Verbatim Minutes for Seniors and Immigrants for Fair Particitation in Democratic Process by BC

Verbatim or summary minutes are needed for seniors and immigrants to promote fair particitation in the democratic process by BC
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From: Better Cupertino
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: Agenda Item 18: Provide verbatim minutes as needed for important items
To: City Council <citycouncil@cupertino.org>, David Brandt <davidb@cupertino.org>

Both Palo Alto and San Jose provides transcripts of their meetings, as a service, not as an official meeting record. This is an example that Cupertino can follow.

We would like to urge Cupertino City Council to also provide transcripts of meetings. This is especially helpful for a large part of our population whose first language is not English. Often, we hear a word and don't understand, but we cannot look it up since we don't know its spelling. A text transcript could go a long way to help us to participate in City Council meetings and further assimilate into the American culture and the wonderful democratic system.

A transcript would be very helpful also for an increasing population of seniors in Cupertino. They might become hard of hearing or they don't have the tenacity to sit for hours at a time to watch meeting videos.Yet, many of them are still very alert and care about the happendings at the City Hall. A transcript would enable them to search for sections that they are interested in easily.

Please consider the tremendous benefits of transcripts of Council meetings could serve for a large population of immigrants and an increasing population of senior citizens.

 

Sincerely,

Liang Chao