Calaware Mourns the Death of Founding Member, Tim Crews
by JW August, President Emeritus, CalAware “He stood up for folks who could not stand up for...
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Category: Uncategorized
Open Letter: Updating our guidebooks, training students to protect democracy
August 29, 2019 CalAware’s New Public Interest Initiatives Dear CalAware Today Subscriber, We really appreciate the continuing interest and support you’ve shown in our efforts to help Californians—voters, taxpayers, public...
Read MoreArrested as payback for what you said? Try to prove it
By JW August, journalist and Past President of Californians Aware Do the police ever abuse authority? Do you think most officers believe citizens have the right to speak their minds, for example in protesting how they’re being...
Read MoreCharter schools join open government ranks
After years of unsuccessful attempts, the California legislators have finally passed and gotten a governor to sign into law requirements for charter schools to have their governance meetings and records subject to the state’s...
Read MoreHow long should government save its email records?
By JW August, journalist and Past President of Californians Aware Email is part of our lives now. It came on like a category five hurricane just a generation ago, changing the world of business and bureaucracy and creating the...
Read MoreHow a simple letter may end perceived Brown Act violations
A recent exchange between Californians Aware and a San Diego area school board shows how a Brown Act remedy can be used to stop practices the challenger believes to violate the letter of the Act, or at least its spirit, in a...
Read MoreBill would OK Brown Act meetings via social media
A bill recently approved by the Assembly Local Government Committee would allow majorities of city councils, boards of supervisors, school boards, planning commissions, special district boards and most of the related committees...
Read MoreSenate Bill 615’s abortive end: The backstory
By JW August, journalist and Past President of Californians Aware A widely criticized effort by San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott and State Senator Ben Hueso to weaken California’s open records law recently went down in...
Read MoreSunshine Week Special: Take Action to Make Your Community More Open
Ten ways you can advance your rights to know, speak, write and publish about issues that matter—where you live You don’t have to be a lawyer, lobbyist or policy wonk to make improvements in how open your city council, county...
Read MorePolice unions fight for secrecy of past officer misconduct
By JW August, journalist and Past President of Californians Aware Firefights have broken out across California. The weapons used are not guns but words as police unions across the state are digging in over a recently enacted...
Read MoreLast 2018 Chance for a Tax Deductible Gift to Improve Transparency and Speech Protections in California
New Year’s Eve is the last day to make a tax deductible contribution to Californians Aware for 2018, and that support can tide us over while we seek more substantial grant funding. Going into the new year, here’s a quick...
Read MoreCalAware’s Gold Seal shows our own transparency
Californians Aware just earned a Gold Seal of Transparency on @GuideStarUSA. By adding information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, achievements, and progress indicators, we’re highlighting the difference we help to...
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