From the New Bern Sun Journal (3/11/13): It’s Sunshine Week, the time every year when newspapers across American call attention to the importance of open meetings and public records laws in our free society.
These state and federal laws aren’t for newspaper, TV and online reporters only. Everyone benefits from government openness, and transparency laws make it possible for you to know what goes on with your government.
These laws keep the public’s business public. They bring accountability to government. They encourage honesty and discourage corruption.
Because of North Carolina’s open meetings law, you can go to any county commissioners meeting, city council meeting, school board meeting or others to hear elected officials’ discussion of issues important to you. You can see what votes are taken and how each elected official votes.