Photograph of three people speaking at a panel discussion at the Immigrants' Rights Day of Action in Sacramento in April 2026.

FAC's Paloma Esquivel (center) joined Dr. Mai Nguyen Do (left) of the Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice and Willie Lubka of @buenvecino.bsky.social to talk about obtaining and using data to advance accountability at the annual Immigrant Day of Action in Sacramento last week.

Had a blast representing @harborinstituteoc.bsky.social at the @caimmigrant.bsky.social Immigrant Day of Action Conference earlier this week speaking alongside @eri-usc.bsky.social, @buenvecino.bsky.social, @facoalition.bsky.social about accessing and communicating data to advance immigrant justice!

FOIA Friday: I Filed Two Different Lawsuits in Two Counties. I'm suing LA County over Flock records and Imperial County for contracts with Customs and Border Protection.

The story behind the lawsuit: @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social writes about why he's suing Imperial County for its communications with federal immigration enforcement www.joeyscott.xyz/foia-friday-...

FAC Sues Imperial County for Secret Federal Immigration Agency Contracts and Emails The county refuses to hand over documents about its cooperation with ICE, DHS, and CBP.

FAC is representing @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social in a lawsuit against Imperial County for withholding public records about the county's cooperation with ICE and other federal immigration enforcement agencies. More⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

Motion to Intervene Granted, One Major Step Closer to Unsealing Crucial Records and Video Footage of Abuse at Notorious Adelanto Immigration Facility Latest News

Motion granted! Public Justice scored a win on behalf of FAC, @thesouthlander.bsky.social, @lapublicpress.bsky.social & Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice to unseal documents in a case against the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. Learn more here ⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/mo...

Lawmakers Are Trying to Slow-Walk Responses to Records Requests AB 1821 moves California in the wrong direction on government transparency by increasing the amount of time government agencies can take to answer public records requests.

No matter your politics, we can all agree that timely transparency is essential for government accountability. But the state assembly is considering a bill that will make public records request responses even slower. Here's why we oppose AB 1821 ⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/la...

How are #immigration issues impacting individuals and families, and what is the role of media? FAC's Paloma Esquivel (center) joined a panel discussion discussing these issues at @calulacfoundation.bsky.social annual convention. We were so honored to attend!

FAC Opposes AB 1821 Advocacy

Delayed access to public records is denial of access. AB 1821 would permit unacceptable delays. The public has a right to timely records—no delays, no excuses.

People don’t want more delays in CPRA. We urge NO on AB 1821.

firstamendmentcoalition.org/2026/04/09/f...

Reject the latest attempt to weaken California’s open-government laws Don’t allow agencies to play favorites in the public record process.

This @sandiegouniontribune.com editorial calls out AB 1821, noting: "it’s only the latest attempt [...] to undercut clearly written laws to make it harder for journalists and the general public to ferret out government incompetence, waste and corruption." www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/10/r...

Modesto leaders approve $349K to fight lawsuit over local mask ban in public protests Many believe police need tools to keep the peace. The ACLU and others say the city’s being “stubborn” in defending a law deemed unconstitutional.

@ginnylaroe.bsky.social is reading coverage in the Modesto Focus about the city council's recent vote to authorize hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to fight a lawsuit by journalists and protesters who have sued the city over a protest ordinance. themodestofocus.org/modesto-lead...

Suzanne says: "I'm reading this @sacbee.com story about the number of animals in our local shelter. Reporter @arianelange.bsky.social used the city's open data portal to report the story. #LocalNewsMatters because it lets me know what's going on in my community." www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...

‘Show Your Pride’ - North Coast Journal Seas of beaded fringe and long, braided hair twirled through the air in the Cal Poly Humboldt’s Forbes Complex West Gym on Saturday. The performers — from elders to newborns swaddled in their arms —…

Thad says: "I'm reading a @northcoastjournal.com story about the 16th annual California Big Time & Social Gathering by Mia Costales, who also took some beautiful pictures. #LocalNewsMatters because it spotlights the vibrancy of our community."
www.northcoastjournal.com/news-2/news/...

As County Leaders Tout Transparency, They Fight Public Records Releases Voice of San Diego last week sued the county to try to force the release of complaints against an ex-county contractor, marking the latest legal wrangling with the county over public records.

David is also reading @lisahalverstadt.bsky.social on a lawsuit by @voiceofsandiego.org against San Diego County to fight for transparency about "what the county knew about potential improprieties" before the COO of one of its contractors "faced felony charges." voiceofsandiego.org/2026/04/06/a...

San Diego empty homes tax draws comparison to recent court loss Opponents worry that, if approved, the tax would open the city up to legal trouble, costing residents far more than it helps.

Legal Director @davidloybsky.social is reading @inewsource.org about San Diego's proposed empty homes tax. #LocalNewsMatters because housing policy matters. inewsource.org/2026/04/06/s...

What’s one thing happening in your community right now that more people should know about?

Today FAC staff will share what they're reading in their local news. Respond by telling us what you're reading!

Today is #LocalNewsDay. Start Local. Stay Connected.

Attention Reporters! Our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California will point you to publicly available data on criminal justice, education, government finances, health, the environment and more. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...

FAC Legal DIrector @DavidLoy.bsky.social talked with Jade Hindmon of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social about the recent court ruling against the Trump administration's defunding of PBS and NPR, asserting it violated the First Amendment.

Listen to the full interview: www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...

Opinion | California shouldn’t price the public out of public records. Democracy is at stake A bill letting governments charge for public documents would let them base the cost on the time it takes to review and redact the information. It doesn't limit them.

A California lawmaker has an introduced a bill that would impose high fees on records requestors and make the process move more slowly. Lawmakers should reject AB 1821. See FAC's David Snyder's @calmatters op-ed: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

Inside the debate over secret county subcommittees The county says the board committees, each made up of two elected supervisors, aren’t subject to the state’s open meeting law. Others argue they should operate more transparently.

Are San Diego County’s "secret" subcommittees violating state law? 🧐

FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social warns these "ad-hoc" groups tackle long-term issues that should be discussed publicly: “It does look to me that this presents significant Brown Act problems.” www.kpbs.org/news/politic...

A California sheriff seized 600,000 ballots. The judge who approved it? One he endorsed. Judge Jay Kiel approved warrants for California governor candidate Chad Bianco to seize 600,000 ballots. Bianco endorsed Kiel in 2022; Kiel praised the sheriff.

How can we have election integrity without transparency? A judge has sealed the warrants allowing Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to seize 600,000 ballots. Show us the warrant! The legal basis for such an unprecedented move should be open to public scrutiny. 🔍️
calmatters.org/politics/202...

This California lawmaker wants you to pay more for public records Californians have a constitutional right to government records, but a lawmaker’s plan would let agencies charge extra fees to get them.

Want to see what your government is doing? Be prepared to pay up. 💸 A California bill would let public agencies charge for staff time on public records requests—a major blow to government accountability and transparency. Sunshine shouldn't be for sale. ☀️ calmatters.org/politics/202...

Inside the Debate Over Secret County Subcommittees The county says the board committees, each made up of two elected supervisors, aren’t subject to the state’s open meeting law.

Public business should be done in public.

No more secret subcommittees. San Diegans deserve a transparent government they can hold accountable. Check out the latest from @voiceofsandiego.org:
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/03/20/i...

Beau Yarbrough ⌚🐕 (@lby3.bsky.social) Inland Empire journalist friends: I attended a @facoalition.bsky.social workshop last year and it was fantastic, resulting in stuff in already published stories and stories still to come from me over…

Thanks for joining us @lby3.bsky.social and hope many of you will join us! bsky.app/profile/lby3...

You’ll NEVER Believe Why He Went to Court Rapper @ogafroman turned a police raid into a music video… and the deputies sued him. But the First Amendment still protects satire, parody, and calling out government officials, even if it bruises…

When life gives you lemons, you make Lemon Pound Cake, then prevail in court. Great explainer by @thefireorg.bsky.social on the #Afroman verdict last week that was a big win for the First Amendment. www.youtube.com/shorts/im4mk...

First Amendment Advocates Oppose Fresno Council's Facial Recognition Idea First Amendment groups oppose Fresno City Council proposal to ban sex offenders from City Hall using facial recognition to identify them.

FAC Legal Director @davidloy.bsky.social warns Fresno’s proposal to use facial recognition at public meetings could violate California’s Brown Act and chill public participation. You have the right to attend public meetings anonymously. gvwire.com/2026/03/17/f...

‘You Belong.’ Inside FAC’s Three Days at a College Journalism Conference More than 900 students from all corners of the country attended the Associated Collegiate Press’s three-day conference in San Francisco.

FAC recently joined 900+ students at the Associated Collegiate Press national media conference in SF to talk press rights, public records, and the vital importance of diverse perspectives in journalism.

Read more about the next generation of reporters: firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...

Happy #SunshineWeek! ☀️ From classroom visits to legal battles for transparency, FAC is celebrating the public’s right to know. At a time when government transparency is under strain, let’s protect our access to the truth. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/ce...

Ousting Sheriff Corpus cost at least $4.8 million — but San Mateo County won’t reveal the full legal bill Taxpayers foot at least $4.8 million for election, investigations and hearing costs

No one really knows how much it's cost to oust former San Mateo Sheriff Christina Corpus, but it's troubling the government doesn't want the public to know, ignoring public records act requests from @mercnews for the info. www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/15/s...

Home Our right to know.

Learn more about Sunshine Week sunshineweek.org

We’re kicking off #SunshineWeek in classrooms and community events. Yesterday, FAC Advocacy Director @ginnylaroe.bsky.social was on campus at SF State University (pictured) and our Executive Director David Snyder talked to a class at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social.