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    Showing results for government bodies must comply brown act 54951 act90 54951 act 54951 act90 54951 54951 54951

  • Posts

    Newsgathering

    FAC Opposes Restrictive Media Policy in Sebastopol

    […] important work of journalists in keeping the community informed. News Coverage: Sebastopol Times: Why is the city of Sebastopol making it harder for reporters to cover city government? (2/28/2025) Press Democrat: Sebastopol’s proposed news media policy sparks criticism from residents, free-press advocates (3/4/2025) Press Democrat: PD Editorial: A free press under attack in Washington […]

    March 6, 2025

  • Latest News

    Advocacy Blog

    Criticism Is Not Defamation. It’s Free Speech.

    […] that "derogatory comments against district employees or others made in a board meeting can be actionable as defamation under certain circumstances." This statement violates the First Amendment and California law. Today FAC sent this letter to the school board informing it that such threats are unconstitutional, emphasizing that "critique of government is democracy, not defamation."

    October 28, 2024

  • Posts

    First Amendment Public Meetings

    FAC Urges Merced School Board President to Stop Threatening Speech Rights

    […] immunity for statements made in legislative proceedings such as school board meetings whenever the statements have some relation or connection to the proceeding." "More fundamentally, critique of government is democracy, not defamation," Cappetta wrote. The letter asks Brooks to disavow the statement and publicly affirm the board’s commitment to the First Amendment. As of […]

    October 28, 2024

  • Pages

    The First

    The First celebrates icons, journalists, activists, and attorneys who embody the rights and values FAC fights for every day — to speak truth to power, to publish uncomfortable facts, and to harness the power of the people to bring about change.  

    July 20, 2024

  • Pages

    2021 Impact Report

    In 2021, we encountered barriers to basic government information — from public health agencies about the COVID-19 pandemic to police departments confronting social unrest over racial injustice. FAC was there to protect our rights.

    March 2, 2022

  • Posts

    FAC Supports AB 339’s Open Meeting Provisions

    FAC stands with a broad coalition of civic organizations backing a measure that would enhance public participation in government meetings in California. Read our joint letters in support of California Assembly Bill 339.

    April 1, 2021

  • Cases

    Newsgathering

    FAC Asks Court to Depublish Opinion Misconstruing Reporter Shield Law Protections

    […] reporter’s notes of an interview with a co-defendant. As explained in the letter, the decision diluted the rights of reporters by misconstruing the burden a criminal defendant must carry to justify piercing the reporter’s shield law. From the letter: "Absent depublication, the will make the shield law less effective and encourage criminal defendants to […]

    January 9, 2024

  • Cases

    First Amendment

    Porter v. Martinez

    […] her speech has been chilled by the threat of continued enforcement. Unfortunately, both the district court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the government. In her dissent, Ninth Circuit Judge Marsha Berzon noted that the majority’s ruling upheld "a ban on a popular form of political expressive conduct" without any […]

    December 12, 2023

  • Posts

    First Amendment

    FAC Urges Alameda Board of Supervisors to Reject Ordinance that Criminalizes Observing or Reporting on Sideshows

    […] events occurring in public, even if those events are illegal. Such reporting is essential to informing the public, exposing or protesting unlawful conduct, or otherwise speaking out or petitioning the government. The draft ordinance would unconstitutionally punish the exercise of these core First Amendment rights. See the letter to the Alameda Board of Supervisors below.

    June 13, 2023