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Asked and Answered

Brown Act

How can I stop city from violating Brown Act during budget meetings?

Under the Brown Act’s public comment requirements, Gov't Code section 54954.3(a), a legislative body may adopt "easonable regulations" for public comment periods, including regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on particular issues and for each individual speaker, but the body may not "prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, […]

November 14, 2014
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA

What Constitutes a Local Agency

[…] provides that records created, owned or maintained by that entity are public records that may be examined or copied upon request, unless one of the Act's many exemptions to disclosure apply. The exemptions can be found at Govt Code Section 6254 in the PRA. The full text of the PRA can be found here. […]

June 14, 2009
Latest News

Blog

Special Commentary | You Have the Right to Record Law Enforcement Officers — Including at the Border

[…] Mr. Ramirez, forcibly took his cell phone, and deleted his photographs — effectively interfering with Mr. Ramirez’s constitutional right to record. The right to record is critical for holding law enforcement, especially CBP officials, accountable for abuses at the border. Recording and documenting interactions with federal law enforcement officers are especially critical tools for […]
- Free Expression
- Government Transparency and Accountability
June 9, 2022
Latest News

Blog

Vallejo’s bankruptcy highlights need for transparency in city-union contracts

By Peter Scheer The city of Vallejo has taken the extraordinary step of filing for federal bankruptcy protection. While the financial distress of this San Francisco suburb (population 117,000) is especially acute, its fiscal problems are fundamentally the same as those facing many California cities and counties--and, indeed, the state itself. To the familiar […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Meetings
June 3, 2009
Latest News

Blog

FAC lawsuit leads to model CPRA policy for dot-gov email

[…] the right to petition, that right has never been seen as requiring confidentiality in communications with government. Auburn's email policy would be improved by either removing this exemption or, as a compromise, requiring disclosure of council members' communications with persons or firms having business before the City Council. The San Jose and Auburn policies […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Records
December 23, 2012
Latest News

FAC News Press Release

NEW name, NEW website, Bigger role, Same mission

[…] borders in an era when information published in, say, Eureka, CA is available instantly and everywhere via the internet. The First Amendment Coalition ("FAC" or "the Coalition" for short) for many years has been involved in legal matters, including federal appellate cases, whose effects extend beyond California’s borders. More recently we have worked to […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Records
September 22, 2009
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Can I publish public records? Confidential records of public importance?

Can I upload court and legislative abstracts for cases –of which I have been involved- and the corresponding county ordinance and state laws used in these prosecutions, which are publicly accessible? Additionally, I want to upload one settlement agreement that has a confidentiality clause binding the County and the defendant to non-disclosure, a case […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

CPRA Police Records

Public Record, and 911 Call Logs

We submitted a Public Records Request to the Police Department seeking a copy of their 'Call for Service’ log, known also as the Daily Dispatch Log, Police Blotter or 911 Call Log. They denied the request indicating that they don't have this type of information, therefore are not required to compile such information. We […]

June 14, 2009
Latest News

Blog

How FAC Fights for Police Transparency

[…] with a FAQ and sample request letters. CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PRIMERThis handbook offers an overview of our state’s main freedom of information law, with discussion of exemptions, fees, and best practices for submitting requests. The Public Records Act was renumbered in 2023, and this guide has been updated to reflect the new code […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Records
August 9, 2023
Asked and Answered

CPRA Police Records

Police deny request for 911 tape

[…] suicide or homicide. Prior to my formal request, the police refused to discuss the case citing its "ongoing nature." My formal request to review the 911 call for service was denied because it was not deemed contemporaneous. The denial was based on the 1993 Kuzar case. It is my understanding that case recognizes that […]

December 30, 2011