It's never a good idea to piss off a group of citizens who basically exist to increase access and dialogue between people in your industry and the public. But, lo and behold, the local delegation to the General Assembly has apparently done just that, in irritating the local League of Women Voters by scheduling its annual in-session delegation meeting on local and statewide legislation in Annapolis, rather than in Howard County.
An article about this supposed scheduling snafu can be found here. Alice Giles and Betsy Grater, the co-Presidents of the local league, wrote an excellent letter on the matter, which can be found here.
I can not agree with the leadership of the League more strongly. But I will challenge the delegation members a little bit further. Why is it so impossible to get a majority of the delegation together? And why does the delegation meeting have to occur at the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building? Is there no facility at HCC, a county library, or a county high school that would be available on a night amenable to the members of the delegation? Can a hotel donate a ballroom as a public service? And as to recording equipment-- isn't it possible that recording equipment is portable? And are there technical standards for such recordings? Because I'm going to bet that at least one delegation member can get their hands on a video camera and a tripod.
I don't exactly think the delegation this thinking creatively here. In fact I consider this stance a little lazy. Not only do I hope that this doesn't occur again in 2013, I hope the delegation reconsiders this and makes a local hearing possible this session.
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