February 02, 2012:   Sunshine Ordinance Campaign Kick-off

The Berkeley Sunshine Ordinance campaign officially kicks off at 7:00pm on Thursday February 2nd. If you believe in government transparency please join us at 305 The Uplands in Berkeley for an informal reception and fundraiser.
May 15, 2011:   Our Public Records Law's Major Flaw

The California Public Records Act is generally modeled after the federal Freedom of Information Act, but it lacks FOIA's administrative enforcement mechanism, which allows for an appeals process before a requester has to resort to expensive legal action. So California requesters have two choices when they think they've been wrongfully denied: give up or sue. Swell.
March 15, 2011:   Let the Sun Shine in Berkeley Too

This week is Sunshine Week all over the United States. What, you may ask, is Sunshine Week? Its sponsored by American Society of Newspaper Editors, joined by the National Freedom of Information Coalition, Californias First Amendment Coalition and many other groups. Briefly summarizing, from the NFAC web page: Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.
March 14, 2011:   Citizen-watchdogs are what Sunshine Week is all about

As California and other states observe Sunshine Week - a national initiative to promote government transparency - we offer a closer look at citizen-watchdogs who have blazed the way.
March 13, 2011:   Happy Sunshine Week from The US League of Women Voters

The first national "Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know" was launched in March 2005 and will be celebrated in 2011 from March 13-19. Sunshine Week's intent is to raise awareness of the importance of open government to everyone in the community, not just journalists.

See the LWVUS's Openness in Government page for more information.
November 22, 2010:   Sunshine Ordinance will be on the Berkeley Ballot

The Alameda County Register of Voters has certified the signatures collected to be sufficient. The Citizen's Sunshine Ordinance Ordinance will be voted on in the next general election ballot.