Civic documentation is a basic part of how neighborhoods hold public decisions accountable. It means observing and recording how public space is being used, especially when that space is operating under a city permit. This includes photographing street conditions, signage, barricades, access, and compliance with permit terms.
What civic documentation is:
- Documenting public space, not private individuals
- Recording conditions, not behavior
- Observing how a permit is being implemented
- Creating a factual record for transparency and accountability
This kind of documentation is common. Journalists do it. Advocates do it. Neighbors do it. City agencies rely on it.
What civic documentation is not:
- It is not surveillance of people
- It is not harassment
- It is not intimidation
- It is not a personal attack
Public streets do not carry an expectation of privacy. Public permits are not private documents. Recording how a public street is operating is not misconduct. It is oversight. When documentation of public space is reframed as harassment, the issue is no longer about a single street or a single group. It becomes a broader question about whether residents are allowed to observe and question how public decisions are carried out.
Healthy cities depend on transparency.
Healthy neighborhoods depend on trust.
Trust depends on the ability to document and ask questions without fear of retaliation.