Transparency News 12/16/15

State and Local Stories

The Martinsville School Board on Monday revised its policies for allowing the public to speak during its meetings. City schools Superintendent Pam Heath said the revisions, which were approved in a unanimous vote, are based on recommendations of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) and policies of other school systems. Traditionally, at the end of its regular monthly meetings, the board has listened to comments from the audience concerning school matters not on its agenda for consideration or discussion. Under the policy revisions, there will be two opportunities for the public to speak during future meetings. One will be near the start of the meeting; the other will be at the end. Anyone wanting to speak during the latter opportunity will be able to approach the speaker’s podium when the board’s chairman invites them. However, anyone wanting to speak during the earlier opportunity must first submit a “request to speak” form to the board’s clerk, either by noon on the day of the meeting or – at the location of the meeting – no later than 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, the policy revisions show.
Martinsville Bulletin


National Stories
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The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that will allow the public to view most of the video recorded from body cameras worn by police officers. The bill changed parts of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s original proposal that barred the public from viewing footage from the body cameras, but kept intact a ban on video shot in residents’ homes. That footage will be available for review during court proceedings.
Washington Times

Reeling from an onslaught of Freedom of Information Act requests triggered by revelations about Hillary Clinton's email use, the State Department reported Monday that it has made modest progress in efforts to boost the number of staffers processing documents for review. In a new court filing, State says that as of Dec. 1, it has made offers to 43 people to take part in a surge of 50 personnel Secretary of State John Kerry authorized in September to aid the agency's embattled FOIA operation. The slots are open to existing State staffers as well as some retired personnel and family members who have worked for the agency overseas.
Politico

After a brief but tearful plea for leniency from former Arizona Secretary of State Dianna Duran, state District Judge T. Glenn Ellington on Monday sentenced her to 30 days in jail, a fine of $14,000 and restitution totaling $13,866. Duran, a Republican who won election as secretary of state on an anti-corruption platform, also would have to publicly apologize in letters printed in six publications and perform 2,000 hours of community service. Duran pleaded guilty to six of the charges that she embezzled campaign donations and doctored state campaign reports to cover up her theft. In a letter her attorney wrote to Ellington, Duran said she was a gambling addict who was preyed upon by casinos that offered her lines of credit.
Governing

This summer, Jeffrey Roberts fielded a call at his office in Denver. A resident of Elbert County, southeast of the capital, had noticed something curious: The county assessor maintained a website where the assessed value of local homes, considered a public record under Colorado law, was readily accessible. But the records for properties owned by certain local officials—including the assessor—were hidden from view. Roberts, a veteran journalist with 23 years of experience at The Denver Post, went into action. He traveled to Elbert County, interviewed the county assessor, spoke to experts who said nothing in state law allowed the records to be kept confidential, and published a story about it. Five days later, he had another story: The assessor had posted the records online. It was a clear example of journalism with impact. But Roberts, 56, hasn’t worked at the Post since his position as an editor was eliminated in 2007, during a round of newsroom cuts. Instead, for the past two years he’s been the director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, a nonprofit alliance of news organizations, good-government groups, and others with an interest in transparency. The CFOIC helps journalists and citizens fight for open access to government records and meetings, tracks legislation and court rulings, and hosts panel discussions. Roberts pens a frequently updated blog about transparency news statewide, fields calls to a hotline, and publishes online guides. And, on occasion, he also publishes his own reporting, like the story out of Elbert County.
Columbia Journalism Review

A backroom brawl erupted on Tuesday between the mayor of Alabama's largest city and a city councilor, and ended with an arrest warrant being issued for the councilor after both politicians spent time in a hospital, officials said. The altercation between Birmingham Mayor William Bell and city councilor Marcus Lundy, dubbed #brawlatcityhall on Twitter, took place in a back room during a routine council meeting, authorities said.
Reuters

Editorials/Columns

If we had only one wish for the coming year, it would be that Virginia government becomes a lot more transparent. We believe that, with two key dates approaching, there is reason for open government advocates to be cautiously optimistic. The first day to mark on the calendar is Jan. 13, the start of the legislative session in Richmond and the first opportunity lawmakers will have to correct an egregious wrong committed by the Virginia Supreme Court. The second date to remember is Feb. 16, when the Daily Press lawsuit against the Virginia Supreme Court's Office of the Executive Secretary is scheduled for trial in Newport News. We believe that resolution of this case in our favor will benefit the commonwealth.
Daily Press

The Richmond City Council approved proceeding with proposals regarding development of city-owned land along Boulevard. The debate proved contentious. The roll call came as a surprise. Earlier that day the council appeared poised to bring up the issue for a vote at a subsequent meeting. Much of the debate concerned process, not content. Skeptics objected to the m.o. We understand those concerns but we welcome action toward settling an issue that has remained unresolved since horse-drawn carriages plied the gateway thoroughfare. It is time to get going. We anticipate a vigorous exchange of ideas. The vote did not signal final approval of a specific plan.
Richmond Times-Dispatch