Hochul hit for no open government mention
Governor Hochul faced criticism for omitting open government reforms from her State of the State address, despite severe flaws in New York’s Freedom of Information Law. Critics argue the state possesses weak transparency laws and that the Attorney General often opposes public access rather than facilitating it. Legislators are introducing bills to strengthen these rights, including establishing a constitutional right to open government and reforming legal fee structures for FOIL lawsuits. These measures aim to make it easier for citizens to challenge denials without facing prohibitive legal costs. An independent hearing officer system is also proposed to streamline complaint resolution, replacing the current necessity of filing lawsuits. This article highlights the urgent need for policy changes to improve transparency and accountability in New York’s government operations.
Source: observertoday.comPublished on 2024-02-01