Keeping secrets at the county

Amid concerns that a plan to expand the authority of Los Angeles County's chief executive would revive the days of "back-room deals," the County Counsel's Office issued a report Tuesday detailing how the plan would comply with the state's open-meeting laws. Staff Writer Troy Anderson details the concerns in today's Daily News.

But even as officials sought to reassure the public that new authority for the office would be open and transparent, the counsel's office stamped its report "confidential."

County Counsel Ray Fortner said virtually all memos to the Board of Supervisors are considered confidential communications between the board and its attorney.

"This was just following our standard practice," Fortner said.