Opinion: Local government needs to preserve public records
To the editor:
A recent editorial in the Tribune (“A note to agencies: Keep emails”, January 28, 2015) calls attention to the lack of clear policies on the retention of email messages dealing with government business by local government agencies.
The League of Women Voters is pleased to see this issue raised. The league supports an open government system that is representative, accountable, and responsive. We support policies that protect the citizen’s right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision making. Government cannot be held accountable and citizens cannot engage in informed participation in government decision making if information on that decision making is not available to the public and to the media.
We support the call for all government agencies in the county to develop policies to ensure that email records dealing with government business, the people’s business, are retained for a minimum of two years.
Marilee Hyman
President
League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
