Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
California lawmakers wanted to create a nonprofit agency authorized to borrow limitless taxpayer money to finance infrastructure projects — all while shielding most of its operations from the public eye.
Click Here to Subscribe to the California Political Review
Sponsored by state Treasurer Fiona Ma, SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation, a nonprofit organization within the treasurer’s office that would use public and private financing for projects from transportation to housing.
The measure initially sought to exclude virtually all of the nonprofit’s records from public disclosure and allow the organization to make decisions behind closed doors.
That kind of authority deserves public scrutiny, good government groups argued, especially as corruption scandals plagued state agencies in recent decades. The proposal follows state officials’ efforts in recent years to shroud themselves in secrecy by using burner phones and non-disclosure agreements and by introducing measures to reduce public access to records and meetings.
After good government advocates and legislative analysts raised transparency concerns, lawmakers on Tuesday approved a new version of the bill that narrows the scope of documents that would be exempt from public disclosure, though it would still allow some to remain secret.
“This is exactly the kind of business (of) the state the public has a vested interest in being able to monitor. Excessive secrecy will only undermine public trust in the corporation,” the First Amendment Coalition and Oakland Privacy wrote in a joint letter to lawmakers last month.
The nonprofit would be overseen by a five-member board including the treasurer, controller and other state appointees.
The proposal would give the organization full discretion over its finances and would not cap how much debt it can incur. The state would also not be held liable for the organization’s financial decisions.
Some documents would still be secret
Under the revised legislation, the nonprofit would only be allowed to keep records private if they are corporate financial documents or “critical infrastructure information” that has not been made public. The group would also only be able to hold closed sessions while discussing those records.
“I believe the amendments we are taking today strengthen the bill and strike the right balance,” Sen. Anna Caballero, a Merced Democrat who authored the measure, said in a hearing Tuesday. “It will ensure the success of the infrastructure fund while maintaining the type of open and transparent governmental body the public deserves.”
Neither Caballero nor Ma responded to CalMatters’ request for comment Tuesday on why they sought to keep deliberations and records secret.
If it sounds like a turd, looks like a turd and smells like a turd, it must be a turd. Another reminder why I am thankful my wife and I fled Kommiefornia when we did.
This is the PUBLIC STATEMENT OF FAILURE by the Newsom Administration and the strident anti personal auto use positions of the Democrat Majority in Sacramento.
“Sponsored by state Treasurer Fiona Ma, SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation, a nonprofit organization within the treasurer’s office that would use public and private financing for projects from transportation to housing. …..”
All one has to do is look around at the use of the former Bicycle Coalition now called MOVE to see blatant use of taxpayer money to influence State wide policies and act as PAC’s.
Secrete? Not if you have been watching dictatorial policies and handing out of money both at the State (Sac.) and County level (through stip, shop, and other means).
All you have to do is look at the sudden numbers of people associated with MOVE, Cal State Universities, the UC System and homeless non-profits to see what the single party system in Calif is doing.
CAB has filed complaints about such activity at the State and Local level with ZERO response. The last FPPC complaint was ignore after CAB kicked it up the the AG’s office and the Governor’s office.
If you think this is looking more and more like a Central Controlled Socialist system you are right.
How about flooding the system with CPR requests for all information reviewed by the Treasurer and the Controller in connection with forming the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation? Whoever set up the revisions to the original bill was either stupid or inordinately sly. The statement that they would only be allowed to keep records private “if they are corporate financial documents or ‘critical infrastructure information’ that has not been made public” is a sinkhole into which just about every decision of this secret agency will fall.
As a lifelong California resident I have seen what the left has done to corrupt and ruin our beautiful state. This is another corrupt idea by “the few” to line their own pockets at the expense of taxpayers and I say NO! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! When politicians start keeping their promises then maybe they can be trusted to start a new agency. But not one that keeps secrets.
600 state agencies are not enough???? They did not graduate from sandbox. Term limits. One term in office and the second term in prison.
Ugly green pain is now all over our Fresno streets. We lost many street lanes, so the bicycle lanes could be painted. Never mind that almost no one ride bicycles in Fresno. If you do, there is a good chance of getting run over.