Photo by Chris Montgomery, Unsplash
California State Senate Bill 411, which would allow neighborhood council meetings to be
held with a virtual option (such as Zoom) passed earlier this year. However, there is a
catch: neighborhood councils have to individually approve whether to use the
teleconferencing option with a two-thirds majority vote. Councils may choose either an inperson or teleconferencing option. They may also opt for "hybrid" meetings offering
attendees in-person or online access. As yet, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council has
not voted to allow or disallow access with a virtual option.
For several months, SLT advocates have reached out to L.A.’s Department of Disability
urging them to take a stand in favor of providing access to people who have a disability,
such as an immunocompromised condition, which prevents them from participating in city
meetings that only provide in-person attendance. Regrettably, the department has not
issued a ruling in favor of those who are unfranchised by in-person-only meetings. We
urge readers to contact their local neighborhood council and ask them to vote to allow all
residents and stakeholders the right to take part in their government meetings.
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