Mayor Sam Exclusive: LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez Refuses to Disclose Appointment Calendars

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez refuses to disclose his Appointment Calendars, in response to a California Public Records Act Request. 

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez.

** Blogger's Note: In response to a tip, the Mayor Sam Blog initiated a California Public Records Act Request to the Los Angeles Community College District, seeking the Appointment Calendar of its Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez ........, and the reply from LACCD Legal Counsel (in simplistic terms)? "The Los Angeles Community College District will not be disclosing the Chancellor’s appointment/meeting calendars". Surely, we would love to give the LACCD Administration the benefit of the doubt, that their response was not predicated in keeping private, meetings, gatherings, junkets to far-off locales, that were not related to the official duties of the Chancellor. Further, we would think that the Chancellor of the largest Community College District in the nation, would be well-verse in the knowledge, that Openness and Transparency, should be a paramount priority for a Higher Education entity, that has been the recent focus of extensive news coverage regarding the misuse of public funds. That said, we would like to share a "Bloggin Teachable Moment" with the newly-appointed Chancellor regarding the role of local media in ensuring that highly-compensated public officials, are dedicating their "time on the clock", to assigned duties. We would advise Chancellor Rodriguez to review the following signature missives from now KRLA 870 AM Talk Show Host (and former Los Cerritos News Investigative Reporter) Randy Economy, regarding the "Official Calendar" of former Los Angeles City Controller and Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel ........, and the Investigative Missive Classic of former LA Weekly Reporter Patrick Range McDonald, that documented how former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dedicated a mere 10% of his work time, to official duties. BTW Chancellor Rodriguez, both missives were derided from documents obtained via the California Public Records Act. Thus, in the public interest, the Legal Counsel of LACCD ......, Chancellor Rodriguez may want to reconsider their response. Below we post the response from LACCD Legal Counsel ---Scott Johnson.

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Clowncil and Friends - Obama is talking TO YOU.

Memorandum to the City Clowncil and their "friends":

READ AND OBEY.

This also covers one of your historically favorite places to violate the law - the California Public Records Act.

Got info? Give the old dead Republican Mayor a call at (213) 785-6098 or email to mayorsam@mayorsam.org Why? Because your President said to, that's why.

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

January 21, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Act

A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants." In our democracy, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability through transparency, is the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open Government. At the heart of that commitment is the idea that accountability is in the interest of the Government and the citizenry alike.

The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.

All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA.

The presumption of disclosure also means that agencies should take affirmative steps to make information public. They should not wait for specific requests from the public. All agencies should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government. Disclosure should be timely.

I direct the Attorney General to issue new guidelines governing the FOIA to the heads of executive departments and agencies, reaffirming the commitment to accountability and transparency, and to publish such guidelines in the Federal Register. In doing so, the Attorney General should review FOIA reports produced by the agencies under Executive Order 13392 of December 14, 2005. I also direct the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to update guidance to the agencies to increase and improve information dissemination to the public, including through the use of new technologies, and to publish such guidance in the Federal Register.

This memorandum does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA