Question
I filed a code violation complaint in 2005 because of hoarding and abandoned vehicles on a neighbor’s easement. Many things have transpired since but I cannot get an answer to why the County did not simply warn the owner; clean up and bill him as muni. code states & as building inspector has told me is normally the case. This is a mentally ill individual who has many restraining orders against him by County staff…yet they saw no reason to withhold my name from him!
I want access to everything related, emails and paper files to help protect myself. I assume this is CPRA request. Any detailed advice is appreciated.
Answer
You would indeed request the records under the Public Records Act, Govt. Code section 6250 et seq.
There is extensive information about the Public Records Act on First Amendment Coalition’s website.
Go to the Public Records page where you’ll find many resources on the CPRA including:
Primer on using the Public Records Act and
Please be aware that some of the information you seek may be exempt pursuant to Govt. Code section 6254(f), which permits, but does not require, an agency to withhold “Records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes.”
Bryan Cave LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition and responds to FAC hotline inquiries. In responding to these inquiries, we can give general information regarding open government and speech issues but cannot provide specific legal advice or representation.
Asked & Answered posts should not be relied on as legal advice, and FAC makes no guarantees about their completeness or accuracy. All posts carry a date of publication that readers should take note of in assessing their usefulness, given that laws and interpretations of them may change over time. Posts predating Jan. 1, 2023, that discuss the California Public Records Act may contain statute numbers no longer in use. Please see this page for a table showing how the California Public Records Act has been renumbered.