Sunshine Week: Does Local Government Hear You?

How transparent is Parsippany's government? That's the essential question asked during Sunshine Week 2012, which runs through Saturday. Patch is proud to help promote discussion on this important topic.

Sunshine Week could not come at a better time. Parsippany is involved in often heated discussions over municipal openness on issues ranging from the high school turf field proposal to the ". The designation offers an opportunity to think, discuss and challenge yourself to decide whether you want an open government and whether you're up to the task of doing your part in the democracy: being an informed and active citizen.

Part of Sunshine Week's purpose is to celebrate those citizens who go above and beyond to work for transparency in government. The 2012 Sunshine Week Local Hero Award winner is Joel Chandler of Lakeland, Fla. Congratulations go out to all the nominees, including of Parsippany.

Does transparency have a true place in official Parsippany's daily life or is it merely a word offered up in hopes that it will quiet dissent? Are your leaders and those in their employ really representing you? Is your voice being heard by Town Hall or do you believe you're being excluded from having meaningful input? Are you encouraged—or discouraged—when you try to exercise your right to know?

Do you exercise your right to know?

The dialogue starts with one basic question: Do you believe you have a voice in local government? Pick an answer below and illuminate us in the comments.

Faced any challenges with government transparency at ? Experienced moments where an official's openness has made citizenship a whole lot easier? Share them in comments.