A broad coalition of news organizations across California, including Voice of OC, has joined to urge Gov. Jerry Brown to veto bills that gut the state’s public records law.
Here’s the full text of the letter sent Wednesday to the governor:
Dear Gov. Brown:
We are a broad coalition of media organizations joining our colleagues at the California Newspaper Publishers Association to urge you to veto SB 71 and AB 76 if either weakens the California Public Records Act. Although we are encouraged by your announcement late today supporting the public’s right to know, we were stunned by this blatant and unwarranted attack.
As experts on compliance with our state’s current Public Records Act, we can assure you that many local jurisdictions will not — as some legislators suggest — voluntarily abide by best practices. In the real world, cities, counties, schools and government boards already spend abundant time and money trying not to comply with the act. Inordinate delays are typical, illegal denials common.
The voluntary system originally proposed under SB 71 and AB 76 will not save money, either. Instead, it would force news organizations and governments into expensive legal battles. This will burden governments even further, and place restraints on the free press.
We are especially concerned about the electronic records provision. This often is the simplest way for a government body to fulfill a request, saving time and trees. It also allows journalists to quickly analyze trends and spot aberrations hidden in the millions of rows and columns. If this is not an attempt to withhold public information, why make it harder for all to do their jobs?
California already is known for having one of the weakest public records laws in the nation. This is a shameful ranking that deserves your attention.
Sincerely,
Jim Boren, Executive Editor/Senior Vice President, The Fresno Bee
Ken Brusic, Editor and Senior Vice President, Orange County Register
Greg Burton, Executive Editor, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs
Ward Bushee, Editor and Executive Vice President, San Francisco Chronicle
David J. Butler, Editor and Senior Vice President, San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times and sister papers; Vice President for News, MediaNews Group, Representing the company’s 31 dailies in California
Sandra Duerr, Executive Editor and Vice President, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo
Nels Jensen, Editor/VP of News & Content, The Press-Enterprise, Riverside
Mark Katches, Editorial Director, The Center for Investigative Reporting, Berkeley. The nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit investigative unit
Scott Lewis, CEO, Voice of San Diego
John Moore, Editor, Ventura County Star
Kathleen Richards and Robert Gammon, Co-Editors, East Bay Express
Norberto Santana, Editor-in-Chief, Voice of Orange County
Russ Stanton, Vice President, Content, Southern California Public Radio
Joyce Terhaar, Executive Editor & SVP, The Sacramento Bee and sacbee.com