Your First Amendment Rights Are Strictly Prohibited

According to a proposed policy under consideration by the Torrance County Commission, Resolution 2012-07 Recording Policy states that "the public is strictly prohibited from operating audio and/or visual recording devices within the Commission Chambers."

Commissioner Lonnie Freyburger of District 1 stated "after several You Tube editing and different things that have been going on I have ask for a true and accurate recording of the Commission to where it can go on our network and the public can have the access to see what actually happens at the Commission in its entirety"

Commissioner Leann Tapia of District 2 and reputed Tea Party supporter stated that she was in favor of county recording and that "I think that if this is going to be done right that it needs to be posted on our web site where we are able to manage it", her only voiced concern was the dollar amount for the process.

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States grants every member of the public the right to record public meetings. This right is continually tested by governmental entities who do not like the scrutiny that elected office brings.

As a citizen and member of the public I am astounded that these elected officials fail to understand the very documents they swore to uphold and preserve. Even more troublesome is the fact that members of the public body believe that citizen’s rights take a back seat to a managed photo op for Commission and staff alike.

As the party that places meeting video on You Tube, I take great exception to Commissioner Freyburger’s commentary suggesting that the video I provide is inaccurate, falsely edited or incomplete.

Unlike Mr. Freyburger who receives a paycheck for attending meetings, I spent my own time, fuel, travel, and resources to record each meeting. I film these meetings in order to assist my fellow citizens who can not afford to take time off work to attend meetings. Should there be any inaccuracies in my video, they are a direct result of what is taking place at the meetings themselves.

The only editing to my raw footage is use of a stabilization tool You Tube offers to make a video smoother for the viewers. Commissioner Freyburger’s belief that my videos are incomplete are a matter of perspective, I upload video in segments that match the individual agenda items in most cases. This is done to allow members of the public to view what is of interest to them. The segments are in place for the comfort of the public not the comfort of the Commission.

The only other incomplete area of my video’s results from having to change batteries during the meetings or when the Commission fails to notify the public they are returning from a marathon closed session. Notification of return to open session would eliminate that issue in its entirety.

As a Tea Party candidate who ran stating that she believed in open government and fiscal accountability, I am mystified as to Commissioner Tapia’s belief that the Commission and staff members have the right to manage information that belongs in open view of the public.

Any discomfort on behalf of Commission members or staff comes with the territory and I would suggest that the only show being put on during meetings is provided by the Commission and their staff.

More often that not I am the only citizen member at Commission meetings. I will continue to attend and record as many meetings as possible in order to serve my fellow citizens and will fight tooth and nail to preserve our First Amendment Rights to do so.

Create your policy wisely Torrance County Commission, We The People Are Watching.