See our November 2024 SF Voter Guide for a nonpartisan analysis of measures on the San Francisco ballot, for the election occurring Nov. 5, 2024. The following measure is on that ballot. In the wake of years of FBI probes and ongoing scandals, Proposition C aims to fight corruption in San Francisco by creating a local inspector general […]
Category: Open Government
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Media, Open Government
Why Do Governments Keep Information From the Public? A Veteran Journalist Weighs In
Providing records and information to the public can be time consuming, expensive and legally risky, said award-winning journalist Miranda Spivack at a recent event hosted by the San Francisco Public Press.
Posted inFrom the Newsroom, Government & Politics, Open Government
Join Us to Learn How Government Secrecy Can Hurt You
Local governments are secretly making deals with corporations that can threaten public health and safety, and even democracy.
To learn more, join us at our July 11 event on this topic: “What You Don’t Know About Local Government Can Hurt You.”
Posted inCity Hall, Elections, Government & Politics, Open Government, San Francisco March 2024 Election Guide
Proposition D — Changes to Local Ethics Laws
Proposition D would amend the city’s Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code by expanding the kinds of gifts that city officials are prohibited from accepting. It also expands existing rules to bar people who have tried to influence city officials in the past or who have business with city departments from giving gifts.
Posted inCalifornia, Economy & Business, Government & Politics, Law & Justice, Open Government, Public Safety, Utilities
Court Says California Utilities Commission Must Obey State Public Records Act
In a broad victory for government transparency, an appeals court has ruled that the California Public Utilities Commission must comply with a state law requiring all agencies to promptly release information to the public.
In a unanimous decision issued Friday, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said the commission’s lengthy and open-ended administrative procedures violate the strict timelines of the California Public Records Act.
The ruling could bring more accountability to the commission, which has faced criticism of excessive secrecy and ineffectiveness, advocates said. It regulates corporations ranging from utilities to ride-hailing services.
Posted inCalifornia, Economy & Business, Government & Politics, Law & Justice, Open Government, Ride-Hailing’s Dark Data, Utilities
How California Utilities Commission Undermines the Public Records Act
Despite vows to become more transparent, the California Public Utilities Commission has systematically violated the public’s right to know about its handling of deadly disasters and corporate scandals, according to court records and First Amendment attorneys.
Applying century-old laws meant to fight corruption, the commission has effectively limited court enforcement of the state’s public records act. But a state appeals court on May 3 is hearing a lawsuit challenging that practice and could bring more transparency to the commission.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Media, Open Government
After Journalist Arrests, State Legislation Aims to Protect Reporter Access to Protests
Freedom of information advocates and journalists have criticized a number of instances in which law enforcement officers arrested, detained or even injured reporters at work covering protests in California. In response, state Sen. Mike McGuire authored SB 98, which aims to codify journalists’ right to access demonstrations.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Government & Politics, Open Government, Public Safety
State Senator Who Made Police Disciplinary Records Public Pushes Transparency Expansion
State Sen. Nancy Skinner wrote SB 1421 to open up law enforcement disciplinary records. In 2020, she moved to expand that legislation to grant access to records about officers who engaged in biased or discriminatory behavior or used excessive or unreasonable force.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Government & Politics, Open Government, Utilities
Reporter Investigates Firing of Utility Regulator’s Director After She Uncovered Missing $200 Million
After she pointed to millions of dollars in uncollected fees for public services and alleged serious mismanagement problems, the executive director of California’s utility regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission, was fired. Commissioners said Alice Stebbins had misled the public about missing funds and accused her of favoritism in hiring. But an investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica looked into the dismissal, and found the director had been right about the missing money.
Posted inCity Hall, Government & Politics, Open Government
With Budget Cuts, Can the Ethics Commission Still Counter S.F. Corruption?
Members of the San Francisco Ethics Commission let out a sigh of relief last week when they learned from Mayor London Breed’s budget proposal that their funding would be sliced by 3.3%, far less than the 10% they had been expecting. But they warned that even the smaller-than-expected cuts would still have an impact on the political watchdog group’s effectiveness.