“We the people have a right to know what the government is doing and why and how,” said @davidloysd to CBS 8 San Diego after the station received heavily redacted public records regarding the condition of a local dam. cbs8.com/article/news/l…

Last week, Mel Opotowsky, FAC's longest serving board member, passed away. Mel did “as much as anyone in California and perhaps the country” to advance the cause of open government, said Jean-Paul (JP) Jassy. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2024/04/mel-op…

“These records are important to the Cal Poly community. The public has a right to know, and being patient was not enough. I had to take action.” Brava to our client Elizabeth Wilson (she/her) for taking a stand!
sanluisobispo.com/news/local/edu…

BREAKING: Today Cal Poly student journalist Elizabeth Wilson (she/her) sued the university for refusing to disclose public records she requested more than 18 months ago. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2024/04/cal-po…

While we're pleased the Temecula Valley USD has settled this case, it should not have required a lawsuit by ACLU SoCal and FAC to get them to follow the law.
pressenterprise.com/2024/04/16/acl…

FAC submitted a friend-of-the-court brief with Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and EFF in this case urging the release of the footage. See it here: firstamendmentcoalition.org/2023/05/fac-co…

More transparency, even if it isn't strictly required by law, is better for public trust of government officials. ocregister.com/2024/04/04/in-…

FAC Legal Director David Loy on CA police agencies' compliance with the public records law: 'Police officers are given enormous power {...] The public has an overwhelming interest in understanding and knowing why, how and when police officers exercised that extreme power.'

A powerful O.C. Register editorial on the shooting death of Savannah Graziano: 'Given what we can now see plainly was an 18-month cover-up by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department [...] what’s the reason for the almost criminal delay?' ocregister.com/2024/04/04/the…

The events that led up to the tragic death of Savannah Graziano demonstrates how deeply important transparency from our law enforcement agencies is. Without transparency there can be no accountability. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2024/04/san-be…

We included the full 15-minute incident video from the Sheriff's Department in our story because the sheriff's department have not shared it publicly.

Thanks to Joey Scott and First Amendment Coalition for their hard work.
latimes.com/california/sto…

Lawmakers had a chance to improve government transparency across California with SB 908, a bill we supported to update our public records law to match how government officials do business. But it died without consideration. sanjosespotlight.com/lawmakers-pass…

What's 'the most public of public records'? 'A contract to spend public money,' says David Loy to Redding.com. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors must be more transparent about a $12 million lawsuit settlement. redding.com/story/news/loc…

Please join us in congratulating FAC Legal Director David Loy and Board Member Karl Olson of Cannata, O'Toole, Fickes & Olson, two SPJ NorCal Chapter James Madison Freedom of Information award honorees!
firstamendmentcoalition.org/2024/03/fac-le…

For #FOIAFriday , a how-to on filing your first Public Records Act request from Los Angeles Public Press, with some great tips from FAC's David Snyder! lapublicpress.org/2024/03/anyone…