Records attorney: City must disclose rally cop count
November 18, 2008: Although the city attorney and police chief have contended that disclosing the number of law enforcement personnel employed at the annual biker rally could endanger the community's safety, an open records expert told the Free Lance today that the public has a right to the information and he said there's no "statutory or case authority" supporting their stance. Read the full article here.
Sunshine law drafted by citizens to be on council agenda
November 13, 2008 Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington said that he will put the citizen drafted sunshine law on the December 8 city council agenda. If the council does not approve it, or only approves a watered-down version of it, group members say they plan on getting it on the 2010 ballot as an initiative.
Pasadena school district withholds public records of alleged theft of school bond funds
October 30, 2008: Pasadena Unified School District officials refused Thursday to release invoices, an attorney's report and other public records related to their investigation of at least $80,000 they say is unaccounted for from a 1997 school bond.
Superintendent Edwin Diaz said the district's legal counsel advised him to withhold all records and other details surrounding the alleged theft of Measure Y money that was earmarked for improvements at Washington Middle School in 2006. Read the full article here.
Police 'sunshine' proposal worries San Jose mayor, council members
October 14, 2008: A citizen task force's proposal to require broader release of San Jose police reports met stiff resistance Tuesday from the mayor and council members, who cited law enforcement concerns about making crime-fighting more difficult.
The 15-member Sunshine Reform Task Force's proposal would generally make San Jose police reports public records, with exemptions to protect personal safety, privacy or ongoing investigations. Civil rights and liberties groups and advocates for domestic-violence victims argued the plan will bolster community confidence in a police department many consider too secretive. Read the full article here.
| 
