By Dianna M. Náñez, The Republic | azcentral.com
Ban on broadcasting public comments made in Tempe City Council meetings has been lifted.
Responding to criticism from residents and rival political candidates, the Tempe City Council vowed greater transparency and on Thursday will resume broadcasting public comments from its meetings on its cable-television channel and its website.
The reversal on the nearly three-year ban comes amid the annual Sunshine Week, during which news organizations promote open government and freedom of information.
The public might not know until it arrives at Thursday’s council meeting how Tempe officials will monitor public comments, though. The city is still considering several measures that the council proposed to control those public comments that members believe may slander a city official.