Faced with fierce opposition, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch revised her order designed to limit public access to police videos retaining only a stipulation that the defense and prosecutors had to give 15-day notice before releasing any videos. Laws to restrict public access to police videos are also currently in vogue in the state legislature. (Pacific Sun, August 24, 2016, by Tom Gogola)
When the City of Industry allowed an independent reform adviser to sit in on closed sessions, it may have violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law. Former Attorney Bill Lockyer’s contract with the city only covers reform efforts so his presence at sessions covering other issues would violate the act. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune, August 29, 2016, by Jason Henry)
Palos Verdes Peninsula residents allege that the local school board violated the Brown Act in discussing a solar contract no longer in play. They allege in a lawsuit that a June 22 agenda failed to include the news that the solar contract would be considered in closed session and the board failed to report on that session. The suit also contends that the board included the solar contract on a July 13 meeting agenda without the required 72 hours notice. (The Daily Breeze, August 25, 2016, by Cynthia Washicko)
In another case involving solar, the Novato City Council failed to list a discussion of proposed solar panels for a city building at Hamilton, the former air base, on its December 15 agenda. Now citizens are suing to tear down the panels down, claiming that they were never properly informed about the panels and their design. (Marin Independent Journal, August 25, 2016, editorial)
A candidate for city council blasted statements about his qualifications for office made by the city’s economic development coordinator in a Facebook post. The coordinator claimed the candidate was a “carpetbagger.” The city attorney said the coordinator had the right to free speech. (Tehachapi News, August 19, 2016, by Jill Barnes Nelson)
A dispute over the Finance Committee emerged in Ridgecrest on whether the committee was established under the Brown Act or as an ad hoc committee. When citizens and a reporter were asked to leave a August 10 meeting to clear the way for a private session, there was some concern since the item for closed session was listed on the agenda as a topic for open discussion clearly a Brown Act violation. (Ridgecrest Daily Independent, August 18, 2016, by Jessica Weston)
After an arrest for allegedly filming teen-agers playing strip poker and supplying them with alcohol at a summer camp he runs, Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva alleged that council members had violated the Brown Act for holding a joint press conference in the aftermath of the arrest. Jim Ewart of the California Newspaper Publishers Association said that since no official business was discussed or any action taken, the council was within the law. (Stockton Record, August 12, 2016, by Roger Phillips)
One Comment
Video camera footage should be made available to the public in serious matters. The officer who conducts him or her self in a proper, ethical manner, should welcome the opportunity to display the conduct of the performance of his or duties.
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