First Amendment News

A federal judge struck a compromise to allow a Virginia woman to post the Social Security numbers of public officials but not those of private citizens, all of which can be easily obtained through legal means. In posting the numbers of public officials, the woman is trying to get them to pass laws to protect privacy and curtail identity theft. -DB Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press June 4, 2009 By Kathleen Cullinan A

Claims to the contrary, Governor Scharzenengger’s administration has performed poorly in providing records to the public, but he announced recently that some important information about contracts and audits be posted on the Internet, welcome steps towards improved transparency. -DB CalAware Commentary June 04, 2009 OPEN GOVERNMENT—Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today ordered the Internet posting of all state contracts valued at $5,000, as well as internal and external audits of state departments and agencies, including information on

Those challenging a $2 per page fee for public records say that, under state public record laws, public agencies may only charge for actual costs – a maximum of ten cents per page -DB Monterey County Herald June 2, 2009 By Virginia Hennessey If you’ve been paying $2 per page for records at the Monterey County Clerk’s Office, you’re due a refund, according to Southern California attorneys who are suing the county for allegedly violating

A former newspaper editor and publisher says ‘balderdash” to a city attorney’s justification in closing a crucial meeting on a 35-unit development in Livermore. -DB Contra Costa Times Commentary June 7, 2009 By Tim Hunt THE LIVERMORE City Council and its legal advisers have been playing fast and loose with the state’s open meeting act. The council met in closed session on April 13 to discuss strategy for its hostile annexation of the Hilliker Place

Students in a animal-health program claim the program was eliminated after an incomplete investigation and that the Hartnell College Board of Trustees failed to post notice of their meetings on the topic and destroyed their notes of the meetings. The District Attorney is investigating whether the Brown Act applies in this case. -DB Salinas Californian June 5, 2009 By Leslie Griffey Animal-health students are rebelling against a proposal to cut their Hartnell College program. The