>>> THE ABILITY OF CHICAGOANS TO KEEP TABS ON CITY BOARD MEETINGS ONLINE IS IN DOUBT.

NO RULES REQUIRE OFFICIALS TO CONTINUE STREAMING MEETINGS ONLINE.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST ON WHAT GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES SAY COULD BE A MASSIVE STEP BACK FOR TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITY.

ALL CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CAN NO LONGER MEET VIRTUALLY.

WHY?

>> Reporter: WELL, GOVERNOR JAY PRITZKER AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY THAT ALLOWED THESE MEETINGS TO TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

THAT MEANS THESE BOARDS HAVE TO MEET IN PERSON, BUT THERE IS NO RULE REQUIRING THAT THEY STRING THEMSELVES ONLINE.

THAT MEANS THAT WHEN THINGS HAPPEN ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND THE CHICAGO COMMISSION DETERMINED THAT THE RULE CHANGE, THAT LEFT PEOPLE HAVING TO LOGON OUT OF LUCK.

>> WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

>> Reporter: WELL, BECAUSE PEOPLE, DURING THE PANDEMIC, HAVE GOTTEN USED TO LOGGING ON WITH THE CLICK OF A BUTTON TO KEEP TABS ON POINTED AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND REALLY CUT PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE PEOPLE APPRECIATED AND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.

>> YOU CAN DO IT EVEN OVER YOUR LUNCH HOUR EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TO A MEETING!

SO CHICAGOANS ARE STILL ABLE TO LOG ON AND WATCH THOSE AT LEAST?

>> THEY CAN, BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL RULED THAT THESE MEETINGS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLINE, AND IN FACT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN CALL IN AND PARTICIPATE EITHER BY ZOOM OR BY PHONE, HOWEVER THOSE RULES DO NOT APPLY TO ALL THE COMMISSIONS.

THE ETHICS BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWS THEM TO DO JUST THAT, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS TO BE CHANGED.

CITY WATER