Editorial calls for Placer County District Attorney to enforce state’s open government law

The Auburn Journal argued for tighter enforcement of the Brown Act, California’s open government law, in light of a $l600 dinner meeting in 2008  in Washington D.C. during which three county supervisors lobbied the local congressman. -db
Auburn Journal
Editorial
March 7, 2010

During these tough economic times, government at every level faces media scrutiny. The public has [...]

Health board claims secret meeting violated no laws

The Del Puerto Health Care District board met once secretly in 2008 but claims the meeting violated no California open govenment laws. -db

Patterson Irrigator
February 25, 2010
By Kendall Wright

A majority of the Del Puerto Health Care District met once secretly in 2008, but the head of the district claims the meeting violated no laws, an assertion [...]

San Diego county school board cancels meeting to comply with open meeting law

The Grossmont Union High School District cancelled a special meeting to consider a threatened lawsuit after the media were not given adequate notice of the meeting. -db
East County Magazine
February 23, 2010
CAJON, Calif. – In response to a request by East County Magazine, the Grossmont Union High School District has announced cancellation of tonight’s special meeting. [...]

San Diego planning task force accused of violating California’s open government law

Community members involved in planning for San Diego have expressed concerns about an advisory committee with a large representation of builders and developers. They claim the committee’s meetings were not adequately publicized. -db
San Diego Uptown News
February 20, 2010
By David Harvey

At the San Diego City Council’s Land Use and Housing (LU&H) committee meeting on Feb. 3, [...]

Local education activist sues Alameda unified schools

The founder of Alameda Concerned Parents is suing the Alameda Unified School District for violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act. -db

San Francisco Chronicle
Opinion
February 18, 2010
By Susan Davis
This just in — Kerry Cook, founder of Alameda Concerned Parents, which protested Lesson 9 last spring and fall — is now suing the Alameda [...]

Open meetings a work in progress in Victorville

An open government activist says there are still gross violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act, after the City Council had taken steps to conduct business in a more open manner. -db
Victorville Daily Press
February 15, 2010
By Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE, Calif. – After continued rumblings from citizens and the Daily Press about Victorville improperly using [...]

Counselor sues Yuba college district over closed door session concerning salary hike

A counselor at the Yuba Community College District is suing the district for rescinding her salary raise in closed session. The superior court judge has allowed Yuba college officials to testify in a closed court session. db
Appeal-Democrat
February 18, 2010
By Ryan McCarthy

Three Yuba Community College District trustees are among witnesses an employee plans to call in [...]

Carson mayor under investigation after allegations he used mute button to stifle public comment

The District Attorney is investigating a possible Brown Act violation as the Carson mayor has reportedly used a mute button to silence speakers at city council meetings. In November the City Council had given the major the authority to used the button in a 3-2 vote. -db
KPCC
Southern California Public Radio
February 6, 2010
The District Attorney’s Office [...]

Amador County: Water agency accused of open meeting violations

A citizens group is calling for an investigation of the Amador Water Agency board for possible Brown Act violations when they held private conferences on board elections. -db

Ledger Dispatch
February 5, 2010
By Matthew Hedger

A local citizens group is asking the Amador Water Agency to seek legal counsel and investigate whether some directors violated provisions of the Brown [...]

Tulare County: County supervisors’ dinners out may have also violated open meeting law

Records requested under the California Public Records Act show that the five supervisors plus the county administrative officer are running up excessive expense accounts and indicated that the supervisors may have violated California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act, by dining often with a voting majority. -db
Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare Advance-Register
Editorial
February 4, 2010

Yuba City: Action by community college trustees provokes dispute over open meeting violation

Some contend that a pay raise for the Yuba Community College district chancellor was made without observing California’s Brown Act. Today’s special meeting to reconsider the raise should remedy the problem. -db
Appeal-Democrat
February 3, 2010
By Ryan McCarthy
A special meeting today for trustees to consider rescinding the pay raise for Nicki Harrington, chancellor of the Yuba Community [...]

Yuba City: Questions arise about possible open government violation in proposed raise for community college chancellor

The Yuba Community College District board may have violated California’s Brown Act which requires the board to hold discussions about salary increases in open session. -DB
Daily Democrat
Commentary
January 28, 2010
By Erin Tracy

A decision to approve a salary hike for the Yuba Community College District chancellor might be considered insult to injury for those impacted by budget cuts, [...]

Pleasant Hill: Citizens allege open government violations in approval of drug rehab center

A citizens group has challenged the Pleasant Hill City Council after they approved a drug rehabilitation center this week, alleging that the city restricted public comment at a crucial Planning Commission meeting and provided improper notice of a subsequent hearing. -DB
Contra Costa Times
January 26, 2010
By Lisa P. White

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Although the City Council [...]

California governor’s lunch could violate open meeting laws

Open government analysts say that if California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hosts California legislators to a lunch after his State of the State address and does not admit the public and reporters, the meeting will violate the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law. -DB

Bay News 9
January 6, 2010
By Juliet Williams and Judy Lin

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) [...]

D.A. investigates alleged open government violation in Montebello

The Montebello City Council may have violated the Brown Act, California’s open government law, when they allegedly discouraged public participation leading up to a November 16 city council meeting. -DB

San Gabriel Valley Tribune
December 17, 2009
By Thomas Himes
MONTEBELLO, Calif. – The District Attorney’s Office is investigating allegations that a special meeting of the City Council violated [...]

Eastern California: Charged with violating open government law, supervisors dump closed door subcommittee

To avoid charges of violating the Brown Act, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors voted to shut down the Klondike Lake Subcommitee whose meeting have been closed to the public. -DB
Sierra Wave
November 24, 2009
By Benett Kessler

The Inyo Supervisors got the Klondike Lake issue off their backs Tuesday, stating they didn’t want to face misdemeanor charges for [...]

Obama’s open government pledge flags as health-care bill talks go behind door

Despite promises by presidential candidate Barack Obama to pass legislation in open negotiations, the Senate is working behind closed doors to merge two competing versions of health-care legislation into one bill. -DB

The Washington Post
October 18, 2009
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Three months before he was elected president, Barack Obama vowed not only to reform health care but also [...]

Governor signs FAC-sponsored access bill

With encouragement from the California First Amendment Coalition, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 786 that limits the ability of state and local governmental agencies to win fee awards from citizens bringing lawsuits under the state’s open government laws -DB
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law SB 768 on August 6 a measure vital to maintaining the ability [...]