Community Update

Assembly Bill 76 and Senate Bill 71 are presently on
Governor Brown’s desk awaiting his signature or veto. These two pieces of
legislation are “trailers” to the Budget Bill passed within the last few days.
Neither has much to do with the budget, unless you agree that the “savings” to
local government which will result is a state budget issue.

What the two bills do do, among other things, is make
compliance with the California Pubic Records Act (PRA) “best practice” for
local agencies rather than being  “required”
as present law does. The PRA becomes a virtual nullity, in other words.  

Several newspapers’ editorial staffs, in opposing these
bills, have enumerated examples of information which would not have seen the
“light of day” but for the PRA. I would like to add Mr. Tom Lochner’s exposure
of the wrongdoings at Hercules’ City Hall to that list.

These two bills are a giant step backwards in our quest for
open and transparent government. I urge you to call Governor Brown at
916-445-2841 and speak out in opposition to these bills by asking the Governor
to veto AB76 and Section 4 of SB71. I called a few minutes ago and was
connected with a live person.

Should, it come to pass that the Governor signs these two
bills into law, I will ask that the Hercules’ City Council adopt a Resolution
declaring it is the policy of the City of Hercules to continue to comply with
all requirements of the PRA as these exist without these amendment.