FAC

A&A: Does A Closed Session Employment Termination Decision Violate the Brown Act?

Q: After four years of service as the Library Director of the City’s Public Library, I found out yesterday that I am to be terminated from this position. The decision took place during a special meeting of the Library Board. I was at the meeting, but not invited to attend the closed session. The meeting was agendized as “Public Employee Evaluation—Library Director “ and made no mention of possible disciplinary action. I received no noice

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A&A: Government Not Providing All Records Requested

Q: I submitted a CPRA and have not disclosed all of the documents from one of the categories I asked for. I requested specific photos of weapons that were found by park rangers and they are only releasing pictures from a portion of the ranger program. They did not disclose that there are additional photos, but a ranger I know who works for the government has stated that their supervisor is only asking them to

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A&A: Requested Email Failed to Disclose BCC Recipients

Q: I am a school district trustee with concerns about a fellow trustee. The district received a PRA request for an email sent from the board member’s personal email to his school email. It was blind copied (bcc’d) to others. The PRA request asked for the complete email, including recipients. An affidavit, signed by the board member says he provided email is an unaltered and true copy. But it is not. The email is provided and

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A&A: Do Volunteers Working with CA Prisoners Have the Right to Publish Stories About The Experience?

Q: What are the rights of a prison volunteer in California who wishes to write about his or her experience of working with prisoners in the realm of education, particularly if the education has an activist component around mass incarceration? California Code of Regulations Title 15, section 3261.1 specifies that the use of “facilities, staff, inmates” in the writing of books and magazine articles requires prior approval of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

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A&A: City Stonewalls CPRA Request for Sexual Harassment Complaints Against Council Member

Q: I recently submitted a public records act request asking for all complaints filed by city employees against sitting council members. As a local journalist, I got a tip that a council member may have had a number of sexual harassment complaints filed against him. After asking for several extensions, the city responded today. They objected to the request claiming: (a) it seeks documents and information protected by the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work-product doctrine

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