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New ruling in FAC case opens door to release of state bar records needed for affirmative action research

FAC June 10, 2011

In an important decision on freedom of information, a California appeals court today ruled that State Bar records about the race and ethnicity of Bar applicants are subject to a “common law” right of public access which, following further proceedings, could result in their disclosure–stripped of all names and identifying information–for academic research into the effects of affirmative action policies. The decision, in a lawsuit filed by UCLA Professor Richard Sander and the First Amendment

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A&A: Charter board meetings flout Brown Act rules

FAC June 7, 2011

Q: Can Charter Boards hold special meetings, with limited notice on just any subject? Can they go into closed session and report out publicly that no action was taken, then order the CEO to do what was decided in the closed session? Can a vote be taken to approve signature of a disclosure filing that contains conflict of interest information and then the board president refuse to sign it in a timely fashion? A: Addressing

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The secret’s out: transit system needs to come clean

FAC May 26, 2011

The Bay Area Rapid Transit District, in response to charges of “secrecy and bureaucracy run amok,” has promised to reverse a years-long practice of holding closed meetings about the public’s business. After a blistering editorial by the Contra Costa Times, the district’s board of directors acknowledged that as many as 20 committees have met privately about issues directly affecting riders and taxpayers. In one case, the Times reported, a committee met in secret to discuss

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A&A: The board reached ‘a unanimous decision’ but also claimed ‘no action was taken’ in closed session

FAC May 25, 2011

Q: I am a director of a charter high school who was recently put on administrative leave (via an email that stated it was by unanimous decision of the board) following a closed meeting at which they announced “No action was taken.” I do not understand how no action could have been taken yet there was a unanimous decision of the Board. There have been multiple Brown Act violations by this board but this is

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Legislator seeks to set privacy rules for Facebook

FAC May 16, 2011

A state senator from San Leandro has introduced legislation that would require Facebook and other social networking sites to let new users establish privacy settings at the same time they register. State Sen. Ellen Corbett, a Democrat, argues that users shouldn’t have to give up their private information by default. Opponents object to government imposition of privacy rules and assert that the bill could have unintended consequences that actually reduce privacy The billed, SB242, passed

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