The smart California journalist Joe Mathews has an op-ed in today's L.A. Times talking about how hard it is to gain access to the official papers of former California governors, thanks to once (and quite possibly future) Gov. Jerry Brown. Explanation:
You and I can't see Brown's records unless we get his written permission first. That was his choice, and that's the way it will be for the foreseeable future -- for 50 years from the end of his administration (which would be 2033) or until his death, whichever period is longer.
Moreover, Brown's rules also apply to any other governor who wants to take advantage of them. And guess what? They all do. […]
In a way, California's 50-years-or-death rule amounts to theft of public property. "Governors are not allowed to take state cars or furniture as 'personal' when they leave office," said then-state archivist John Burns in 1988 during the debate over legislation that produced the rule. "State documents are just as important and just as valuable."
Whole thing here. Early punk on the pop governor here:
