California established important public transparency laws, beginning with the Brown Act in 1953, which limited secret meetings. The Bagley-Keene Act and the Public Records Act further promoted openness, but the Legislature remained largely exempt. Recently, a shift towards secrecy has emerged, particularly as the political landscape has changed and the press corps has dwindled. The current redistricting effort led by Gov. Gavin Newsom is occurring behind closed doors, starkly differing from previous public discussions, with maps set to be revealed just before a legislative vote.
California's once robust public meeting laws, established by the Brown Act and the Public Records Act, have been weakened due to increasing legislative secrecy within the Legislature.
The current redistricting process in California, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislators, is being conducted in secrecy, contrasting sharply with past open deliberations.
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