Search Results

Showing 261 - 270 of 1468 results

Asked and Answered

Brown Act

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

[…] their city,"but in the context of a city council proceeding, this interest must be balanced with the public body's need to "be addressed and deal[] with its agenda."Id.at 1425. However, note again that any restriction must be a content-neutral "time, place, and manner" restriction that does little more than ensure meetings can proceed in […]

January 20, 2021
Pages

Financials

[…] transparency, free expression and a free press. We’re trusted and top-rated: We have earned top ratings from the most trusted independent charity evaluators in the United States for our efficient operations and sound financial management. We’re transparent: Transparency and disclosure are at the core of our operations. We are committed to ensuring that key […]

July 3, 2024
Cases

Public Meetings

ACLU and First Amendment Coalition v. City of Fresno

With the ACLU of Northern California, FAC sued the City of Fresno for holding secret budget negotiations in violation of the Brown Act, California’s open meetings law for local governments.
- Government Transparency and Accountability
July 8, 2024
Latest News

Are Myths Killing the Newspaper Business?

[…] of American history, most newspapers were partisan rags. That was true of the Los Angeles Times until Otis Chandler became its publisher in 1960. Others were commercial notice sheets much needed by shippers and traders, but priced outside the reach of ordinary citizens. The shift to the Golden Age blessing of objective, independent down-the-middle […]

February 24, 2010
Latest News

Blog

2007 Open Government Legislative Roundup: Some successes and some failures

[…] child under state care. SB 343, introduced by Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod, (D-Montclair) amends the Brown Act to require legislative bodies to make available staff analyses of meeting agenda items at the same time as the agenda is released. Prior to this legislation these records were only available through a Public Records Act request. Gov. […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
June 3, 2009
Posts

Public Meetings

FAC opposes bill that would weaken open-meetings protections

[…] controversial civilian elections committee in Shasta County, and a budget committee in San Diego, just to name a few examples. Consider what an all-virtual government meeting means for community members who make their voices heard on issues using tried-and-true tactics like holding signs, wearing matching shirts or buttons, staging protests outside halls of power, […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
June 3, 2024
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

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

[…] is divided into department sections. The Mayor prohibits public comment by department, instead he only permits public comment at the end of each day's meetings, and then the public is limited to three minutes. I believe this is a Brown Act violation because each department should be considered a separate agenda item. Am I correct.

November 14, 2014
Asked and Answered

Brown Act School Records

My statement was inaccurately depicted in published minutes

[…] When the minutes were made available my statements were mischaracterized. What are my rights regarding my statements recorded as factual? Should I send a "cure and correct notice" asking for my statements to be recorded correctly? I see the recording of my statements as removing key points regarding problems I see in the management […]

December 6, 2010
Asked and Answered

CPRA Police Records

Denied request for identities of homicide victims four years after the crime

[…] about police records you may be able to help with. I'm trying to verify the identities of some homicide victims, four years after the crime. I've asked for the name and date of birth of the victims, but the department says they may not release the info. Do you know if and when they […]

November 16, 2014
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA First Amendment

Utility District board member access to agenda information

I am a board member at my local Public Utility District. I requested information on an agenda item and did not receive it. I submitted questions for response and was denied. During the meeting I could not get any questions answered. Do have any advice as to what I can do?

March 30, 2016