First Amendment Coalition

Many don't know key facts about U.S. Constitution, Annenberg study finds

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023
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Only 1 in 20 U.S. adults can name all five freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

Key Points: 
  • Only 1 in 20 U.S. adults can name all five freedoms protected by the First Amendment.
  • The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey is a nationally representative survey conducted annually in advance of Constitution Day by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.
  • This year's survey of 1,482 U.S. adults was conducted for APPC by independent research company SSRS from August 9-15, 2023.
  • The online survey, conducted as part of a wave of our Annenberg Science and Public Health knowledge study, was self-administered, meaning that respondents completed it without an interviewer's assistance.

Ballot Initiative Would Overhaul Open Records Laws to Provide Greater Government Transparency & Accountability, says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing the principle that "sunshine is the best disinfectant," a new ballot initiative would overhaul California's open records laws to combat government corruption and protect the health and well-being of Californians, according to Consumer Watchdog.

Key Points: 
  • The initiative was developed by Consumer Watchdog along with leading Public Records Act litigator Kelly Aviles of Californians Aware and a working group of open government experts.
  • However, those laws and principles have been abused or weakened by legislators and government officials," said Jerry Flanagan, Litigation Director for Consumer Watchdog and author of the initiative.
  • The Government Transparency Act is necessary to protect and expand the public's right to an open and accountable government."
  • Requiring public agencies to publish annual reports that provide information about delays in access to public records.

Global Arena Holding Subsidiary Global Election Services Inc. Has Completed Its Investment Into TrueVote Inc.

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 3, 2023
Bitcoin, GES, Computer science, OTC Markets Group, Information system, Management information system, University, Growth, Information, True Religion, Small business, Movement, First, Atari 8-bit family, Knowledge, Constitutional right, Communication, Map, Note, Lululemon Athletica, Acquisition, Reading, Artnet, Information technology, Maturity, Blockchain, Interdisciplinarity, Ped, Entertainment, Learning, UCLA, First Amendment Coalition, Oscar, Finance Secretary (India), Internet, Rag, SpaceX, Exercise, Security (finance), Cryptocurrency, Management, Fintech

On February 27, 2023, GES entered into a First Amendment to a Convertible Promissory Note originally dated December 20, 2019.

Key Points: 
  • On February 27, 2023, GES entered into a First Amendment to a Convertible Promissory Note originally dated December 20, 2019.
  • The related Stock Purchase Agreement signed December 19, 2019, wherein GES received 3,000 common shares of the 10,000 common stock outstanding of TrueVote remained unchanged.
  • TrueVote plans on releasing an alpha version of our complete voting platform in early summer."
  • Prior to TrueVote, Ped co-founded Block26 in 2014 as a technology incubator and family office, investing in blockchain startups and teams.

Andrew Bednar Appointed CEO of Perella Weinberg Partners; Peter Weinberg Will Continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 26, 2022
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Andrew Bednar, Co-President, has been unanimously approved by the Board as the CEO of the Firm, effective January 1, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Andrew Bednar, Co-President, has been unanimously approved by the Board as the CEO of the Firm, effective January 1, 2023.
  • Mr. Weinberg will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the working partner committee that controls the Companys high-vote stock.
  • Dietrich Becker, a founding partner based in London who has served as Co-President with Mr. Bednar, will become President and continue as a member of the Board of Directors.
  • For Perella Weinberg Partners Investor Relations: [email protected]
    For Perella Weinberg Partners Media: [email protected]

Physicians for Informed Consent Sues Medical Board of California, Argues Board is Violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physicians for Informed Consent ( PIC ), an educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics, has filed a First Amendment free speech lawsuit ( No.

Key Points: 
  • NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physicians for Informed Consent ( PIC ), an educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics, has filed a First Amendment free speech lawsuit ( No.
  • 2:22-cv-01203-JAM-KJN ) and a motion for a preliminary injunction against the Medical Board of California in order to protect the free speech of all physicians in California.
  • The Physicians for Informed Consent lawsuit argues that the Medical Board has weaponized the phrase "misinformation" to unconstitutionally target dissenting physicians, including by "attempting to intimidate by investigation, censor and sanction physicians who publicly disagreewith the government's ever-evolving, erratic, and contradictory public health Covid-19 edicts."
  • Make a contribution to Physicians for Informed Consent here: physiciansforinformedconsent.org/donate .

California Senate Committee Kills Good Government Bill To Bar Destruction of Public Records using Secretive "Suspense File"

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 12, 2022
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AB 2370 (Levine) would have required all state agencies to retain public records for a minimum of two years.

Key Points: 
  • AB 2370 (Levine) would have required all state agencies to retain public records for a minimum of two years.
  • State agencies currently have no minimum time requirement to keep records, placing the public's right to access those records at risk, said Consumer Watchdog.
  • "Shame on Senator Portantino for using the secretive 'suspense' process to quietly kill a good government bill that had nearly unanimous legislative support.
  • The bill arose from the government corruption scandal involving the Department of Insurance and the workers' compensation insurer Applied Underwriters.

California Assembly Passes Good Government Bills To Close Agency Lobbying Loophole and Bar Destruction of Records, says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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Destruction of public records hamstrings government agencies' ability to conduct enforcement actions and is contrary to the basic tenets of transparency.

Key Points: 
  • Destruction of public records hamstrings government agencies' ability to conduct enforcement actions and is contrary to the basic tenets of transparency.
  • The California Environmental Protection Agency currently considers emails transmitting "informal information" to be "transitory," and deletes them after 90 days.
  • AB 2370 is supported by California News Publishers Association, Californians Aware, Consumer Watchdog, First Amendment Coalition, and Oakland Privacy.
  • AB 1783 is supported by California Clean Money Campaign, Consumer Federation of California,and Consumer Watchdog.

MIT Free Speech Alliance Receives $500,000 Stanton Foundation Grant

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 23, 2022
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA), a rapidly growing not-for-profit advocacy organization of more than 800 MIT community members, has received a $500,000 two-year grant from the Stanton Foundation to advance its mission of free speech and expression, viewpoint diversity, and academic freedom at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Key Points: 
  • CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA), a rapidly growing not-for-profit advocacy organization of more than 800 MIT community members, has received a $500,000 two-year grant from the Stanton Foundation to advance its mission of free speech and expression, viewpoint diversity, and academic freedom at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • The MFSA was founded in October 2021 to protect the free speech rights of students, faculty, and staff at MIT.
  • MFSA services and programs established thus far include a library of online free speech resources , the MFSA blog , a Free Speech Hotline where MIT faculty, students, and staff can report speech suppression incidents, and a Concerned Donors Fund through which alumni can target donations to support free speech programs at MIT (an initiative distinct from donating to support the MFSA itself ).
  • Besides MFSA, other major Stanton Foundation "free speech" grantees include,the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF),the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), FIRE,and support for First Amendment clinics at ten highly regarded law schools.

Cartoons on Secretary of State Website Make Mockery of Government Transparency, Encourage Destruction of Records, says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
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SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Secretary of State ("SOS") Shirley Weber will remove cartoons and a records "retention" handbook on the SOS's website that encourage state agencies to destroy government records in order to avoid legal liability under the state's landmark Public Records Act.  Download Consumer Watchdog's letter raising concerns about the threat to government transparency posed by the cartoons and handbook.

Key Points: 
  • Download Consumer Watchdog's letter raising concerns about the threat to government transparency posed by the cartoons and handbook.
  • View the cartoons on our website: https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/capitol-watchdog/cartoons-secretary-sta...
    Though voters amended the Constitution in 2004 to guarantee access to public records, there is currently no minimum records retention period that applies to state agencies.
  • Government records are routinely deleted or destroyed before the public or journalists have a chance to access them.
  • Making matters worse, the cartoons on the Secretary's website encourage destruction of records to avoid legal liability despite acknowledging an agency staff's "reluctance" to do so.

New Public Records Lawsuit Seeks Transparency at San José City Hall

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 3, 2022
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SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- San Jos Spotlightand the First Amendment Coalition today filed a lawsuit to bring more transparency to San Jos City Hall.

Key Points: 
  • SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- San Jos Spotlightand the First Amendment Coalition today filed a lawsuit to bring more transparency to San Jos City Hall.
  • The lawsuit to enforce the California Public Records Act takes aim at San Jos Mayor Sam Liccardo's use of a private email to do city business in secretive ways.
  • The new lawsuit challenges the city's response to four public records requests by San Jos Spotlight or FAC dating back to December 2020.
  • Given evidence of a practice of skirting public records requirements, San Jos Spotlight and FAC are asking the court to order long-term policy changes.