In today’s on-line world, government transparency is easier than censorship.  Most government agencies already have online accounting systems.  All that’s needed to become an “open” government is to flip a few switches, and “Poof!” everyone can see what’s going on.

Think I’m dreaming?  Slovakia essentially accomplished this without even flipping switches.  Like citizens in every country, they’ve had to bear the cost of  corrupt purchasing practices.  It’s simply too tempting to cheat a little when spending lots of other people’s money.  However, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová has a plane solution.  A simple rule that would be easy for any ethical government to adopt:  No purchase agreements will be valid before being posted publicly online. Even better, if any citizen or watchdog group discovers improper deal making, the agreements can be revoked within 10 days.

Now wasn’t that simple?

Charlottesville Hazel Street residents, Christina and Jim, are constructing a full size igloo.

This is a supporting document for Where is Charlottesville’s Integrity?

§ 15.2-2105. How amendments made to franchise, etc.; notice required.

No amendment or extension of any franchise, right, lease or privilege that now exists, or that may hereafter be authorized, which extends or enlarges the time or territory of such franchise, right, lease or privilege, shall be granted by any city or town until the provisions of §§ 15.2-2101 through 15.2-2104 have been complied with. No amendment that releases the grantee, or his assignee, from the performance of any duty required by the ordinance or that authorizes an increase in the user charges to be made by such grantee or assignee shall be granted until notice of such proposed amendment has given to the public by advertising the proposed amendment for ten days in some newspaper having general circulation in the city or town. The cost of such advertising shall be paid by the city or town, which shall be reimbursed by the person to whom the amendment is granted. No such amendment shall be adopted except by ordinance.

This is the code for which the Charlottesville McIntire Park lease advertisement refers:

§ 15.2-2106. Powers of court to enforce obedience by mandamus, etc.

The circuit courts for the cities and for the counties in which towns may be situated shall have jurisdiction by mandamus, according to the provisions of Article 2 (§ 8.01-644 et seq.) of Chapter 25 of Title 8.01, to enforce compliance by the cities or towns and by all grantees with all the terms, contracts and obligations of either party, as contained in the franchises, rights, leases or privileges, whether now in force or hereafter granted. The jurisdiction in mandamus shall not preclude any party from bringing any other suit or action which such party would be entitled to bring, at law or in equity.

This is the code for which the Charlottesville McIntire Park lease advertisement refers (emphasis mine):

§ 15.2-1800. Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property.

A. A locality may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as lessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether improved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction, for any public use. Acquisition of any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19 (§ 15.2-1901 et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in a telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation of a locality’s wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by this chapter.

B. Subject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution, any locality may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its real property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided for in § 15.2-2030) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the subjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body has held a public hearing concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing shall not apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political subdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site development easements across public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress, egress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other similar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement program, involving improvement of property owned by the locality. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real property under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240 et seq.) and 7 (§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22 of this title.

C. A city or town may also acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries; a county may acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries when expressly authorized by law.

D. A locality may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other improvements on real property owned or leased by it.

E. A locality may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property or may contract with other persons to do so.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no locality providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether improved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any locality to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to and use of a locality’s real property. The provisions of this paragraph applicable to a locality shall also apply equally to any local governmental entity, including a department, agency, or authority.

F. This section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge or judges of the right to control the use of the courthouse.

G. “Public use” as used in this section shall have the same meaning as in § 1-219.1.