Coalition News

Announcing FAC’s “Kiss” and “Kiss-Off” awards

In keeping with the new normal of polarized politics, FAC has launched a new feature that views the world of First Amendment issues as consisting of good guys and bad guys. The good guys, on whom we bestow a “First Amendment Kiss,” are people and institutions who, by their acts, words, or example, strengthen free speech safeguards, public access to government information and decision-making, and the accountability of elected officials.  The bad guys, whom we

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CalPERS sued for documents related to failed $100 million investment in Page Mill properties

The First Amendment Coalition has sued CalPERS to obtain records on why the pension fund invested $100 million in Page Mill Properties, the biggest residential landlord in East Palo Alto -SMD Palo Alto Daily News By Bonnie Eslinger July 20, 2010 A nonprofit public interest organization has sued CalPERS to obtain records that may shed light on why the pension fund would invest $100 million in Page Mill Properties, which until recently was the biggest

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PRESS RELEASE: FAC Suit Against CalPERS Seeks Records on Controversial E Palo Alto Real Estate Investment

FAC—Monday July 19—The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) today announced that it has sued CalPERS, the retirement system for California government workers, over access to records about the agency’s ill-fated investment in an East Palo Alto residential real estate development that has gone bust–at a loss to CalPERS of all of its $100 million stake in the controversial venture. FAC, a nonprofit based in San Rafael, CA, filed suit Friday in San Francisco Superior Court, demanding

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Court orders release of county retirees’ pension payments in case filed by FAC and the Sacramento Bee

In an important legal victory, the Superior Court in Sacramento has ruled that the pension system for county government workers must make public retirees’ names, and their pension benefits, for all retirees receiving $100,000 or more per year. The decision is the result of a lawsuit filed jointly by the First Amendment Coalition and the Sacramento Bee. Here is the court’s written opinion: [gview file=”https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Sac-Bee-FAC-vs-SCERS-final-order.pdf”] . From the Sacramento Bee: Judge orders benefit disclosure by

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FAC, media coalition win unsealing of search warrant affidavit in Gizmodo/iPhone matter

The media coalition organized by the First Amendment Coalition (FAC) has been successful in securing disclosure of the search warrant affidavit used to search an online journalist’s home for evidence concerning the Gizmodo/Apple/missing iPhone investigation. Joining FAC in the unsealing motion were the Associated Press, Wired.com, Bloomberg News, CNET, the LA Times and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. San Mateo Superior Court Judge Clifford Cretan, over the objection of the District Attorney’s Office, ordered the

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