Accountability In The News

Politico – Jamie Court’s tactics are finally working

By CAMILLE VON KAENEL and BLANCA BEGERT, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2023/10/19/jamie-courts-tactics-are-finally-working-00122633 DAY IN COURT: Jamie Court is on the ascent. The president of advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, long dismissed as a Sacramento gadfly, has...

The Los Angeles Times – Questions remain as feds signal an end to DWP billing probe

By Dakota Smith, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-20/los-angeles-dwp-billing-investigation-ending-questions-remain It was a shocking sight on a July morning in 2019: An FBI van parked outside Los Angeles City...

Daily News – Court filing says officials used app to delete texts

By Jason Henry, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS https://www.dailynews.com/2023/08/28/el-monte-officials-used-disappearing-message-app-to-coach-cannabis-applicant/ El Monte’s city manager and then-mayor used an application that automatically deleted text messages, potentially in violation of...

San Francisco Chronicle – Safeway was caught overcharging. How to find out if your grocery store is doing the same

By Kellie Hwang, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/grocery-stores-overcharging-18303789.php# Grocery stores and other retailers across the Bay Area have recently been caught overcharging customers, according to county inspectors...

KQED-FM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: Christopher Cadelago From Politico Discusses The Government Transparency Act

By Staff Reporters, KQED – San Francisco, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

San Diego Union-Tribune – Opinion: California needs stronger open-government laws — and for officials to follow existing laws

Requiring a more transparent Legislature and making agencies keep public records longer are good ideas. But will officials actually change their ways? By The San Diego...

KPCC-FM (Radio) – Los Angeles, CA: The Government Transparency Act Would Expand Open Records Laws in the State

By Staff Reporters, KPCC – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

East Bay Times – California voters made public records a right, will they give it more teeth?

Consumer advocates say agencies' delays in producing records often exceed their own deadlines By John Woolfolk, EAST BAY TIMES https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/08/07/california-voters-made-public-records-a-right-will-they-give-it-more-teeth/# Nearly 20 years after California voters made...

The Ukiah Daily Journal – The Observer: Paying the price for progress

By Jim Shields, THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2023/08/06/the-observer-paying-the-price-for-progress/ It’s amazing how many bright people we have in this county to educate us on the causal factors...

KNX-AM (Radio) – Los Angeles, CA: Benefits The Government Transparency Act Will Provide If Passed

By Staff Reporters, KNX – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

KCBS-AM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: The Government Transparency Act Sponsored by Consumer Watchdog Could Dramatically Reform CA’s Public Records Laws

By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

KFBK-AM (Radio) – Sacramento, CA: Ballot Initiative Would Require California State Agencies to be More Responsive with Public Records Requests

By Staff Reporters, KFBK – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

KCRW-FM (Radio): Information on the Government Transparency Act

By Staff Reporters, KCRW – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. The Government transparency act filed yesterday, if...

KCRA-SAC (NBC) – Sacramento, CA: A Ballot Initiative That Would Enhance Transparency of Elected Leaders

CW's litigation director, Jerry Flanagan, said this measure would overhaul the state's public records laws requiring state agencies and local governments to be faster and more responsive with records requests.

CalMatters – California voters could force more sunlight on public records

By Alexei Koseff, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2023/08/california-public-records/ Californians have a legal right to “information concerning the conduct of the people’s business,” but actually getting those public records is easier said...

The Los Angeles Times – California ballot proposal could make more government records public

By Mackenzie Mays, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-02/government-transparency-measure-could-force-california-politicians-to-disclose-more-info SACRAMENTO —  An initiative proposed for the 2024 ballot could reform California’s public records laws and force politicians to disclose...

The Sacramento Bee – Proposed ballot measure would force California lawmakers to disclose lobbyist meetings

By Andrew Sheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/article277892943.html A proposed ballot initiative would force California lawmakers to disclose meetings with lobbyists and make investigations into alleged misconduct subject...

Politico – Sweeping ballot proposal would force California lawmakers to reveal lobbyist ties

By Christopher Cadelago and Melanie Mason, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/02/california-lawmakers-lobbyist-meetings-ballot-proposal-00109316 SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A ballot initiative likely to come before California voters next year would overhaul the state’s...

CNN Business – Are you owed a slice of the $100 million fine Bank of America has to pay?

By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/14/business/bank-of-america-fine/index.html Bank of America was fined $250 million this week by US federal regulators for allegedly harming customers by double-dipping on fees, withholding credit card...

KCBS-AM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: FTC is Now Regulating Sellers to Make it Easy for Consumers to Cancel Their Enrollment

By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

KCBS- Los Angeles, CA: CBS Investigation Found 40% of Lights are Out on LA Freeways From Vandalism

Consumer Watchdog says caltrans should be using our gas tax money to make the roads safer by fixing the lighting.

KGO-SF (ABC) – San Francisco, CA; The Tipping point, How The Hopper App is Deceptively Collecting Tips

Jamie Court offers advice on the hopper app surcharge masquerading as a tip.

KNX-AM (Radio) – Los Angeles, CA; Read The Fine Print Before Signing Auto Renewal Contracts

By John Baird, KNX – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

The San Diego Union Tribune – Consumer Group Appeals Court Loss In Dispute Over State Insurance Records

By Jeff McDonald, THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2023-02-28/consumer-watchdog-appeal-insurance-records-lara The Los Angeles advocacy group that unsuccessfully sued California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the Department of...

Cal Matters – Could Public Records Act Be Made More Useful?

By Dan Walters, CAL MATTERS https://calmatters.org/commentary/2023/02/could-public-records-act-be-made-more-useful/ California's Public Records Act, signed by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1968, gives the public the legal right to examine governmental...

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