This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Newspapers Are Our Watchdogs

It is my understanding that there is pending legislation that may remove our right to read public notices in newspapers, moving them from the public domain to the Internet. Public notices are an important tool in assuring that we, the public, stay informed. They are a vital part of our democracy. Among other things, they let us know how our tax dollars are spent. They inform us about public policy and how it is created. They notify us of town meetings, hearings, referendums and much, much more.

Public notices are accessible to everyone. The Internet is only accessible to people with computers-and then only those who can afford to pay the monthly fee for an Internet provider. Therefore, the Internet is not available to everyone. Additionally, a public notice in the newspaper creates a permanent record. The Internet does not. Nor does it assure timelines. A newspaper is archived, in hard copy and/or on microfilm, for years, and cannot crash or be hacked into.

Newspapers are our watchdogs. Don't let anyone take that right away from us. Contact our state representatives and tell them you want public notices to remain in the our daily and weekly newspapers.

Peggy Adler

Clinton