Transparency News 3/8/18

 
VCOG LOGO CMYK small 3
Thursday
March 8, 2018
spacer.gif
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
divider.gif
 
state & local news stories
swlogo2-300x176
Check out VCOG's lineup of free events to celebrate Sunshine Week
March 11-17
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors experienced a public meltdown last week when a public hearing about reinstating language into the county code deteriorated into what some board members called an attack on county staff followed by a loss of control of the meeting. The rift happened after David Williams, District 1, began questioning Bret Schardein, assistant county administrator, about a timeline of events that had led to a section of the Subdivision Code being taken out without board knowledge and approved without that language in January 2017. When his questioning started leading toward specific actions taken by Schardein, chair Carson Tucker, District 5, interrupted, saying “we have an understanding we don’t flog our staff in public.” His interruption was followed by ones from Angie Cabell, District 3, and Bill Melton, District 4, who called Williams’ line of questioning inappropriate. The situation quickly deteriorated from there with Williams asserting the public had a right to know what was going on and that staff needed to be held accountable and other board members insisting it was a personnel matter and not a matter for public discussion. The mood was heightened by members of the audience who called for allowing Williams to finish his speech and questioning what the board was trying to hide.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

There’s always some tension between the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate. Tensions are a little higher this year as lawmakers struggle to find “The Virginia Way.” Frustration made a few appearances on the Senate floor Wednesday. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, called out the House for not voting on certain Senate bills in committee, leaving them to die. “I am done listening to the House tell me how great they are. ... If we can’t have transparency between the two bodies then why are we here? Why am I away from my family?” Reeves said. He had a warning for his House colleagues: “As chairman of a committee, I’m having some thoughts about what I need to do next year with that committee and whether or not we’re going to hear some bills.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch

After a tumultuous two years in office, and a failed bid for Congress, Prince William County School Board Chairman Ryan Sawyers is stepping down from the board. Sawyers has even butted heads with school staff during his term — not only has he filed legal action against the superintendent and division attorney Mary McGowan [over access to emails], but he’s spent years tangling with Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop in court in an unrelated defamation case. A county group was even leading an effort to recall Sawyers from office and had nearly collected enough signatures to bring the matter before a circuit court judge for a hearing.
Inside NoVa
divider.gif
national stories of interest
A bill that would have allowed limited use of medical cannabis oils in Idaho is now off the table after state Senators blocked its passage during an allegedly illegal closed-door meeting. The bill, which would have allowed those suffering from epilepsy to use and possess low-THC medical CBD oils, passed the state House with a 59-11 vote last week. But when the bill moved to the state Senate, supporters complained that legislative leaders were preventing it from being heard. In order to advance the bill's progress, Republican state Sen. Tony Potts asked the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to give the bill a fair hearing.  Committee Chairman Lee Heider stopped Potts from continuing, and demanded that any further discussion on the issue take place in his office. An AP reporter attempted to follow them into Heider's office, but the chairman denied her request. Despite being blocked from the meeting, the reporter was still able to hear Heider shout that “the governor’s office doesn’t want this bill, the prosecutors don’t want this bill, the office on drug policy doesn’t want this bill.” The closed-door meeting ended six minutes later.
Merry Jane
 
PopUplogoMarch 16, 2018
Virginia Credit Union House
Details
divider.gif
 
editorials & columns
quote_3.jpg"It is in the interest of total transparency between law enforcement and the community officers swear an oath to serve and to protect."
Since we so vehemently condemned state Sen. Richard Stuart’s bill to exempt an entire category of court records from public view (“Courts bill is doorway to disaster,” Feb. 6), we thought you might like to know the outcome: Because there was such a loud outcry against his bill, the Stafford Republican withdrew it from consideration early last month. (Interestingly, that move came one day after the editorial.) We commend Sen. Stuart for withdrawing it and the Virginia Senate for striking it in compliance with his wish. But we nevertheless term it a defeat, because such an outcome never would have been achieved had there not first been a battle — a battle not just among lawmakers over the bill’s pros and cons, but one between the lawmaker and the people and press. It was public outcry that sent this bill down to defeat. This time, the people spoke and they were heard, loud and clear.
The Daily Progress

As of today, it has been 19 days since two officers with the Lynchburg Police Department fired multiple shots at a home on Link Road early on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 17, wounding the homeowner. In those 19 days, Walker Sigler underwent surgery at Lynchburg General Hospital for bullet wounds and a broken leg. In those 19 days, the Virginia State Police has launched a still on-going investigation of the shooting. In those 19 days, friends and family organized a “meal train,” as it were, for Sigler’s pregnant wife and two small children. But in those 19 days, the LPD has steadfastly refused to name the two officers who fired their weapons that Saturday morning. It is way past time for the public and the news media to learn the names of the officers involved.Why is it important for the public and media to know who the officers are? So reporters — and the public — can check their backgrounds to see if there have been previous incidents like this. So reporters — and the public — can determine if the officers who discharged their weapons have any blemishes in the past that would suggest a problem. In other words, it is in the interest of total transparency between law enforcement and the community officers swear an oath to serve and to protect.
The News & Advance

I found the article “Lack of Openness around Virginia’s officer-involved shootings is tempting fate” article very interesting. For someone who goes through a tragedy such as losing a loved one (especially being killed by a gun), it is very important for that person to understand what happened leading up to the gunshot. By the police not releasing information on a closed case dealing with an officer-involved shooting, they are creating a [gap] between law enforcement and the citizens. Don’t get me wrong, I respect law enforcement and admire them for risking their lives in order to keep the citizens safe. However, I want a strong bond of trust between the police and local citizens. The only way to break that … distrust is to allow the citizens the ability to view closed cases in order to understand the full story.
Chandler Boyd, Bristol Herald Courier

 

Categories: