The narcissism (or something) of the local press

In its annual article of self-congratulation called "Sunshine Week," the McClatchy Co. local outlet, the Merced Sun-Star finished with the following errant graphs:
 

Acknowledging local efforts
In Merced County, government agencies generally do a good job of getting out the word about public meetings and posting agendas on websites, even making printed copies available in a timely way.
Law enforcement agencies also make a solid effort to get out information about crime and other incidents in the various communities, especially if they deem such information important for public safety. The district attorney's office goes the extra mile to honor requests for public records about court cases.
When it comes to public records requests, government agencies generally respond within the allotted time -- often, but not always, providing the desired documents or records.
In general, officials in Merced County understand the rules regarding open meetings and public records, but that doesn't always prevent them from trying to withhold information and that requires continued vigilance.

Re. the Brown Act, the only local effort that should be made is in the Merced County Superior Court, where three cases brought on Brown Act violations by Merced County were decided in favor of San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Center and Protect Our Water (POW). The County is appealing all three because whoever or whatever is in charge there cannot admit that it tried a wholesale end run around the Brown Act and got caught red-handed in its own lies. There were several other cases involving development projects that did not go to court because the project applicants realized that going to court in alliance with Merced County and depending on the County's views du jour of proper public procedure was a perilous, expensive venture.
The newspaper has seemed for years to believe that all members of the public have the same access to information as it does. The County and the City of Merced both provide complete sets of all documents for all supervisors' and council meetings. The newspaper may even be able to get documents out of the county planning department without an ugly row, lies, and deception.
So, naturally, the newspaper imagines it is the public and that the public is treated well by the County. But it doesn't even know of the existence of the three Brown Act violation cases decided against Merced County in its own court under the nose of the Merced Sun-Star, rightly named on this site as Sonny Star, the Gigolo Press. -- blj