Peoria City Council members in Arizona are now banned from texting and emailing during meetings, effective immediately.
The council members passed the ban unanimously, agreeing that the prohibition would be seen as a solid show of support for open government, USA Today reported.
“This is an excellent idea,” said Vice Mayor Ron Aames, in the newspaper. “It’s clear that we shouldn’t be doing this, and we see it as a definite statement so there’s no confusion.”
The move is historic. Peoria is the first city in the state to prohibit local government officials from sending out texts or emails during meetings — whether those meetings are in public or behind closed doors.
“We’re better off being ahead of the curve,” said Mayor Bob Barrett, in USA Today.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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