Film crew draws ire of anti-oil Whittier activists
Just who were the people filming those talking about oil at Tuesday's Whittier City Council meeting? The presence of a camera -- they weren't talking about a Whittier Daily News photographer taking pictures -- apparently riled a couple of anti-oil residents.
One lady who refused to give her name while speaking at the podium, complained that she was being filmed and didn't think it was appropriate if it was used commercially. Roy McKee, vice president of Whittier Hills Oil Watch, also was unhappy. "These cameras brought in by somebody else should be turned facing to the wall," McKee said. "I'm concerned. Next time, somebody should find out who these people are."
But City Attorney Dick Jones said the camera people had a right to film. "I don't know who they are," Jones said. "The Brown Act allows for an open meeting to take place. It's part of the public process that allows for public discussion and for people to take pictures. "We must conduct a public meeting. We don't have the right to censor. Anyone can walk in here with recording equipment and cameras."
City officials later said they weren't sure who the people filming were. Mike McCaskey, attorney for Matrix Oil Co., didn't return two phone calls seeking to find out if they were responsible for their presence.
One of the camera people did tell Whittier Daily News photographer Leo Jarzomb that they were making a documentary on the decision-making process about the proposal to drill for oil in the Whittier hills.
One lady who refused to give her name while speaking at the podium, complained that she was being filmed and didn't think it was appropriate if it was used commercially. Roy McKee, vice president of Whittier Hills Oil Watch, also was unhappy. "These cameras brought in by somebody else should be turned facing to the wall," McKee said. "I'm concerned. Next time, somebody should find out who these people are."
But City Attorney Dick Jones said the camera people had a right to film. "I don't know who they are," Jones said. "The Brown Act allows for an open meeting to take place. It's part of the public process that allows for public discussion and for people to take pictures. "We must conduct a public meeting. We don't have the right to censor. Anyone can walk in here with recording equipment and cameras."
City officials later said they weren't sure who the people filming were. Mike McCaskey, attorney for Matrix Oil Co., didn't return two phone calls seeking to find out if they were responsible for their presence.
One of the camera people did tell Whittier Daily News photographer Leo Jarzomb that they were making a documentary on the decision-making process about the proposal to drill for oil in the Whittier hills.
Audio and Video Recording; Access to Agency's Tapes
54953.5. (a) Any person attending an open and public meeting of a legislative body of a
local agency shall have the right to record the proceedings with an audio or video tape
recorder or a still or motion picture camera in the absence of a reasonable finding by the
legislative body of the local agency that the recording cannot continue without noise,
illumination, or obstruction of view that constitutes, or would constitute, a persistent
disruption of the proceedings.