"A very good clip" ?? If the historic Annex had been rehabilitated, this Project would already be done and completed at a fraction of the current price tag. In reality, this Project has made minimal to no progress in terms of construction, transparency, and information sharing.

For decades, California had a special commission dedicated to preserving the historic integrity of the state capitol. The commission is no longer because of the controversial Capitol Annex Project. Ex-chair Dick Cowan weighed in on project leaders withholding cost info:

Full story and full interview with Dick Cowan here: kcra.com/article/capito…

It has been more than six years since California’s Historic State Capitol Commission met. The group is now defunct as a direct result of the controversial Capitol Annex Project. Commissioners resigned as CALeg kept important info from them: kcra.com/article/capito…

New: For the first time in years, we’re hearing from California lawmakers leading the Capitol Annex Project. Asm. Blanca Pacheco and State Sen. John Laird still could not provide an update on the actual cost estimate when they sat down with me today. We went in circles:

Pacheco and Laird promised this would be the first of many interviews/availabilities they plan to do with the project moving forward. Pacheco said they’ll provide updates as they get them. “We believe it’s also important for us to be transparent.”

A note here that months ago I asked for contracts, change orders, financial statements and other documents that could back up what they’re saying/shine light on the price tag, but I still have yet to receive them. Laird said my request involved many, many documents…

This conversation was lengthy (and I appreciate them giving me the time). We talked about the NDAs forcing people to keep broad info about this project a secret, the lawsuit that delayed it, cost of security, rocks and other transparency concerns. Will post full interview…

You can watch the full interview here: youtube.com/watch?time_con…

California Politics 360 - Dec. 21st: •CBRT’s Rob Lapsley on businesses large & small shouldering more costs bc of billions CA owes the federal govt •Rep. Sam Liccardo on healthcare impacts with no action in D.C. • Save Our Capitol!’s Dick Cowan on Capitol Annex latest

Late last year, we released a statement outlining our frustrations with #CALeg dodging questions about the Capitol Annex Project — releasing answers only after media scrutiny. Yet, key details still remain unaddressed. Full statement below & here: saveourcapitol.org/updates/save-o…

Thanks Joe Patterson for proposing AB 1652! We've long said that transparency delayed is transparency denied. Californians deserves to know what our elected officials are doing, and more importantly -- what it will cost us.

New management taking over! Let’s hope they’re more transparent than their predecessors 👀fox40.com/inside-califor…

Have you ever seen an FAQ explain why a Non-Disclosure Agreement is in place on a taxpayer funded project? California Capitol Annex project leaders updated website with doc explaining several things they hid from the public. Still no cost estimate: annex.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2…

New: A bill could force California lawmakers to start talking about the controversial Capitol Annex Project. The building is more than halfway done but leaders still won't say how much it'll cost. My interview requests have been denied so I went to the site to ask questions:

For years the $1.1 billion Capitol Annex Project has been shrouded in secrecy. I’ve introduced AB 2445 to restore transparency by ending the use of NDAs that hide answers from taxpayers. The bill would also preserve the West Steps of the State Capitol for future generations.

Thank you Josh Hoover for holding your colleagues accountable with the introduction of AB 2445! Along with ushering in a new age of transparency, #CALeg MUST prohibit the construction of a visitor's center on the state capitol's West Side. TY kcranews/Ashley Zavala for reporting!