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Watchdog Group Launches Petition to Protect Brown Act

Californians Aware is asking voters to sign a petition that would protect key provisions of the Brown Act, the state's open-government law.

A Sacramento-based organization launched a petition drive Sunday to amend the California constitution to ensure that municipal meeting agendas continue to be offered to the public.

In June, the state Legislature gave California cities and counties the option of not posting meeting agendas and other reports to save money. This action suspended a key provision of the Brown Act, which requires California cities, counties, school boards and special districts to conduct their meetings openly.

On Sunday, Californians Aware launched a petition drive to place a proposition on the statewide ballot.

"Even though the law might not hold public officials accountable for no longer posting agendas or providing adequate descriptions of items on them, angry voters would hold them accountable, and political exposure has always been a far more powerful motivator of Brown Act compliance than legal exposure," stated Californians Aware on its website.

There is also a bill that would preserve the Brown Act provisions, but it remains in limbo in the Assembly Appropriations Committee after the state Senate passed it.

To read more about the petition, click here.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Leslie April 6, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I'm so glad you added that comment, and that I read the comments (since the headline says it hasRead More opened). I was all excited to walk up and try it tonight, which would have been a bummer. Looking forward to trying it.
Nir Dayan March 31, 2013 at 01:21 am
I have found wonderful Mexican and Thai places near the Mid-City/Culver City area that are withinRead More walking distance to my place that I found through Subleasehub.com.
Mary McGrath March 29, 2013 at 05:05 pm
Oh, thanks for this bit of information Elizabeth...