If the best parts of the Senate bill survive and the worst provisions in the House bill are scrapped, then the Massachusetts public records law might become a little bit less broken.
THE SECRETARY OF SECRECY: A NEW COLUMN ABOUT PUBLIC RECORDS REFORM IN MASS, AND JUST IN TIME
There are a few possible solutions. One would be giving Galvin’s office more power to enforce the law. Another would be to streamline the process by eliminating Galvin’s role entirely and having the AG’s office handle the process from start to finish.
THE YEAR IN MASS SURVEILLANCE
You’d be better off using divination sticks than relying on TV to find out what’s going on regarding these matters, so we keep track of it all. Here’s a brief overview of this year’s surveillance-related news in the Commonwealth.
STATE SECRETS: THERE AREN’T ANY PUBLIC RECORDS—ONLY RECORDS THE COMMONWEALTH HASN’T GOTTEN AROUND TO DECLARING EXEMPT YET
All things considered, the supervisor of records needs to be removed regardless of whether the current push for an update to the public records law passes.
SWAT INC: THE COMMONWEALTH’S MOST INFAMOUS MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE CONTINUES TO FLOUT RECORDS LAW
After nearly two months, seven in-person visits, numerous phone calls and emails, and a run-in with the Wilmington police, we finally received some of the records we requested.
COUNTERING COUNTER-SURVEILLANCE
Mainstream tools have looked the other way, the entire time enabling our police state to metastasize, batons to crack, and thousands of surveillance cameras to scan both cars and crowds in spite of ongoing attempts to outlaw the recording of cops.
YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO RECORD POLICE
Meet the crusaders battling for everyone’s right to record cops in the commonwealth…
DEAR BOSTON MEDIA: PLEASE STEAL THIS ARTICLE
From the Olympics to police brutality, the Hub reporters should piggyback more independent research and ideas
