Did you know that the City of Oakland deletes official emails off of it's server after only 6 months?

Did you know that no elected official in Oakland has ever been penalized for refusing to comply with a public records request?

Did you know that Oakland's Public Ethics Commission had it's budget drastically cut in 2011, to less than one 10th of what SF spends on it's Ethics Commission?

There are numerous faults in Oakland's Sunshine Ordinance that often render it toothless. There is also a need to update it to make more sense in the internet age.

I would like to facilitate a brainstorming session to help create a list of ways in which Oakland can improve it's laws regarding transparency. This session would also include some discussion of how to organize to advocate for sensible reforms.

Oakland's City Council will have three new members this year, which presents an excellent opportunity to pass new Sunshine laws. New ideas, new attitudes and a new interpersonal dynamic on the Council all make for promising opportunities.

Lets put our heads together and see how we can get some real reform passed!