Researchers have compiled and transcribed a large dataset of city council meetings from 115 California cities over the past decade. Their analysis reveals that public participants in these meetings are generally older, whiter, more male, more liberal, and more likely to be homeowners than the general registered voter population. Participation increases significantly when land use and zoning issues are on the agenda. The study also found that while eliminating remote access options during the pandemic reduced the number of speakers, it did not substantially alter the demographic composition of participants. AI
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RANK_REASON Academic paper detailing a new dataset and findings on public participation in local government.
