Aug 12, 2010

Riverside newspaper sues to open pension records

The Press-Enterprise of Riverside has sued the San Bernardino County retirement system to force the release of records for all former employees earning pensions of more than $90,000 a year.

From the story:
The action filed by The Press-Enterprise asks a judge to order the San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association to disclose the payments

The association initially "denied in whole" a California Public Records Act request from the newspaper for the "names, monthly payment, annual payment, job title, government agency and department" of all individuals receiving at least $90,000 in annual retirement benefits from the association.
The retirement association denied an initial request to turn over the records. The executive director cited privacy concerns, saying, "We are dedicated to preserving the confidence and trust of our members."

To newspaper contends that the records are public documents under state law. Attorney Alonzo Wickers, who represents the Press-Enterprise, had this to say: "Given the extraordinary public interest in this information and given the incredible burden pensions are placing on local governments in California, such as in Bell, there is really just a tremendous interest in access to this public information."

5 comments:

LANG banger said...

Nice to see a newspaper actually trying to do some investigative work. Looks like the P-E is the paper of record for San Bernardino County.

Anonymous said...

I hope the P-E is looking to return to its Golden Days. It won a Pulitzer in 1968 for fighting for the public's right to know.

Anonymous said...

come on folks. basic reporting here...and only 42 years removed from 1968. who else would be the paper of record...the sun?

Anonymous said...

the Sun never sues to get information made public. They just publish Lambert's "you should do this or we'll embarrass you in print!" columns. that's why Rich McKee has a lien against his house, he was doing what teh newspaper should have been doing but was too cheap to do so.

trombone said...

I don't get it. If their salaries are public record, how can their pensions be anything different?