PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
Don ’ t Let “ Democracy Die In Darkness ”
By Anthony Russo President , CIANJ
“
Democracy Dies In Darkness ” is the official slogan of the Washington Post but what does it really mean ? It means that an open and accountable government is good government .
Many of us have heard the saying before . But now it resonates louder than ever with the need for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to our government and how it conducts its business and spends the people ’ s money .
When government is not transparent , doubt is created , and that is never a good thing and will only lead to resentment and people questioning government . It does not matter whether you are a Democrat , Republican or a member of another
“... an open and accountable government is good government ”
party , what matters is that if you are elected to serve the people of New Jersey . The work you do and accomplish , on behalf of your constituents and the people of New Jersey , should be open and predictable . The public has a right to know how our tax dollars are being allocated and spent . While we may not agree on the priorities and spending , it is important to provide as much transparency as possible so our confidence in the process and system is not affected .
The Open Public Records Act , or better known as OPRA , was a game changer when it became law more than 22 years ago . It shed light in places that were sealed off and could be prey to manipulation and abuse . It afforded the public a means of obtaining documents and reviewing information about an issue . It could be contracts , bids , proposals , reports , emails , or letters at the local , county and state level . People want to know that the process is fair and not abused and their tax dollars spent wisely . Now there are efforts underway to reform OPRA , limiting what is shared . We acknowledge there may be times when OPRA requests might seem burdensome or could appear frivolous . But we caution the urge to restrict the process .
Information is key and how that information is shared with the public will go a long way to assuage any concerns . Possible solutions could be to hold more public hearings , posting more information on websites , or in local newsletters , blogs , etc . which will help answer any questions the public may have on an issue . As a fiduciary of our tax dollars , our government has an obligation to explain the decisions they make before spending the people ’ s money and answering any questions a resident may have in a clear and timely manner . An open government is a good government .
PSEG is committed to fostering access to fair and equitable opportunities throughout its communities .
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