This from the National Security Archive, an independent, non-government watchdog group that tracks public records and how open they are to disclosure.

Washington, D.C., January 21, 2009 – On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama signed an executive order and two presidential memoranda heralding what he called a “new era of openness.” Announcing a Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act to reestablish a presumption of disclosure for information requested under FOIA, President Obama said that “every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.”

The FOIA Memorandum articulates a presumption of disclosure for government records and a hostility to the use of secrecy laws to cover up embarrassing information.  It directs the Attorney General to issue new guidelines governing FOIA and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to improve information dissemination to the public.

President Obama also issued an executive order reversing changes made by President George W. Bush to the Presidential Records Act (PRA), stating he would hold himself and his own records “to a new standard of openness.”  The PRA order permits only the incumbent president (and not former presidents’ heirs or designees or former vice presidents) to assert constitutional privileges to withhold information, and would provide for review by the Attorney General and the White House Counsel before a president could claim privilege over his or her records.

Finally, President Obama also today issued a Presidential Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government which recognizes that “[o]penness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.”  It directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chief Technology Officer, and the Administrator of the General Services Administration to develop an Open Government Directive within 120 days to implement the memo.

“This is the earliest and most emphatic call for open government from any president in history,” said Archive director Tom Blanton.  “President Obama has reversed two of the most dramatic secrecy moves of the Bush initiatives, one that told agencies to withhold whatever they could under FOIA and the other that gave presidential heirs and vice presidents the power to withhold presidential records indefinitely.”

In November 2008, the National Security Archive and a coalition of more than 60 organizations called on President Obama to reverse the secrecy trend and issues new directives on openness on Day One of his presidency.  Today, President Obama heeded that call and took decisive action to ensure that openness, transparency, and accountability would be the rules and not the exceptions for his administration.

“President Obama is doing what he said he would do from the campaign trail.  He is trying to transform how the public will learn about government decisions and actions” said Meredith Fuchs, the Archive’s General Counsel.  “I hope his decisive leadership on these issues pushes the bureaucracy to make these principles a reality — to give us an accountable, democratic, national government.”

Sweet Lou

There are certain things I’ve come to expect at events honoring former candidate and new President Barack Obama: Vendors hawking T-shirts, vendors hawking posters and vendors hawking tchotchkes.

Anyone who followed the campaign knows the man aroused more than hope, he also inspired a network of creative cottage industries rivaled only by the unwashed tribes attached to certain jam bands. Don’t know whether any economists bothered to study the impact of the Obamatreneurs on the 2008 economy. My own impression is that they probably absorbed some of the weaknesses in the housing and financial markets. Hell, I’m surprised the Obama campaign even went to the trouble of producing official merch to compete with the all the custom goods.

Last night’s Inauguration Ball at the Plaza Hotel, sponsored by the Las Vegas Black Historical Society, brought the vendors out in force. But their T-shirts languished on the tables, mostly because they wouldn’t have matched the formal wear rocked by attendees on this most historic of occasions. On a night that featured presentations by accomplished poets, comedians and troupes of adorable children, the most captivating entertainment was the people watching. And the conversation.

Trina Jiles

The Black Historical Society allowed supporters who were unable to attend the ball to purchase tickets for members of the community who would not otherwise be able to attend. That allowed regular people to rub elbows with some of the city’s Civil Rights leaders, people like Sarann Preddy, the first black woman awarded an unrestricted gaming license.

An under-dressed delegation from CityLife made it to the ball and brought back some pictures. There will be more, plus audio interviews with ball attendees. Watch the website for updates.

Reader Brian Kell writes:

The beauty of this Monday is twofold. First we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of courage and inspiration. Second, we end the Bush era of government in the United States. I noted the first just after midnight as I sat with a friend at King Tut’s on Charleston at Jones for the Sunday night Jam Session. I was reminded of the second by the “fabulous” Ms. Conception as she finished her number at the SINDAYS promotion at Krave. At King Tut’s I got to sit in with the house band and a guest singer playing Honky Tonk Woman and Walking the Dog (with the intro, I might add). As I left, I wished my friend “Happy King Day.” I glanced at my watch and realized that if I made the lights I could catch the show my friends Pete and Minta continually remind me of and invite me to see at Krave on Sunday nights.

(more…)

The dance ban in Henderson that’s lasted more than nine months is over. In a interesting display of morality meeting social and public safety concerns, the Henderson City Council Tuesday night reversed its outright ban on teenage dance clubs, instead opting for specific rules and regulations that will now govern the operation of businesses catering to teenagers.

According to the two new ordinances approved, teen dance clubs will be forced to set up shop in industrial or commercial areas, can only be open until 10 p.m. on school nights and no later than midnight on weekends.

But the most crippling of the regulations approved to teenage dance clubs is a new provision that bans the clubs from opening within 2,000 feet of other similar clubs or within 1,000 feet of any bar, school, tobacco store or liquor-selling establishment. A similar law in Clark County has kept all-ages music nightclubs or dance halls from opening, because of the inability to find anyplace that isn’t near a bar, school or 7-Eleven.

While harsh, the new regulations proposed were still short of the outright ban that the council approved against clubs in April of 2008. The new regulations, according to the Henderson City Attorney’s office, came as a result of some civil libertarians arguing that an outright ban was unconstitutional.

“I feel a lot more comfortable with regulation rather than an outright ban,” said Henderson City Councilman Andy Hafen.

While opposition to major regulation on teenage dance clubs was nonexistent at the meeting, one critic did show up, but felt that the new ordinances were a minor improvement.

“I don’t think the city council should be the gatekeeper of morality,” Henderson resident and lone public speaker Karen Grey said to commissioners. “But I think we can all be happy with this new law.”

The Killers in the clothes ... of the future!

The Killers will help christen the new, expanded Joint at the Hard Rock April 17. Tickets go on sale noon Jan. 24. With this date, and the band’s mid-April West Coast tour schedule still set without a Southern California stop, this further fuels rumors the band will also play, maybe headline, a day at the Coachella festival, taking place April 17-19 near Palm Springs. The band last played Coachella in 2003. …

Also, a federal lawsuit against The Killers by former manager Braden Merrick is heading to trial, according to the Review-Journal. While there is no set date for the trial, U.S. District Court Judge Philip Pro has ordered both sides produce evidence for an eventual showdown in court. Merrick claims to have discovered the band in 2002, began managing them in 2003 and helped them secure a record contract with Def Jam/Island Records before the band dismissed him in 2006. … IndieKrush is co-promoting Sundays at Wasted Space, with “Mommy’s Little Monster.” Rocconova will serve as resident DJ, with English dream-disco act Futurecop serving as guest musical talent for Jan. 25’s debut. …

Neo-psychedelic group Re-Write Dept releases its first E.P. at 8 p.m., January 23 at Canvas Café (430 E. Silverado Road). Other bands performing at the free show include As He Rose, Warped Angel and Late For Dinner. … This Romantic Tragedy has signed on producer Cory Spotts to help record their as-yet named major debut E.P. this month. Spotts has produced albums for blessthefall, Greeley Estates and others. … Renegade folkster Jacob Smigel has put album New Mexico on iTunes, Rhapsody and other online venues. The singer and folk artist who moved to Arizona last year for medical school decided to place items online for retail because of his inability to go on tour. …

In a benefit concert for ailing McFadden’s pub sever Leah Andrews, band Theory of Flight and Carter Powersports raised more than $5,000 at a concert and raffle held at the pub Jan. 9. … U.K. dubstepper Caspa headlines the first “Smash Quarterly” Jan. 25 at Beauty Bar. Also: Miami jock Oscar G helms “Godskitchen” Jan. 28 at Body English.