In Tacoma a contract between a cable company and a network has opened a public records dispute.
The (Tacoma) News Tribune wants to see the contract between Fisher Communications and Click Cable, which delivers cable service in the Tacoma area.
Since Click is owned by the city, the News Tribune and the Tacoma city attorney argue that the contract with Fisher and other broadcasters is public. Four broadcasters are suing to block a News Tribune public record request to see the contract between Fisher and Click, saying the revelation would harm the broadcasters’ negotiation position nationwide.
This all stems from a dispute that for a while had Click customers unable to watch Fisher content, including KOMO. You should read the TNT piece I linked above to get the details about this particular dispute. Suffice to say that I can’t think of any other city contract that escapes the sunshine of the state’s public records law. And I know that when I did a story recently on a labor dispute related to Bremerton’s Burwell parking garage, contracts and subcontracts would have been available to me.
I’ve made a request from an expert as to what I could expect if I were to make this kind of document request to a private cable company. I’ll update when I have more info.
Do a public records request in Bremerton for the use of RedLight cameras for other things besides red light running. It’s against law to use the cams for anything besides handing out Redflex infractions but the FACT is Bremerton has used them unlawfully. Bremerton will deny this and refuse to give you the search warrants but the fact is they break the law with these scam cams…….I have proof as provided by public record.
……. and did you know taxpayers paid the wages of your cop Peter Fisher, to go stay at the Ritz Carlton in Arizona in exchange for his favorable testimony on behalf of Redflex?
Oh, did you ever do a public records request on judge doctors use of an unsworn, unqualified judge? Penny hill is her name.
……..No? Well why not?
Every thing I have tried desperately to tell you over the past three years is verifiable thru public records so why do you as a reporter sweep it under the rug?
Tax payers paid Peter Fishers wages for his stay in Arizona.
Redflex gave him an all inclusive trip including his airfare and stay at the Ritz in exchange for his testimony (that they prepared)
It took me two months of public records requests to see the search warrant where Bremerton asked Redflex for it’s camera footage to investigate a crime that was not a Redflex infraction. I asked Bremerton to examine all instances it used Redflex’s stored camera footage for other things beside red light running, Bremerto refused and said it was an ongoing case or the case was sealed. The Superiour Court said those warrants were sealed I asked to see the Order that sealed them but they could not produce one.
……but what do you care?
I would love to do a public records request on the Kitsap Sun to find out if you are owned impart by Redflex or the City of Bremerton, it sure appears that way!