Dear Readers:
One of our greatest responsibilities as a newspaper is to enable you to make informed decisions.
We tell you what's happening around the world and in the region. We focus on news about your neighborhoods and your schools. We give you consumer tips and offer perspective on a broad range of relevant issues. We take you behind the scenes at ballgames and concerts.
But most important, we shine white-hot spotlights on your government – local, state and national – so you can scrutinize and evaluate the actions of the people you elect and the way they spend your tax dollars.
Beginning today and spearheaded by the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a host of journalism organizations and First Amendment advocates will celebrate Sunshine Week in recognition of the precious freedoms we have in the United States.
Throughout these pages this week, we will bring focus to your right – an individual's right – to access government. We offer specific help tomorrow with a full page in the Metro section that tells you where you can get certain information and how to go about obtaining it.
We welcome the opportunity Sunshine Week affords to help you better understand how we in the media do our jobs and to shine special light on our watchdog role. It is a role we have practiced with particular vigor over the past year, using the federal Freedom of Information Act and the state Public Records Act as tools in this pursuit.
Here are some notable examples:
In collaboration with our Copley News Service bureau in Washington, we uncovered the corrupt relationship between former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham and defense contractors who financed his lavish lifestyle while reeling in multimillion-dollar federal contracts. These stories led to Cunningham's resignation from office. He pleaded guilty and is serving the longest sentence given to a former member of Congress – eight years and four months.
We also illuminated the world of earmarking – a process where lawmakers make additions to legislation that often fund projects proposed by their supporters. The process has been under intense scrutiny since Cunningham's massive bribery case was detailed in this newspaper.
Since July, The San Diego Union-Tribune has riveted attention upon San Diego's financial crisis with a series called “Digging into City Hall's money mess.” Today and tomorrow, we present the 16th and 17th installments of these investigative reports.
Much of the series has focused on the city's real estate assets – gold in California – and how they are being used. We told you last year that the city kept poor track of the assets. Today, we detail for you how poorly the city manages its public property leases.
We're committed to continuing this probe of San Diego's finances and management as the city attempts to wrestle its way out of debt.
During Sunshine Week, I urge you to contemplate the freedoms we all often take for granted. Think about the responsibilities that come with them: To act. To search out information. To hold those who represent you accountable. To vote.
As journalists, we are privileged to report on the democratic process – and we believe our watchdog role is the most meaningful of all.
Karin Winner
