Editorial: California lawmakers seek to undermine Brown Act open

For the third year in a row, California lawmakers are trying to undermine the open-meeting law that for more than seven decades has mandated transparency for local government panels like city councils and school boards.

Democratic state Sens. Jesse Arreguin, the former mayor of Berkeley, and Maria Elena Durazo of Los Angeles are leading this year’s attack, which backers are championing as a modernization of the open-meeting rules.

In fact, Senate Bill 707 is a confusing mess that, most significantly, would allow key local government advisory committees to meet completely virtually.

These are important boards whose recommendations are often sent to the final decision-makers — a city council, school board or county board of supervisors — for quick and perfunctory ratification.

It’s at th