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Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records

2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

Editorial Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published March 25, 2015 One of the best ideas to come out of this year’s Sunshine Week — a week dedicated to open and accountable government — is a bipartisan movement in Austin to change the way governing bodies such as cities and counties do economic development. An “Economic Development Transparency Coalition” has formed, calling on the Legislature to change the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act to make economic development matters — like tax incentives and abatements — open to the public. The Coalition includes conservative groups, such as the Texas Public Policy [...]

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

After impromptu toll road debate, Dallas mayor warns of open meetings violation

2015-03-23T15:24:41-05:00

By Robert Wilonsky The Dallas Morning News Originally published March 20, 2015 Two weeks ago a couple of Dallas City Council members debated the pros and cons of a toll road between the Trinity River levees. And, as it turns out, Mayor Mike Rawlings isn’t happy about it. At all. On Wednesday he sent the council a memo telling them to stop talking about things that aren’t on the council’s agenda. Insists Rawlings, doing so violates the Texas Open Meetings Act. The toll road wasn’t on the council’s agenda, but the debate — pitting pro-roader Rick Callahan against Scott Griggs — [...]

After impromptu toll road debate, Dallas mayor warns of open meetings violation2015-03-23T15:24:41-05:00

The Monitor: Respecting Texas open meetings laws in the Rio Grande Valley

2015-03-17T14:15:06-05:00

Editorial Board The Monitor Originally published March 15, 2015 There’s a bit of irony, and perhaps coincidence, that a 16-month-old case regarding a violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act during a November 2013 Weslaco City Commission meeting was finally resolved last week, right before today’s start of Sunshine Week. The case, of course, involved former City Commissioner Joe Martinez, ex-Mayor Pro Tem John Cuellar and current Commissioners David Fox, Lupe Rivera and Jerry Tafolla, who on Thursday agreed to probation and fines for their part in closing the public meeting. The five will each serve up to two years of [...]

The Monitor: Respecting Texas open meetings laws in the Rio Grande Valley2015-03-17T14:15:06-05:00

Sunshine Week: Legislative spotlight on private email accounts, police records, news reporting

2015-03-16T13:49:20-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Private university police beat a man suspected of stealing a bicycle. The violent episode was captured on a dash camera, but when questions arose the police refused to release the complete video. City officials used their personal email accounts to discuss government business, just as Hillary Clinton did as secretary of state. When a citizen sought the local records, which are public under Texas law, city employees claimed their power was limited because they didn’t have custody of the documents. As matters of widespread public concern come to light – [...]

Sunshine Week: Legislative spotlight on private email accounts, police records, news reporting2015-03-16T13:49:20-05:00

Commissioners enter pretrial diversion program in Open Meetings Act case

2015-03-13T21:07:45-05:00

By Michael Rodriguez Valley Morning Star Originally published March 12, 2015 WESLACO — At least some semblance of finality in the Weslaco city commissioners’ Texas Open Meetings Act case was achieved on Thursday when the elected officials accused of violating the act agreed to enter a pretrial diversion program. The decision came at a pretrial hearing held inside Judge Bobby Flores’ 139th State District Court in Edinburg, where the defendants — former commissioner Joe Martinez and ex-Mayor Pro Tem John Cuellar, together with current commissioners David Fox, Lupe Rivera and Jerry Tafolla — agreed to the conditions of the program for [...]

Commissioners enter pretrial diversion program in Open Meetings Act case2015-03-13T21:07:45-05:00

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