Announcing The Foilies 2024: Spotlighting the absurd in transparency
Announcing The Foilies 2024: Spotlighting the absurd in transparency Announcing The Foilies 2024: Spotlighting the absurd in transparency Help “honor” those who mishandle public record requests and curtail public access The Author Paul is the founder of the NY Coalition For Open Government and has truly loved seeing it become what it is today and […]
More DAs, Labor Unions Support NY’s Pioneering LLC Transparency Act
More DAs, Labor Unions Support NY’s Pioneering LLC Transparency Act The LLC Transparency Act is awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature in order to become law. The Author Paul is the founder of the NY Coalition For Open Government and has truly loved seeing it become what it is today and is excited about its future growth. […]
Senator Wants To Keep Police Radio Signals Public
Senator Wants To Keep Police Radio Signals Public Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Astoria and Senate deputy majority leader, has introduced the Keep Police Radio Public ACt (S.7795) to amend the state Executive Law to stipulate police agencies in New York that choose to encrypt their radio communications must establish a written policy allowing duly authorized members […]
NYPD to fully encrypt police radio scanner as press, NY pols push back at total blackout
NYPD to fully encrypt police radio scanner as press, NY pols push back at total blackout “The NYPD is set to fully encrypt its radio broadcasts by the end of next year as part of a nearly $400 million planned system upgrade — setting off alarm among local politicians and press advocates.”“It’s not about radio […]
Do I have to file a Freedom of Information Request (FOIL) for Property Records?
Do I have to file a Freedom of Information Request (FOIL) for Property Records? QUESTION Our town puts out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for bids to buy a parcel of property. Bids arrive to the town. Does we have to FOIL for the records? Or are they available to us as part of the […]
Can our town supervisor chair a meeting remotely?
Can our town supervisor chair meetings remotely? QUESTION In October our town supervisor was connected in via a laptop and chaired a meeting. No one in the public could do that, they could just view it on Facebook. This month, he was not present. He may have been viewing, but did not participate. There was discussion […]
Erie County – Finally, answers on sheriff’s helicopter use
Erie County: Finally, answers on sheriff’s helicopter use The Erie County Sheriff’s Dept wants a new helicopter at a cost of $10 million. Investigative Post filed a FOIL request to find out how often the current helicopter has been used. The FOIL request was initially denied on the basis that providing flight records would endanger lives […]
Mid Hudson News: Town board violated law; ordered to pay legal fees
Mid Hudson News: Town board violated Open Meeting Laws; ordered to pay legal fees’ Dutchess County Supreme Court Justice Maria Rosa has ruled that the Wappinger Town Board violated the Open Meetings Law when the members chose to debate the merits of a resolution in executive session rather than discuss them in a meeting open […]
New York Government Contractors Face Key Legal and Ethics Rules
New York Government Contractors Face Key Legal and Ethics Rules This article provides a brief overview of some of the transparency and ethics rules that private contractors should be aware of when conducting business with state agencies. The Author Paul is the founder of the NY Coalition For Open Government and has truly loved seeing […]
Audits of Local Governments
New York State Comptroller: Audits of Local Governments The New York State Comptroller’s office website has a lot of great information on it. We encourage everyone interested in local government to look through it. Above is a link to audits done by the Comptroller’s office, which you can search in various ways. You might be surprised […]
