bROWN ACT 

"THE GREATER THE POWER, THE MORE DANGEROUS THE ABUSE."

-- Edmund Burke 

The Brown Act is California's "Open Meetings" or "Sunshine" Law. The Brown Act's purpose is to ensure that local agency deliberations are open so that the people "may retain control over the instruments they have created." Govt. Code Section 54950.

"The Brown Act is intended to ensure . . . public participation in all phases of local government decision-making, and to curb misuse of the democratic process by secret legislation of public bodies." Int'l Longshoremen's Warehousemen's Union v. Los Angeles Export Terminal, Inc. (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 287, 293.

Government frequently violates the Brown Act and engages in prohibited acts. In our many appearances before city councils, planning commissions, school boards and other local bodies, The Silverstein Law Firm fights against government violation of the Brown Act. Our knowledge of the Brown Act has helped protect the rights of property owners, community groups and individuals.

To see the Los Angeles County District Attorney's reprimand of the mayor and City Council of Beverly Hills based upon a Brown Act complaint lodged by Robert P. Silverstein, CLICK HERE.

To see the Los Angeles Times article regarding the District Attorney's censure of the Beverly Hills City Council, CLICK HERE.