Patch Poll: Will Live Stream Spark Interest in Long Beach Government?

Members of the new Democratic-majority say they will l to afford residents who stay home — from mothers busy with young children to the elderly who don't venture out at night — the opportunity to watch the goings-on of their local government and potentially encourage their participation. Toward this end, the council will post the webcasts of their meetings on the site so that residents can also view the proceedings at any time.

For the most part, only a small percentage of the population turns out for the council's monthly meetings, as well as meetings held by other government bodies, from the Board of Education to the Library Board of Trustees. So will this kind of viewing encourage more Long Beach residents to watch the meetings, to attend more of them, voice their concerns more and get further involved in local government? Or do you think live stream/webcasts will do little to nothing to generate greater interest in what city officials and residents are doing and saying?

Take our poll below, and weigh in with your comments.