Sponsored link
Friday, July 18, 2025

Sponsored link

Politics on Tuesday: Private phones, public business

By Tim Redmond
There’s been a lot of fallout from the Chris Christie scandal, but one of the most interesting elements to me was the way so many of the documents involved were hidden from the public.

When Willie Brown was mayor of San Francisco, he made sure that nothing was ever in writing; his aides, I am told, didn’t even bring pens and notepads to meetings, lest something be subject to the Public Records Act. Now there’s a new twist; Christie’s aides did all of their dirty work through their private email accounts, so when journalists asked for public records, they were told none existed.

It’s an interesting challenge these days. A lot of city officials communicate (including with me) through text messages on what I assume are private cell phones. Are those subject to the Sunshine Ordinance and the California Public Records Act? Should they be? (more after the jump)

 

Marke B.
Marke B.
Marke Bieschke is the publisher and arts and culture editor of 48 Hills. He co-owns the Stud bar in SoMa. Reach him at marke (at) 48hills.org, follow @supermarke on Twitter.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Sponsored link

Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Latest

Good Taste: Shekoh Confections debuts in SF, with irresistible Persian bonbons

Shekoh Moossavi moved her otherworldly delights up from Palo Alto, offering young local chefs sweet opportunity.

Under the Stars: Giving jazz the juice again, Mr. Peterson?

Plus: Hip-Hop Fest sees RBL Posse's return, 'Woga' lives, Los Bitchos take GAMH—and do we really need a Four Tet Mazzy Star moment?

Scissor Sisters’ Babydaddy grows into a new ‘Nostalgia’

From EndUp dance floor to pop fame, musician Scott Hoffman now delves into the world of graphic novels.

Parks Alliance leaders accept no responsibility for the group’s scandal and collapse

Hearing shows a complete lack of internal or external oversight as community groups and the city lose millions

You might also likeRELATED