San Diego is taking steps to strengthen a long standing law after a series of investigative reports and a grand jury report showed the city failed to investigate the financial interests behind more than $3 billion in contracts with over 1,000 companies. The 1992 voter approved law was prompted by revelations that the city was about to sign a real estate deal with an alleged mobster. The law requires the city to disclose the name and identity of all parties in a deal including those in the background. (inewsource.org, October 3, 207, by Brad Racino)
The World Unified School District denied it violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meting law, in settling a federal lawsuit. The case was settled in March but an investigation of agendas showed no closed session items on the settlement or any announcement of the settlement. The district justified their action by pointing out they delegated the matter to their attorney in a “properly agendized closed session.” (The Alpenhorn, October 1, 2017, by Gail Fry)
Elk Grove citizens who filed a lawsuit last June charging Brown Act violations and seeking correspondence on a $400 million casino project suffered a setback September 22 when a judge rejected their request for a former council member to answer questions under oath. The items for inquiry include text messaging by council members during meetings, use of private e-mail accounts to conduct official business and serial meetings. (Elk Grove News, September 30, 2017)
Allegations of violations of the Brown Act have surfaced in the investigation of a Laguna Niguel mayor who resigned over charges of bullying city employees, demanding a discount on personal purchase owing to his position and making threats to get favors for his children involved in sports and theater. A lawyer claimed that in the course of the investigation, the city council made decisions in closed sessions particularly in regard to retaining a law firm. The city denied the allegations. (The Orange County Register, August 16, 2017, by Shane Newell)