City Attorney Michael Aguirre firmly supports the right of citizens to have access to the same public documents available to elected officials.

"As the ultimate political decision-makers, citizens have the right and the responsibility to become and remain informed about public issues so that they can understand and control the instruments of government that they have created," said Aguirre.

The California Public Records Act, first passed in 1968, allows citizens to request copies of public documents, or to review them at the City Clerk's office. Learn more about obtaining public records by visiting the site of the San Diego City Clerk's Office.