donal brown

Under Obama federal agencies still fighting record requests

The Washington Post reports that federal agencies are still balking at releasing records to the public, claiming that it would interfere with internal decision-making or compromise national security. In Obama’s first year, the number of Freedom of  Information Act lawsuits filed exceeds the number filed in each of Bush’s last two years. -DB The Washington Post January 27, 2010 By Carol D. Leonnig More than 300 individuals and groups have sued the government to get

Read More »

Santa Barbara university student council suddenly closes meeting

The Associated Students Legislative Council at the University of California, Santa Barbara closed a part of their Wednesday night meeting without prior notice or disclosing before hand their reasons prompting complaints that the state’s open government laws had been violated. -DB Daily Nexus January 28, 2010 By Elliott Rosenfeld and Mackenzie Weinger The Associated Students Legislative Council barred all members of the public yesterday from a portion of their regular Wednesday night meeting. At 6:15 p.m.,

Read More »

Yuba City: Questions arise about possible open government violation in proposed raise for community college chancellor

The Yuba Community College District board may have violated California’s Brown Act which requires the board to hold discussions about salary increases in open session. -DB Daily Democrat Commentary January 28, 2010 By Erin Tracy A decision to approve a salary hike for the Yuba Community College District chancellor might be considered insult to injury for those impacted by budget cuts, but is also an apparent violation of the Brown Act. At its Jan. 20 meeting,

Read More »

Ukiah: Supervisors consider appointing ad-hoc committee on retiree health insurance

The County Board of Supervisors is considering appointing an ad-hoc committee to consider ways to preserve health benefits for retirees but some supervisors think the issue is too important to discuss  behind closed doors. -DB The Ukiah Daily Journal January 27, 2010 By Tiffany Revelle Conflict about forming an ad-hoc committee to study available choices was the sticking point in a Tuesday debate about how to preserve health benefits for county retirees. Supervisor John McCowen’s

Read More »

Open government laws seen as benefit rather than burden

An attorney and newly elected member of the Modesto Schools board sets out the benefits of complying with California’s open meeting laws including the value of hearing a wide range of views from other members of the public bodies and from the public itself. -DB Modesto Bee January 27, 2010 By Ruben Villalobos For more than 50 years, local public agencies in California have been guided by the principles of open government and transparency established

Read More »