Dutra. Brown Act Protects Our Right to Speak Today

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The Brown Act requires that government bodies such as the Board of Supervisors allow public comment on any item under their consideration.

"California open-government expert Terry Francke said opponents are right to push their case for allowing public comment Tuesday.

Franke, general counsel of the non-profit Californians Aware, said state laws covering public hearings are not to be confused with the Brown Act, which protects public participation at government meetings."


“The public hearing may be closed but not the people's right to address the board,” Franke said. Regardless of the hearing's closure, he said, “the one thing the Board of Supervisors can't do at this point is say ‘no public comment.' You've got to allow people to speak.”

Full Article: https://www.petaluma360.com/article/...e-their-voices