Kingston says new process to get public information is not mandatory

The City of Kingston attempted to restrict Freedom of Information Law requests to an online portal, claiming it would streamline processing. However, legal counsel clarified this directive was erroneous. State law mandates that government entities continue to accept requests via email, rendering the new restriction invalid. This correction ensures that citizens retain their legal right to access public records through the most accessible and legally compliant channels, preventing administrative barriers to transparency. This incident highlights the tension between bureaucratic efficiency and statutory obligations. While officials cited volume management as the motive for changing protocols, the ultimate priority must be adherence to open government statutes. When administrative updates conflict with legal requirements, transparency suffers. Citizens and organizations must remain vigilant against such procedural shifts that attempt to bypass established legal rights, ensuring that information remains readily available to the public without unnecessary friction. The relevance to open data lies in the foundational principle that accessibility is non-negotiable. Even if raw data is available, the mechanism for retrieving specific records must be compliant with freedom of information laws. This case serves as a reminder that open data initiatives cannot supersede legal mandates for public access. Ensuring that request processes are simple, legal, and transparent is essential for maintaining public trust and facilitating genuine accountability in government operations.

Source: dailyfreeman.com
Published on 2025-09-23

Kingston says new process to get public information is not mandatory

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