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2011

A&A: Denied records of homicide investigation

FAC December 23, 2011

Q: Two family members were involved in a murder/suicide. On the night of the incident the homicide detective told me I would be able to get copies of the investigation once done. The investigation is done, but I am being told that I have no right to files and that the homicide dept. does not have to disclose their investigation files. I spoke to the district attorney’s office and the local sheriff station. Both said

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A&A: How do we enforce the Brown Act?

FAC December 22, 2011

Q: After nearly two years of trying, we finally got a photograph of three of our County Board of Supervisors (we have a five member Board) having lunch together as they regularly do. We can’t take it to the DA as he has been compromised as has our County Counsel. What can we do? A: The Brown Act, at Govt. Code section 54952.2, defines a “meeting” as “any congregation of a majority of the members

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A&A: Supervisors multi-tasking during public comment

FAC December 21, 2011

Q: During a hearing on a massive development project the several county supervisors walked around the room, talked on cell phones, or to each other or staff, worked on their computers and otherwise did not listen to any of the public testimony. This is particularly discouraging because this is a massive project with terrible impacts to our community. Does failure to pay attention to the testimony being giver or discussing the matter privately between themselves

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A&A: Can a private company profit by selling public information

FAC December 21, 2011

Q: Can a private company make a profit by selling public information? Or is there a law that says they cannot take public information and charge people to look at it? A: There is no restriction on a private entity that obtains public records from charging someone for copies of those records. The Public Records Act’s prohibition on charging for copies, beyond the direct costs of duplication, applies only to governmental agencies. Those who want

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Federal agencies evading freedom of informaton requests

donal brown December 20, 2011

A recent study found that under the Obama administration, in 2010 federal agencies used exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 33 percent more than they did under George W. Bush in 2008. Watchdog groups are now trying to hold Obama to his pledge to make his administration the most transparent and accountable in history. -db From Federal Times, December 15, 2011, by Sean Reilly. Full story  

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