Why public records matter

I was invited to speak to the Pearl District Neighborhood Association board last month in response to my unfulfilled request for recordings of association meetings.

In short, without records, there is no way to ensure that associations represent the will of the people living within their boundaries. Without records, there is no assurance that every member has the opportunity to participate in meetings, express themselves and vote to reflect their views and concerns.

Any individual or organization can bring concerns to their elected officials, but only through democratically run neighborhood associations can those officials know who speaks for each part of their districts.