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Federal court says White House visitor logs are public information

donal brown August 18, 2011

A federal district court in Washington, D.C. ruled that White House visitor logs are a part of the public record and subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Secret Service had argued that the logs were not agency records under the FOIA but White House records so under the Presidential Records Act. It also cited national security issues in denying requests for the log. The court ordered the Secret Service to review the logs

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California: Oakland transportation agency reconsiders move to San Francisco after alleged open meeting violation

donal brown August 18, 2011

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted to reconsider a decision to move from Oakland to San Francisco after critics alleged they violated the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, in approving the move. The commission is now considering a site in Oakland along with the San Francisco site. -db From KGO-TV, August 17, 2011, by Laura Anthony. Full story

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Santa Barbara newspaper loses battle with union

donal brown August 18, 2011

The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Santa Barbara News-Press owner conducted a retaliatory campaign against employees trying to unionize. The owner had argued that any decision for the employees would abridge her First Amendment right to control editorial content. Fifteen employees resigned in 2006 claiming that the owner tried to improperly influence the news-gathering process, and the owner subsequently fired eight employees for engaging in union activity. The NLRB ordered the owner to reinstate

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A&A: School district claims too busy to fulfill document request

FAC August 18, 2011

Q: I have made numerous attempts to view board meeting minutes, a contract with a specific vendor, payment documents to that vendor, and the names of the other bidders who were not selected for the position at the School District offices. Each time they sent me away saying that they were too busy to get the documents for me, and I would have to send them a written request, which I did. Even so, they

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A&A: How to access Health & Safety building layout plans

FAC August 17, 2011

Q: I need copies of site plans and store layout plans for evidence in a Planning Commission Appeal. I am aware of Health & Safety Code Section 19851 requiring permission from an architect. However, how does the Records Act affect 19851. Is my assumption that the City needs to disclose emails on specific subjects correct? A: It sounds like you know that California’s Health and Safety Code requires city and county building departments to maintain

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