Two top deputies of Mayor de Blasio, who campaigned on creating a new era of government openness, commonly use their personal Gmail accounts to discuss city-related issues, the Daily News has learned.
First Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris and director of intergovernmental affairs Emma Wolfe routinely communicate via their private email addresses, according to multiple government insiders.
Good-government groups contend that’s a behind-the-scenes way to dodge oversight and contrary to the open government de Blasio vowed to run as he campaigned for mayor.
“Public officials should use their public emails for public activities,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
Through the law, the public can legally access copies of emails sent from official government addresses.
Personal emails from City Hall honchos discussing government issues are also fair play under the state’s Freedom of Information Law.
But reporters and curious members of the public need to know those exact addresses when making a request for information.
8 comments:
I'm pretty sure article writer Reuven Blau is mistaken about implying that NY State FOIL law gives carte blanche access to interagency and intragency e-mails, but this is a troubling loophole. One wonders if Google could be subpoenaed for the account data if a court determines beyond reasonable doubt that responsive e-mail records likely exist in their databases.
Arrogant self -serving pricks,it's all about their agenda and to hell with anyone/ anything that gets in the way.
Where is Edward Snowden when we need him now?
Disagree with the article's statement that a FOIL requestor must specify "exact [email] addresses when making a request for information." If a requestor seeks, for example, all records of communication between an agency and a particular vendor or applicant, the burden is on the agency to gather all responsive records and produce them to the requestor (or explain why access is denied). A requestor need not specify the particular email account used by agency personnel to create records that can be requested.
Fire every one of them!
Why wait to dump de Blas, impeach him now!
Fire them and de Sleazio and his wife's girlfriend!
At least one other poster knows the real reason nordlinger wont be fired.
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