We’ve received a request from the City of Alameda to remove from our website the draft copy of the Fiscal Sustainability Committe report in part because it is “confidential.” Is it confidential? Or is it the people’s business?
We noted earlier that roughly one year ago, the City of Alameda budgeted $50,000 of taxpayer money to launch this fiscal sustainability committee. The budget was funded with property tax increment revenues controlled by the Redevelopment Services Department of the City of Alameda. So it’s a taxpayer-funded committee and this report is the product of that committee. How can the work of the committee – even work in progress – be “confidential?”
You tell us:
Should we remove the draft copy of the Fiscal Sustainability Committee report from the website?
- No. It's not "confidential," it's a public record, paid for by taxpayers. (86%, 31 Votes)
- Yes. Wait for the final report to be completed and published. (14%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 36
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I understand why the City wants to hide this report. It seems to indicate that the City is in deep financial doo doo. Alameda is on a Fiscally Unsustainable Course. This deficit will only be exacerbated by the additional permanent deficit created by subsidizing the developer of Alameda Point’s profits for at least the next 25 years.
What authority does the City cite as a legal basis for this document being “confidential”?
No authority at all.