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Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Does City Council’s Rule Against Holding Up Signs At Meetings Violate the First Amendment?

City council meeting attendees have been told they can't hold up signs. The mayor told people not to talk or to take their conversations outside. If residents in the audience even whisper to one another, a police officer walks over and tells them to stop talking or leave. Recently a resident wrote to the […]

January 20, 2021
Asked and Answered

First Amendment Protest Rights

First Amendment Rights Violated by Restricting Access on Public Sidewalk

We were peacefully walking by a Scientology event which was held at a hotel in Florida. There were scores of people on the sidewalk. A police officer moonlighting for Scientology told us that they did not want us on the sidewalk (which is public) and that we would have to leave (we have a […]

November 30, 2018
Asked and Answered

CPRA

If A Lawyer Sends A Threatening Letter to A City Attorney Marked “Confidential” Is It?

The entire re-casting of the agreement between the City and the County was initiated with a letter from a lawyer who wrote the City Attorney a letter. He attached a draft civil complaint of what they might file, a central set of arguments the consideration of which must have led to further discussions, […]

November 5, 2018
Latest News

Blog

California shouldn’t price the public out of public records. Democracy is at stake.

[…] could refrain from conducting oversight of state agencies. When you price the public out of public records, important information will remain out of reach for all. More: Want government records? This California lawmaker wants you to pay more for them (3/26/2026) Pebble Beach golf, Maui resorts, European tours: How special interests woo California lawmakers (3/20/2026)
- Government Transparency and Accountability
April 6, 2026
Latest News

Press Release

Cal Poly Student Journalist, FAC Sue University for Withholding Public Records

[…] at Mustang News, the student paper at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), today sued the school for violating the California Public Records Act by refusing to disclose public records she requested more than 18 months ago. Wilson made the requests while researching stories on campus sexual assault, labor violations alleged […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
April 23, 2024
Latest News

Blog

‘You Belong.’ Inside FAC’s Three Days at a College Journalism Conference

Approximately 700 students and educators gathered for the keynote panel at the Associated Collegiate Press’ national conference in San Francisco on March 5, which was moderated by ACP board member Tamara Zellars Buck and featured FAC press education specialist Thadeus Greenson, as well as working and student journalists.

March 17, 2026
Latest News

Blog

Despite Transparency Laws, FAC is Still Fighting for Police Records

A San Diego Police Department police dog attacks Marcus Evans immediately after he’s shot with a beanbag round. (Screengrab from video shot by 619 News Media.)
- Government Transparency and Accountability
February 12, 2026
Events

Newsgathering

Behind the Headlines: A Public Records Training Session for Journalists

[…] California; and Bay City News Foundation, with grant support from the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, hosted Behind the Headlines, a public records training session. This session covered strategies for acquiring public records, tricks for overcoming barriers, ideas for stories that have impact, and included legal expertise from the First Amendment Coalition. See the […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
August 10, 2024
Latest News

Blog

Redding police release bodycam footage to newsroom after FAC advocacy

[…] its credit, the city then agreed to disclose the video footage without litigation. But it shouldn’t have taken a lawyer’s letter to force disclosure. Public trust in government — and especially in law enforcement — depends on transparency. When police officers cause significant injury, justifiably or otherwise, the people have a right to the […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
November 25, 2025
Latest News

Cases Press Release

FAC Represents Buen Vecino in Lawsuit for Public Records About High-Profile Immigration Raid

[…] person died after falling from a greenhouse roof, and more than 300 individuals were arrested. Federal officers tear-gassed protestors. Elected officials denounced the raid, which was widely covered by local and national press. Weeks later, Buen Vecino asked the sheriff’s department for copies of "any and all body-worn camera footage, including audio, video, or […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
November 17, 2025