The Newsroom

Take note of Robert Rogers' efforts to obtain a seemingly simple piece of information on embattled San Bernardino police officer Brad Lawrence. While on a certain level, you can understand a misunderstanding and, hence, a delay in that information being released, we seem to be at a point of Information Lockdown. It's not the first time, and won't be the last. But as we've seen with the Bill Postmus story, it's the public (you) that's penalized when government bodies invoke their perceived right to do business privately.
Just today, I received a call from a member of the community who's fighting a similar battle with San Bernardino over a Freedom of Information Act request that has received, shall we say, a less than expedient response. He could sue, but that would require an attorney and court time.
In the meantime, we'll hear this public official or that public official tell us what a firm believer he or she is in open government.
So which is it? Do you walk the talk or not?
Sadly, we've all allowed these First Amendment rights to erode over the years. Call it another consequence of our increasingly lost sense of community. If we don't vote, if we don't get involved, what's it matter if our right to know is taken away?