When you think of local government, you probably think of the Durham City Council or the County Board of Commissioners. But our area also has an elaborate network of committees and boards that advise local officials and, in some cases, have real power.
Beginning this month, we’ll be telling you about those organizations in a series we’re calling “Under the Radar.” Our goal is to bring transparency to these government panels by covering their meetings and talking with their members and the citizens who are affected by their work.
When a 9th Street Journal reporter and photographer arrived to cover the Animal Welfare committee, they found an empty parking lot and a darkened building. It turned out the county website was wrong about the location; the meeting was being held online.
I hope you’ll join us for the next few months as we take you inside the rooms (or the Zoom meetings) where these groups gather. We’ll show you what our government agencies are doing and how they affect your lives.
– BILL ADAIR
(At top, photo by Abigail Bromberger – The 9th Street Journal)