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It takes a Village card room…
Being able to see clearly what is afoot is what government transparency is about, but I think transparency is the most accurate, if overused, word to describe what we all want from the public institutions our tax dollars support for our supposed benefit and that of our children. Continue the good work seeking information to which we are entitled and which will help us 'follow the money' to learn more about our elected officials and what they are up to. I agree at the County website is useful for our local school districts and local agencies, but continue in my disappointment that the City of Chula Vista, via the City Clerk, would make it difficult for us to obtain the records about candidates for Chula Vista public office to which we are entitled by law. The internet and online services can and should be used for our benefit, not to shield the candidates from full disclosure about the funding and expenditures of their campaigns. The City of Chula Vista is doing the minimum to comply with the letter of the law...it can and should do better.— November 1, 2014 4:07 p.m.
It takes a Village card room…
Thanks to Susan Luzzaro for her continuing work to shine the light on some very dark connections in our community...connections that involve shady operations and money! Thanks to Susan and the South County activists for helping all of us 'follow the money' and connect the important dots between influencers and those public officials who would be influenced. And speaking of financial disclosure, it certainly would help us all understand the dynamics of the financial connections if Mayor Cox would direct her City Clerk (who is a direct report) to post candidate financial disclosure reports on the city's website. Other cities have managed to do so and it would seem to be a best practice. However, the citizens of Chula Vista must now go in person to the City Clerk's office, hat in hand, so to speak, and request to view the reports and to pay for any copies they request. Seems very old school to me, and perhaps designed to keep that vital information as secret as possible. It might also be viewed as somewhat intimidating.— November 1, 2014 11:39 a.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
I think Torlakson has 'retired' on the job. I don't care who is or who isn't endorsing him and I do not take my cues from the unions. Torlakson's avoidance of any responsibility to act in the face of so much corruption in Sweetwater and South San Diego County, coupled with the sad, sad, sad, case of those students in other districts who had to go to court to get some educational services to which they are entitled by law says so much about his inaction and the fact that he flat out does not care about what he is supposed to be doing... and he is APPEALING the decision. Missionaccomplished: I would advise that we not cast everything into a black/white analysis based on union support. It's time we started thinking for ourselves and voting in a thoughtful manner based on the facts. If we are 'pro' or 'anti' union, that is our right. But it does not define me or my vote. If we allow the union endorsements to define who we are or how we vote, we ARE giving them more power than they should have.— October 28, 2014 12:27 p.m.
Good ol' boys' and girls' club
Susan, I have not checked out the details, but I would be very, very surprised if there were equal representation of west or north or even south Chula Vista. It is my assumption that the CVESD is 'ripe' for some action to move to district representation. The district representation model is interesting. The theory is that it does provide more opportunity for those in the less affluent areas to run for office, and therefore, provides more opportunity for minorities to be elected to boards and avoid concentration of representatives from singular areas of affluence and influence. On the downside, it does promote some 'horse trading' between or among representatives in order to get more for their own areas, and as you mentioned, individual voters may vote only for their geographical representative. There are some other models that include an 'at large' membership representative or representatives to help instill a more 'universal' perspective among members.— October 27, 2014 10:52 a.m.
Good ol' boys' and girls' club
Has the CVESD moved to district representation on its board? That may account for the current state of affairs, as I believe all of the former board members were residents of one community.— October 26, 2014 4:57 p.m.
Good ol' boys' and girls' club
joepublic: you are correct, such un-noticed, private meetings by a majority of any public body are clearly in violation of both the spirit and law of the Brown Act. the preamble to the Brown Act says something to the effect of : 'the people do not yield their right to participate in the public process...the public's business is to be done in public" --- I am paraphrasing here but that is the essence of the act.— October 25, 2014 2:34 p.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
Thanks for this information. I think each city's process and accessibility (or not) of these important public documents says much about its commitment (or lack thereof) to transparency and rights of the voters to know who is contributing to campaigns...that is the purpose of the campaign disclosure requirement. I am just sorry that the County does not maintain all the records for the elected in the entire jurisdiction.— October 24, 2014 1:39 p.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
Here is what the City of Chula Vista City Clerk's office webpage says about public records: Note that anyone interested in campaign disclosure reports is required to complete a written request and pay $.10 per page for them. Doesn't seem very inclined to help voters be fully informed, does it? "Public Records/Legislation The City Clerk is custodian of many public records of the City, including ordinances, resolutions, minutes of the City Council, agreements, election-related documents, Chula Vista campaign filings, statements of economic interests, and many others. Learn about the California Public Records Act How to Request Public Records: Self-Service Options Did you know you can view many City records online immediately and avoid copying fees? Click here to Browse City Clerk public records such as City Council agenda packets, meeting minutes, resolutions, and ordinances. Click here to view Building Permits 1992-current (for permits prior to 1992, please complete a Records Request Form below) Records Request Form (Click here) ***For all other requests or assistance, please complete a Records Request Form. Please include your phone number on all requests.*** Fees • ***Copies: $1.00 for the 1st page, $0.10 each additional page • State-mandated filings (statements of economic interest and campaign statements): $0.10 per page*** Exceptions Requests requiring computer programming will be charged a fee of the full cost including overhead for the time to create such document or program. Requestor will be required to provide a deposit to cover estimated costs, as calculated by City staff. Requests for these services must be made in writing. " So much for the public's access to documents that are considered public documents!— October 23, 2014 4:13 p.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
You're welcome. It also seems to me that the Chula Vista City Clerk's Office might scan the documents and post them on the website, even without an electronic program like Sacramento uses. It just seems to me that those other cities with easy online access are behaving in a more up-to-date and transparent manner. Why is our City Clerk's Office appearing to be foot-dragging when they could be great advocates for open government and disclosure so our voters can be as fully informed as possible? Perhaps Mayor Cox, to whom the CV City Clerk reports, would have an answer?— October 23, 2014 3:35 p.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
Here's how the City of Sacramento serves its citizens by providing easy internet access to campaign disclosure reports. Note the info in the second paragraph about the voters being fully informed.: " To provide greater access to the public, the Sacramento City Code requires that when these groups are required to file a paper campaign disclosure statement such filing shall also be filed electronically. This provision is contained in Sacramento City Code section 2.13 related to Campaign Contribution Limits, and section 2.14 related to Campaign Spending Limits and Public Campaign Financing. To assist filers in meeting this obligation, the City of Sacramento is providing, free of charge, an Internet based electronic campaign disclosure statement filing system. ****The system is fully searchable for use by the public. This ensures that receipts and expenditures in city election campaigns are fully and truthfully disclosed, and that voters may be fully informed.**** Elected officials, candidates, and committees who are required to file campaign disclosure statements with the City of Sacramento may do so through this system. (Note - a password is required for those filing electronic statements). Where Do I File? Candidates and committees (including ballot measure and independent expenditure committees) within the jurisdiction of the City of Sacramento are required to file their disclosure statements with the Office of the City Clerk. In addition to the paper filing, filers are also required to submit statements electronically." I would hope the City of Chula Vista would be just as committed to helping the public be as fully informed as possible.— October 23, 2014 2:53 p.m.