California open government roundup: Congressman attacks local newspaper

California Republican Congressman Devin Nunes charged in a campaign ad on radio and TV that the Fresno Bee was working with radicals to publish fake news stories. Nunes is known for his role in trying to discredit Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election. Nunes was upset about the Bee’s stories on Nunes’ investment in a winery. (Politico, July 18, 2018, by David Siders and Stephanie Murray)

Despite the publication of the details of a plea deal, a federal judge kept its details sealed to protect a defendant, an ex-police detective, and his family. The detective was charged with lying to the FBI, LAPD and Homeland Security investigating his contacts with the Mexican mafia and other crime groups. (Courthouse News Service, July 19. 2018, by Nathan Solis)

An editorial in the Marin Independent Journal, July 21, 2018, calls for transparency in the county supervisors’ move to acquire the San Geronimo Golf Course and convert it to open space. The editorial argued that the decision to purchase the course was made behind closed doors so the public was not privy to its deliberations. For the sake of building public trust, the county should drop their appeal of a recent court ruling mandating a public environmental review. The supervisors had tried to exempt themselves from the review.

The Oroville City Council rescinded a vote to censure the mayor charged with bullying employees and the public over allegations that the vote violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law. The council then voted again to censure the mayor. (Oroville Mercury-Register, July 20, 2018, by Steve Schoonover)

A Ventura County Star editorial of July 18, 2018, criticized the Simi Valley City Council for its habit of violating the Brown Act. The latest alleged violation came when the council did not properly announce and issue an agenda for a meeting to honor a soldier killed in Afghanistan. It claimed the meeting was only for ceremony so was not subject to the Brown Act, but in conducting the meeting, the council discussed the state sanctuary bill.

Writing in the Surf City Voice, July 17, 2018, John Earl charges that the Orange County Water District board failed to provide the public with information over its deliberations on a possible agreement with the Poseidon Resources to purchase desalinated water in a decades-long contract. The board conducted 25 “ad hoc” meetings with Poseidon between 2015 and 2018 without public participation.

The Santa Monica airport will shut down at the end of the year after a federal district court dismissed a challenge to the action and a ruling by a federal district judge last December that Santa Monica had not violated the Brown Act as alleged by holding secret meetings and closed door sessions. (Santa Monica Lookout, July 12, 2018, by Jorge Casuso)

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted again to provide $10.6 billion to the construction of two tunnels under the Sacramento Delta. FAC and the Food and Water Watch California claimed the previous vote violated the Brown Act in that it followed closed door communications between the district, Governor Jerry Brown and the Department of Water Resources.  (Tunnelling Journal, July 12, 2018, by Tris Thomas)

An ad hoc housing committee formed by the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council to address the housing crisis is breaking up after allegations of conflicts of interest and violations of the Brown Act. (Los Feliz Ledger, June 28, 2018,by Allison B. Cohen)

A Grand Jury report blistered the Riverdale Park Tract water district board for  its failure to raise water rates and for its disfunction, particularly in violating the Brown Act by failing to post meeting agendas and provide minutes from previous meetings. (Modesto Bee, June 21, 2018, by Garth Stapley)

The Kern County Grand Jury recommended the Tehachapi Union School District board should undergo training in the Brown Act. The jury found disquieting evidence of an e-mail chain the would violate the open meeting law. (Tehachapi News, June 14, 2018, by Dakota Allen)