Dear Kingston Common Council President Andrea Shaut, 

During the height of the COVID pandemic when emergency measures were in place, single parents, disabled residents, homebound seniors and others were able, through remote access (e.g., via Zoom), to hear, see, and comment in real time on decisions being made by their elected and appointed officials.

With COVID variants emerging, it is more difficult than ever for many residents to attend in-person public meetings. Residents, regardless of their age, disability, or susceptibility to COVID, must be able to attend in order to make their views known.

As it pertains to the upcoming Fair Street Extension public hearing on January 12, there is no need to put residents at risk. Many people overwhelmingly support well organized "hybrid" public meetings that give them the option to attend in person or virtually on Zoom as you have been doing. This does not prevent any resident or public official from attending in person. 

In a letter dated December 29, City of Kingston Corporation Counsel Barbara Graves-Poller wrote to Judge Richard Mott that a hybrid meeting for a public hearing held outside of City Hall was thought to be “technologically impossible.”  If that is the case, we request that the January 12 hearing be fully remote, like the upcoming January 10 Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission public hearing, where the public will provide testimony virtually regarding aspects of the Kingstonian proposal.  

As a City of Kingston resident,  I strongly believe that the city should continue its effort to provide hybrid or remote access for all public meetings by allowing more residents to attend and participate in local government.

Thank you for your consideration. 

RESOURCES:  "Legislation (S.50001/A.40001) Allows New Yorkers to Participate in State and Local Government Meetings Virtually to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 Spread; Helps People with Disabilities Participate in Their Government"

(photo credit: Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)