League priority and has been since its inception in 1920, thereby, the creation of the League Observer Corps Program (OCP). The OCP is a League-structured way for individuals to exercise their right to know as stipulated in national and state access laws. Access to government processes that was granted first in the 1972 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and its follow-up laws, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, both pursuant to the viewing of federal government documents; and in the Sunshine Act of 1976, the California Ralph M. Brown Act of 1953, and the California Records Act of 1968, all of which define a California citizen’s right to not only view government documents, but to also attend local government meetings, such as City/Town Council meetings, School Board meetings, Planning/Zoning meetings, Parks and Recreation meetings, Health Department meetings, Board of Supervisors meetings and more.

The problem, however, is that after decades of ignoring/rewriting history and dismantling civics education in schools, too many citizens have no frame of reference when it comes to understanding how the benefits of lawful federal and state assistance and protections extend their rights and responsibilities to local governance.  This resulting lack of good citizenship has created chaos and shouting matches that fill city halls and other local board meetings across the country leaving the national administration vulnerable and ineffective while rendering local governments unable to sufficiently tend to the needs of its people. Proof that if democracy is to work, elected officials must be transparent and accountable, and citizens must play their citizenship role. Citizens must learn the issues and be privy to the facts and debates in order to offer informed input to solutions.

In light of this, the Solano League is forming a new Observer Corps Program which will: 1) facilitate awareness and understanding of the value of having access to government meetings accorded citizens in the Ralph M. Brown Act (solely applies to California); and 2) offer training that emphasizes ways and means for league members to effectively observe local government council and board meetings, including how to communicate and/or share actions—proposed or approved—with league leadership as well as the community; and 3) to engage with “observed” elected officials and administrators to ensure follow-through and accountability.

The League of Women Voters has always been a champion of protecting citizens’ right to know. This is in addition to its mission to encourage active citizen participation in governing through public-policy education and advocacy.  Note: one aspect of living in a so-called free society that was thrust out into plain view in 2021—in the age of COVID—is that government and politics impact every aspect of our lives ranging from the amount of tax we pay for morning coffee to the type of light bulbs we purchase. Because of this, citizens have experienced firsthand how a democratic country cannot be governed from a national location only.  At the same time, local governments must adhere to our United States federal guidelines and rules to protect the sovereign will of the nation’s people.

Therefore, in the spirit of the notion “charity begins at home” and with the purpose of sustaining our national democracy—a government of, by, and for the people—the League of Women Voters Solano County is organizing an Observer Corps Program in recognition of the fact that the affairs of municipalities and rural areas alike must have local administration and citizen participation in government, showcasing the accuracy of the saying, all politics is local.

Please accept this invitation to be a Solano League Observer.

First training, February 26, 2022, from 10:30-12:30 at Suisun City Hall. Syllabus and detailed logistics coming soon.

Please Click Here to Let Us Know You're Interested or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://forms.gle/YYeqjpN3NqYR9ekN7

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