Scales Opens the Windows of the County’s Committee Meeting Room
![]()
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Citizens of Jefferson County could only imagine the discussion and debate that happened when commissioners assembled for their committee meetings.
The five representatives meet in a board room around the corner from their offices with their respective staffs, the county attorney, the county manager and his staff and perhaps a few others.
But Tuesday’s commission committee meeting ushered in a new age for Jefferson County citizens, who were given a peek inside the proceedings courtesy of Commissioner Lashunda Scales.
The commission president pro tem brought livestreaming to the business of Jefferson County as a member of her staff broadcast the committee meeting via the internet. She promises to continue to practice with internet broadcasts of future committee meetings and full commission meetings.
The meetings can be seen via Scales’ website – www.LashundaScales.com – and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/lashundascalessheworks.
“It is long overdue for Jefferson County to take advantage of innovative technology,” Scales says. “While educating the general public on the county’s governmental process, which in turn creates a greater level of transparency and trust among our citizenry.”
Terri Sharpley Reynolds is the director of public affairs for the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. She did not know how many commissions broadcast their meetings but said it is a practice that is spreading.
“I can tell you that many of them do or are considering doing it,” she says. “There’s really no statutory obligation for them to do it. But it’s something that several counties have opted to do as a way to ensure the public has even more access to the meetings and the business of county government.”
With her interest piqued, Reynolds said ACCA may survey the state’s 67 counties to see how many broadcast their meetings.
“A lot of counties are and if they’re not already doing this, they’re kind of considering the pros and cons of doing it and the logistics of doing,” she says.
This is the second time Scales has opened the windows of government to give citizens a look inside. As a member of the Birmingham City Council in 2015, she sponsored a resolution to provide access to live, unedited city meetings via social media.
Britain gets a defense boost aimed at sending a message to Russia, and to Trump
Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Another sign of Syria’s rebuilding: The Damascus stock exchange opens again
The stock exchange had closed during the chaotic days leading up to the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.
Top Trump officials visit prolific Alaska oil field amid push to expand drilling
President Donald Trump wants to double the amount of oil coursing through Alaska's vast pipeline system and build a massive natural gas project, a top administration official said Monday.
Trump is pushing Senate GOP to get his megabill across the finish line
President Trump is gearing up for what a senior White House official said will be an "all-out advocacy effort" to push Republican senators to advance the bill their House colleagues passed last month.
Do you sing to your baby? NPR wants to know what songs you sing
A new study from Yale University finds that singing to babies improves their overall mood. NPR wants to know what songs our listeners sing to their babies.
A runway under construction at Newark’s beleaguered airport reopens early
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised airport officials, unions and workers for completing the estimated 60-day project 13 days early. The Newark airport has been hobbled by delays.