PublicSource’s Board Explorer project, launched in May 2020, sheds light on unelected board members of taxpayer-funded authorities, commissions and other governmental agencies and their roles, providing information about each member and inviting analysis of this important part of the region’s power structure. We created a dedicated website for this project and published additional introductory stories to help readers understand why this project matters. The site is searchable by member or entity names and topic (e.g. affordable housing, infrastructure, health). The database not only educates users on who decision-makers are, what decisions are being made and when, but it will also show the interconnectivity of individuals heading the entities.
We started with 16 boards involved — directly or indirectly — in development. As the region copes with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and surging civil rights concerns, the operations of these boards are likely to affect our lives and futures more than ever. We published details on 14 additional boards that address public safety, public health and economic opportunity. Over the coming months, PublicSource will add more boards, further analysis and deeper looks at key members.