We Urge the Legislature and Governor to
Strengthen New York State’s
Freedom Of Information Law for Sunshine Week
The New York Coalition For Open Government, Reinvent Albany, and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) invite you to a joint press conference in honor of Sunshine Week. We will be joined by legislative champions and other advocates to present several pieces of legislation to address the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) crisis in New York State.
Date: Tuesday, 03/12
Time: 10:30 am
Where: Albany – New York State Capitol, fourth-floor lobby outside the Senate Chambers
Legislators in Attendance (sponsors of FOIL reform legislation):
Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Senator John Liu
Assemblymember Steven Raga
Speakers:
– Paul Wolf Esq., President – New York Coalition for Open Government
– Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor – Reinvent Albany
– David Siffert, Legal Director – Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
– Blair Horner, Executive Director – New York Public Interest Research Group
– Erica Smitka, Deputy Director – League Women Voters of NYS
– Shane Ferro, Staff Attorney with the Digital Forensics Unit – Legal Aid Society
– Justin Harrison, Senior Policy Counsel – New York Civil Liberties Union
Sunshine Week is a non-partisan, nationwide initiative uniting participants from journalism, civic groups, government, and the private sector to emphasize the critical role of public record access and transparent government in maintaining a healthy democracy. Celebrated annually in mid-March, this event coincides with the birthday of James Madison, a staunch advocate for transparency, and is marked alongside National Freedom of Information Day on March 16th.
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.
As an attorney for 32 years, he is a partner in the law firm of Berzer & Wolf. Prior to his private law practice, Paul served in several government positions with the Buffalo Common Council, Buffalo Housing Authority, and Erie County.
When he is not practicing law and doing open government stuff, Paul enjoys spending time with his spouse, Cheryl, and his three children, Michael, Joseph, and Julia. Paul resides in Amherst, NY, a suburb of Buffalo.
