Greenwich First Selectman Throws a Tantrum Over FOIA Requests

 

Screenshot (Public Domain)

By now many of you have read or aware of that Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo (R) had threatened to publicly call out, we mean publicly disclose everyone who submits Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA). Apparently, Camillo has followed with his promise, which is included in the latest edition of Community Connections from Fred.

In his update, Camillo decides to publicly throw a tantrum by mentioning that many of these requests are "partisan political requests." Also included is a list of individuals and organizations who have submitted requests and what they are looking for. Regardless of individual, organization, the number of such requests or the reason for the request, all should be honored according to the law and state statutes. As a Republican, Camillo should be very aware that the Republican Party is the party of "law and order." Camillo's job, whether he likes it or not, is to abide by those laws and serve the public interest, even if doesn't fit his agenda. Throwing a tantrum and attempting to publicly humiliate those seeking information will eventually backfire on him. Camillo should be going out of his way to be as transparent as possible. Why the public whining then? Is there information he wants to keep hidden? It would only be natural to think he is.

We strongly believe that information should be available to the public without the public spectacle. After all, we are taxpayers that fund the Town's operations and salaries. Camillo should also remember that a nominal fee is charged for the information so his claim of wasting "employee time and taxpayer money" is complete nonsense. As you will see below, we will not perpetuate publicly disclosing FOIA requests.

The people have a right under the law and state statutes to request and receive public information.

Stop making it difficult. It's unbecoming.

From Community Connections: 

FOI requests

We will continue to make the public aware of the Freedom of Information Act requests we receive here in Town government. We first did this in mid-July, and we will be doing it at the end of every month going forward.

At this link you will find a list of FOIA requests covering July 11 to Aug. 29. As you can see there, the majority of the requests are easy, innocuous ones for information about underground storage tanks in Town, which is regularly done by Realtors as part of title searches. But you can also see some examples this month of partisan political requests and other ones that waste employee time and taxpayer money. I want the public to be able to see what people are asking for.

I fully support FOIA, and it can be a very useful tool to get information, but it can also be abused, and we will be running this list monthly in the name of transparency. At the link above, the list is organized to have all the ones to the fire department for property information at the end and at the top of the list are all the ones to other Town apartments.

Community Connections from Fred Read