If my public records request had been an embryo, my paper baby would be a month old by now.
THE THIN BLUE PAYWALL
FOIA
WHERE’S MAURA? AG HEALEY SAYS ENFORCING THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW IS A PRIORITY, BUT DOESN’T DO IT HERSELF
To be fair, it might be awkward for Healey to pursue violations given that her own office has trouble following the public records law.
FOIA-BLES: CRITICAL MASS RECORDS REFORM BILL TAKES TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK
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.
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.
RARE FOOTAGE: THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST TAPE MUCKROCK GOT FROM BPD IS AMAZING
It’s ironic that the very tool the BPD hopes will suppress these kinds of actions will, thanks to FOIA and a little crowdfunding, allow the event to live on forever.
BROKEN RECORDS: MASS PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS MAY BE ABOUT TO GET MUCH, MUCH WORSE
The bill still needs to go before the Senate, which will likely change it yet again, so there’s still hope that it will be fixed. But after seeing how the bill was devastated by the House, the future is unpredictable.
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.
SWAT STICKER: EXCLUSIVE DOCS REVEAL 34-MAN DEPLOYMENT TO DALAI LAMA VISIT PLUS OTHER COSTLY AND EXTREME POLICE TACTICS
Whether the Lama requested a goon squad and an armored tank on wheels is unknown.
OLYMPIC RECORDS
Walsh calls for transparency while his office stays tightlipped ...
