California Governments Failing Transparency Tests

Contra Costa Times reporter Thomas Peele compares Florida and California open government practices, and writes about his struggles with Hercules and Oakland records requests.

California's institutionalized and mandated government transparency practices are prehistoric compared to the State of Florida. The Sunshine State has lived up to its name by shining light on government dealings with Florida Governor Rick Scott recently requiring his aides' email accounts accessible to the public.

"Florida continues to be the national leader in government transparency, using the type of technology that ought to be second-nature here but isn't. California, a state overflowing with supposed innovation, is one where governments remain shrouded in darkness," said a recent Contra Costa Times editorial by Thomas Peele, "Florida's Open Government Practices Put California to Shame."

Peele said California Governor Jerry Brown has a track record of stifling an open government culture in the state.

"The alternative to Brown taking Scott's top-down approach to reform -- setting a bold standard and demanding others live up to it -- is to change the culture more organically. Someone must cultivate change," Peele said.

But the fight for public sector transparency is not really happening on the local government level, Peele said. He said he has made records requests to Hercules and Oakland governments in the last few months, with delayed or non-responses from city staff.

"That journey should be a race toward complete transparency. Right now, California is running dead last," Peele said.

"But here, we wait for changes that just don't come. California's Public Records Act, like most laws, hasn't been amended well enough to keep up with technology. It isn't even close."