Public officials’ private email and text accounts are subject to disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, the Illinois 1st District Appellate Court ruled on Wednesday, upholding a circuit judge’s ruling in a Better Government Association lawsuit against the city of Chicago. “Allowing public officials to shield information from the public’s view merely by […]
Tag: mayor
NFOIC Post: Atlanta launches new culture of transparency
By Daniel Bevarly, NFOIC executive director, dbevarly@nfoic.org Anyone interested in transparency in state and local governments must be following the developments in the City of Atlanta. The former administration of Mayor Kasim Reed was investigated for corruption leading to a guilty plea last month by a former cabinet member. Mayor’ Reed’s administration includes another dishonor: his […]
Read More… from NFOIC Post: Atlanta launches new culture of transparency
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s top staffers used private email accounts to talk head-tax strategy
Four of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s staffers used private email accounts when planning with political consultants what to do immediately after the City Council reversed course on a controversial business head tax to raise money for housing and homelessness services, according to records released Friday to The Seattle Times. The June 11 messages — shared via Gmail […]
Atlanta’s Open Checkbook: a tool for transparency
Following a federal bribery probe investigating former Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration’s muddy financial dealings, the City of Atlanta announced a new transparency tool called Atlanta’s Open Checkbook. The Open Checkbook shows the City of Atlanta’s expenditure of more than $2 billion between 2017 and 2018. “Rather than waiting for the public to ask or waiting for […]
Read More… from Atlanta’s Open Checkbook: a tool for transparency
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms’ Transparency Officer Legislation Moves Forward
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ promise to create a new Transparency Officer is a step closer to going before the Atlanta City Council for a vote. Legislation that represented a collaboration between the Mayor, the City Council and local media outlets was approved unanimously by the Finance/Executive Committee. “There is no city in the state of […]
Read More… from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms’ Transparency Officer Legislation Moves Forward
Chicago paid $670,000 in 2016 over lawsuits alleging open records violations
The city of Chicago paid out about $670,000 last year to plaintiffs in lawsuits alleging that officials violated open records law — nearly five times what the city paid in the previous eight years combined.
[…]
Read More… from Chicago paid $670,000 in 2016 over lawsuits alleging open records violations
Let the sunshine in: Man who filed lawsuit to remove ESL mayor calls ruling ‘a victory’
A St. Clair County judge dismissed part of a lawsuit seeking to remove East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks from office but could fine the city for allegedly violating state Sunshine laws.
The legal fight began in May 2013 when Matt Hawkins, president of watchdog group Civic Alliance of East St. Louis, filed a lawsuit against city leaders alleging violations of the state’s Freedom of Information Act and a state law dictating the administration of tax increment financing districts.
[…]
Mayor questions public records process
Bloomington (IN) Mayor Tari Renner wants elected officials, not hired staff, to have more say on disputed requests from the public for city records.
Renner’s call for more oversight stems from the city’s recent denial of a Pantagraph Freedom of Information Act request seeking details about the termination of Bloomington Police Officer Brenton VanHoveln, who allegedly falsified documents. The Pantagraph is asking the public access counselor in the state attorney general's office to review the city’s denial and require it to release the records.
[…]