A few blog users have asked why The State Worker has posted more than 1,000 pages of interviews, adverse action notices and reports released by the California Natural Resources Agency that detail a covert employee leave buyback program at the Department of Parks and Recreation during the summer of 2011.
The agency released the documents after The Bee's Matt Weiser broke the leave credit purchase story, which evolved into a revelation that parks had squirreled away $54 million while also preparing to close facilities and seeking private-sector donations and partnerships.
The impact of the story has spilled over into the political debate over Proposition 30, a tax measure on the November ballot that Gov. Jerry Brown supports.
The documents we've posted over the last month provide a rare window into state's self-policing infrastructure and touches on many issues: cronyism, the impact of retiree turnover, state management, budget management, retired annuitants and the chain of command. Still, "Does anybody even read them?" one person asked in an email.
Yes, they do. Parks is one of the biggest departments in California state government, and feedback we've received indicates that the series is particularly well-read by those employees. Some users have said they read the interviews like an unfolding novel. Many readers, both in and out of government, have responded positively to the series and weighed in with comments and questions that will undoubtedly shape future stories.
Beyond that, posting public records from the investigation helps hold public servants accountable and deters future misdeeds.
This post concludes the series by responding to several users' requests for a single item with links to all the documents. We've organized them in alphabetical order after the jump.
Audit of Internal Controls Over Leave Buy Back.pdf
Black Interview 2012-2-23.pdf
Bonner Interview 2012-2-24.pdf
Brenneman Interview 2012-2-23.pdf
Brenneman Interview 2012-3-9.pdf
Carriker Interview 2012-3-29.pdf
Flores Interview 2012-3-28.pdf
Friedman Interview 2012-2-23.pdf
Hansen Interview 2012-3-28.pdf
Harris Interview 2012-2-24
Harris CEA Termination Letter.pdf
Herms Interview 2012-4-3.pdf
Jackson Interview 2012-2-16.pdf
Jose Interview 2012-3-9.pdf
Kemp Interview 2012-3-29.pdf
Kroll Interview 2012-2-16.pdf
Lombard Interview 2012-3-29.pdf
Lopez Interview 2012-4-3.pdf
Lopez Investigation 2012-5-1 r.pdf
Lopez NOAA1.pdf
Lopez, Manuel NOAA2.pdf
Lopez, Manuel CEA Termination Letter.pdf
Manges Interview 2012-3-9.pdf
Martinez Interview 2012-2-23.pdf
Mejia Interview 2012-2-16.pdf
Mitchell Interview 2012-2-16.pdf
Novack Interview 2012-2-24.pdf
Ortega Interview 2012-2-24.pdf
Perez Interview 2012-3-27.pdf
Saxby Interview 2012-2-15.pdf
Saxby Interview 2012-4-25.pdf
Saxby NOAA.pdf
Summers Amended NOAA.pdf
Summers Interview 2012-2-15.pdf
Summers Interview 2012-4-25.pdf
Summers NOAA.pdf
Taylor Interview 2012-4-12.pdf
WIlliams Interview 2012-3-28 (added to index on Oct. 11, 2012)
Wood Interview 2012-2-16.pdf
The Author
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.