New York open government – National Freedom of Information Coalition

New York Mayor De Blasio insists his latest scheme is ‘appropriate’

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Mayor de Blasio emerged from hiding Thursday — after ducking reporters for more than a week — to defend his much-maligned decision to withhold communications with five confidants outside the government.

De Blasio used the word “appropriate” at least 10 times during a Washington Heights press conference to explain why his administration decided to exempt communications with the confidants from routine public disclosure. Continue…

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Despite ruling, Rockland clerk refuses to release public gun-permit data

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From The Journal News: The Rockland County clerk is refusing to release the names and addresses of non-exempt pistol permit holders, ignoring state law and a letter from the county’s top public records official ordering the records’ release.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 8, 2013

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From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

Brevard corruption case morphs into public records battle

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Mayor Elect de Blasio: Set NYPD records free!

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From MuckRock: The New York Police Department’s animus toward Freedom of Information requests is legendary, and mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has been one of the department’s most outspoken critics. As de Blasio takes the City Hall reins, transparency advocates have a tremendous opportunity. But if you want real reform, hold de Blasio to his watchdog roots.

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Opinion: Are pre-denial claims communications admissable in court?

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From Property Casualty 360: The attorney work-product privilege is one of the three primary privileges incorporated into Exemption 5 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(5). It protects materials prepared by an attorney or others in anticipation of litigation, ostensibly shielding materials that would disclose the attorney’s theory of the case or trial strategy. President Lyndon B. Johnson originally signed FOIA into law by on July 4, 1966 and it went into effect the following year.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for October 4, 2013

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NYC launches redesigned open data portal and new APIs

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From Programmable Web: The New York City Government has raised the bar for open government programs everywhere by launching several brand new NYC Open Data APIs, a redesigned Open Data Portal and Developer Website. The NYC Open Data Portal now has over 1,100 datasets available including 200 brand new datasets that have just been added.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for September 27, 2013

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NYPD ‘secret’ classification for documents ‘means diddly’ in eyes of legal experts

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From Huffington Post: NEW YORK — Since at least 2003, the New York Police Department has been labeling some of its internal documents “Secret,” a designation that has baffled government secrecy experts, journalists and civil liberties lawyers.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for June 14, 2013

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A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

Private prison firm CCA defends record on transparency in Vt.

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