National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

Author: NFOIC

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NYC Mayor’s open government record would get a Open Government Record Would Get D Under His Own Grading System

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It's a tale of two de Blasios.

As public advocate, Bill de Blasio criticized city agencies for failing to answer Freedom of Information Law requests from media organizations and the public in a timely manner.

But of the 741 FOIL requests Mayor Bill de Blasio's office received since the start of his term through Oct. 27, 38 percent were delayed for 60 days or more. Continue…

 

In New York, it's a tale of two de Blasios. Continue…
 

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Biggest changes in public records, transparency may wait for 2017

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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's promise to pass public records reforms next year — fallout from the scandal that toppled Gov. John Kitzhaber — seemed to take on new urgency when Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum appointed a task force last month to take up the fight.

But Rosenblum's announcement came with some fine print.

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Justice Kennedy’s Citizens United disclosure salve ‘not working’

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When Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy penned the 2010 Citizens United decision allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited sums of money on elections, he did so with a promise that instant disclosure of election spending over the Internet would be enough to prevent corruption.

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Editorial: 5 things governments must consider when committing to open data

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The movement to publish open government data has attracted increased attention through initiatives such as the Open Government Partnership,the new Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data — a coalition of over 70 organisations including the governments of the US and Mexico — and the International Open Data Charter.

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Police body cameras spark debate about privacy in Tennessee

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As debates ramp up across the nation over the use of police body cameras, law enforcement officials have taken up a common refrain. Yes, police interact with civilians in public spaces, and those interactions should be recorded with body cameras.

But police work also involves being called to a person’s home on the worst day of his or her life, whether that’s to report domestic violence or a break-in.

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REPORT: Most federal advisory committee meetings now held in secret

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When federal agencies make grants or design new regulations, they often rely on panels of experts — including industry representatives — for counsel. But knowing precisely what these government-created advisory committees are pushing has been shrouded in secrecy: A new congressional report shows that most of the committee meetings are now held behind closed doors.

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