Open Government

One of the containment domes at San Onofre nuclear power plant in San Diego.

Court Says California Utilities Commission Must Obey State Public Records Act

06.20.2022

By Seth Rosenfeld, Reporter

In a broad victory for government transparency, an appeals court has ruled that the California Public Utilities Commission must comply with a state law requiring all agencies to promptly release information to the public.

In a unanimous decision issued Friday, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said the commission’s lengthy and open-ended administrative procedures violate the strict timelines of the California Public Records Act.

The ruling could bring more accountability to the commission, which has faced criticism of excessive secrecy and ineffectiveness, advocates said. It regulates corporations ranging from utilities to ride-hailing services.

Workers in white suits sift through burned debris after the Camp Fire, the largest in California history.

How California Utilities Commission Undermines the Public Records Act

Police form a line around a small group of protesters and one journalist held on the scene in what officers called a “mass arrest” on June 3, 2020.

After Journalist Arrests, State Legislation Aims to Protect Reporter Access to Protests

State Senator Who Made Police Disciplinary Records Public Pushes Transparency Expansion

Reporter Investigates Firing of Utility Regulator’s Director After She Uncovered Missing $200 Million

City Hall

With Budget Cuts, Can the Ethics Commission Still Counter S.F. Corruption?

08.07.2020

By Ciara Long

Members of the San Francisco Ethics Commission let out a sigh of relief last week when they learned from Mayor London Breed’s budget proposal that their funding would be sliced by 3.3%, far less than the 10% they had been expecting. But they warned that even the smaller-than-expected cuts would still have an impact on the political watchdog group’s effectiveness.

Open Government

San Francisco’s Move to Delay Public Records Disclosures Criticized

03.20.2020

By Brian Howey, Reporter

The city last week warned that public records will likely be delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is already having an impact on journalists’ ability to access and disseminate public health information.

Government & Politics

Justice Dept. Responds to Public Press Request for Mueller Report on Trump

04.05.2019

By Michael Winter, Senior editor

We filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the complete report by Robert S. Mueller III hours after Attorney General William Barr released a four-page summary of the special counsel’s investigation into President Trump and his 2016 campaign. Here’s the official reply — and the 448-page redacted report, which was released April 18.

Elections

S.F. Voters Want Tough Data Privacy Rules, But Obstacles Loom

10.23.2018

By Andrew Stelzer

Voter-approved Proposition B mandates that San Francisco create what supporters say would be the toughest data-protection policy of any U.S. city, and would go beyond California’s landmark Consumer Privacy Act. Now comes the hard part: writing the rules that will overcome legal, technical and enforcement challenges.

Economy & Business

Emails Show How Flood Study Finally Became Public

04.19.2017

By Kevin Stark, Reporter

Officials offer explanations for 18-month delay in releasing city-funded study that foresees serious climate-related flooding in Mission Bay in the decades ahead. The release followed a public-records request by the Public Press.

2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide

$2 Million Fills War Chests of S.F. Candidates as Races Heat Up

09.07.2016

By Sara Bloomberg, Reporter

With two months until Election Day, more than $2 million has been amassed in the collective war chests for local candidate campaigns, 90 percent of which has been raised for six Board of Supervisors seats.

Data Privacy

What Don’t We Know About Campaign Finance?

08.17.2016

By Sara Bloomberg, Reporter

The Public Press spent six months digging and sorting, and many hours talking with staff at the Ethics Commission for clarification on the best ways to find and distill the information on the 2015 elections.

City Hall

Big Money Already Pouring Into November Campaigns

08.16.2016

By Sara Bloomberg, Reporter

San Franciscans will not vote for nearly three months, but big money is flowing into the fall election already. Local campaigns have spent $3.15 million, with more than half going to just six of 25 measures on the ballot.

City Hall

IN THE WEEDS: Will Voters Restrict Lobbyists in Effort to Clean Up Politics?

08.03.2016

By Noah Arroyo, Assistant Editor

IN THE WEEDS parses the nitty-gritty of important issues and laws affecting San Francisco. Check back for updates as new information surfaces.

Elections

Proposition C: Registering Lobbyists

10.05.2015

By Noah Arroyo, Assistant Editor

Proposition C would require more people to register as official lobbyists if their behaviors merited that title, potentially increasing transparency in government.