The Three Degrees asked the question in their 1974 hit song, “When Will I See You Again?” Now, the same query is appropriate for the Fremont City Council as, once again, they invoke the governor’s state of emergency order to continue meetings in virtual format only. Since the justification for this suspension of Brown Act rules is concern for public health and safety of councilmembers, staff and the public, are all staff meetings held in this manner? Why are other cities in the area holding hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance? Are these other councils and their constituents at significantly higher risk?
While it is prudent to institute health safeguards for public meetings, continued virtual only meetings is also a convenient method to avoid confrontation and direct response to significant resident issues. The ability to manipulate and manage appearances through electronic media is not a good substitute for physical attendance and attention. As more venues, performances and events are opening to public attendance with suitable precautions, so too should civic activities. If seating in council chambers present such a grave risk, attendance can be limited to avoid crowding and time limits imposed on comments to minimize viral exposure.
AB 361 authorizes continued remote meetings without standard Brown Act restrictions of a physical location only when pursuant to a state of emergency that “impacts the ability of the body’s members to meet safely in person, or state or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.” There is little doubt that COVID-19 variants pose a significant threat to health, but precautions are known and can be instituted to allow a semblance of normalcy. Is it asking too much for our city leaders to personally meet with constituents a few times each month?
The concept of separation theory is that everyone on the planet is socially related through six or fewer contact iterations. In other words, if a person has social contact with a group of people – family, friends, employment, hobbies, etc. – and they, in turn have multiple relationships, it only takes a maximum of six such interactions to reach every person on the planet. In theory this means that we can contact anyone on Earth if the proper connections are made. However, that is a based on an assumption that our social networks function efficiently. If this is true, The Three Degrees trio is well within social reach of each of us and their plea is more personal. In any event, how many degrees of separation are we willing to tolerate and for how long?
By continuing a policy of virtual meetings, the council has introduced an additional degree of separation. During an immediate crisis, it is an acceptable measure but with time, adequate preparation and precautions, such separation should be modified or removed.
The council is about to give themselves a raise in pay. I have no quarrel with that, but with the power, position and compensation comes responsibility to interact with constituents Its time for Fremont to welcome the public back to its council chambers.
