Welcome to the Virtual UU Meeting House
Proposition 59
Public Records, Open Meetings
Shall the Constitution be amended to include public's right of access to meetings of government bodies and writings of government officials? Preserves specified constitutional rights and retains existing exclusions for certain meetings and records.
- Official Summary, Pros & Cons
- Other Resources : Organizations , Articles, Reports, Links
- UU Commentaries
- Other California Ballot Propositions
Virtual UU Meeting House discussion: come on in, and read what people had to say.
Official Summary and Arguments
Amends Constitution to include public's right of access to meetings of government bodies and writings of government officials. Preserves specified constitutional right; retains existing exclusions for certain meetings and records. Fiscal Impact: Potential minor annual state and local government costs to make additional information available to the public.
Official
Voter Information Guide (pdf)
Source: California Secretary of State / Elections and Voter Information
Campaign
Finance Information
Source: California Secretary of State / Cal-Access
A YES vote on this measure means:
Californians would have a constitutional right of access to government information. A government entity would have to demonstrate to a somewhat greater extent why information requested by the public should be kept private.
A NO vote on this measure means:
Access to government information would continue to be governed by existing laws.
Arguments FOR Proposition 59
California's government - all three branches, statewide and local - should be as transparent as possible to the public it asks for funding, power, and trust. But too often officials and judges choose secrecy over disclosure. Proposition 59 would make transparency a constitutional duty owed to the people, to whom officials are accountable.
Arguments AGAINST Proposition 59
The press and public must, indeed, have access to the workings of state and local governments to help ensure accountability; however, the question is whether Proposition 59 goes far enough in guaranteeing that critical access.
For Proposition 59
California First Amendment Coalition
Against Proposition 59
Gary B. Wesley, Attorney at Law
707 Continental Circle
Mountain View, CA 94040
(408) 882-5070
Nonpartisan Background and Analysis
Institute of Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley
Selected Articles, Editorials, Opinions, Reports
A
potent dose of democracy: how 59 would strengthen local government
John Russo, City Attorney, City of Oakland, September 2004 (pdf)
Prop
59 widens access to gov't ballot
San Bernardino Sun / Long Beach Press-Telegram, July 18, 2004, as posted
by NewsBank
Secrecy
busters: voters this fall could put sunshine in the California constitution...
San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 10, 2004
Last updated on September 30, 2004
UU Commentaries
For Proposition 59
Against Proposition 59
SUPPORTERS SAY people need open and accountable government, and the public's right to access information has been eroded by special interest legislation and the courts.
OPPONENTS SAY Proposition 59 does not go far enough and its passage might prevent a stronger law from being enacted.
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