By Emilie Raguso
Earlier this month, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price turned me away from a news conference, a clear violation of my First Amendment rights.
On Nov. 29, I showed up at her headquarters for a press event on victim services. But an inspector for her office who recognized me motioned me off to the side. A few minutes later, two Price staffers asked to talk to me. They told me I was not welcome.
They rejected my media credentials and questioned my legitimacy as a news reporter, despite my 20-year career in the field. They left after a prolonged debate. And then Price walked out of the elevator and denied my request.
Over the years, I’ve been a crime reporter in Modesto and run a community news site in Albany. Then I worked at Berkeleyside for a decade, covering cops, city council, development, breaking news and more. Last year, I launched my own local news outlet, the Berkeley Scanner, where I focus exclusively on public safety, including the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
What happened outside the press room was the culmination of a fractious relationship that began in February when I published an exposé surfacing concerns from veteran prosecutors about how Price was running the office. They said Price had put some of the most experienced prosecutors on leave without cause and abruptly transferred others, walking longtime staff out of the building and decimating morale. They questioned early charging decisions and said Price was on the hunt to find office leaks. Since then, despite many media inquiries and interview requests, I have struggled to get my questions answered.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
2 Comments
Holy Toledo who the %$@%%# do these “public servants” think they are?
Everyone, yes EVERYONE who receives a taxpayer payroll check needs to be respectful and here’s a respectful!! To Everyone!!
If and only when these fools use their own finances to find their own company then and only then can they excercise their right to refuse service…and post the civil rights era that denial is not acceptable if based on gender, ethnicity, etc etc.
If they are so confident they can outlast the lawsuits fine…BUT a PUBLIC employee particularly one holding a PUBLIC position of some authority should behave in such excercise such integrity they are comfortable no matter what question they are asked!!
Denying a member of the press information or access to a press event inexcusable!!
She hates Asian and White reporters. It’s been well known throughout her career. She only caters to Afro American reporters who lick her boots.