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A&A: DMV denied request for records previously accessed. What should I do next?

FAC August 19, 2010

Q: I am attempting to identify information from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The specific information is an identifying number on a driver’s license print out. The identifying number corresponds with a specific court in California. If you call DMV’s toll-free number, they will tell you what court belongs to the identifying number. My public records request for the entire list has been rejected because the information is cited as privileged and confidential. Reasons

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A&A: Requesting tax information from a non-profit organization

FAC August 19, 2010

Q: I am a reporter currently working on a series of articles on a local nonprofit. I know that as a 501(c)3 nonprofits have to file financial information with the IRS and are required to show the 990 form to anyone who asks. As a journalist and member of the public, can I request financial information from the most recently ended fiscal year (which would be included in the 990 form due soon to the

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A&A: “Briefings” on controversial project really serial meetings?

FAC August 18, 2010

Q: The planning commission was given six days to review a 117 page packet for a very controversial project for the gateway of our city, which has not been developed. The day before the commission hearing, the city manager held a series of “briefing” meetings with groups of the 2-3 planning commissioners at a time (our commission has 7 members). According to the schedule, more than a quorum of commissioners were scheduled for a meeting

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A&A: Agency won’t provide records in electronic format

FAC August 18, 2010

Q: In response to our public records request for electronic data, public agencies have refused to release data in Excel format. They have instead given us pdfs or hard copies. Their reasons are vague, ranging from concerns we will manipulate the data to saying it’s not their policy to release data in that format. I recently received a raft of paper in the mail, clearly copies of spreadsheets. The county counsel said, “The District’s policy

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Pa. court bars release of county official’s e-mails

FAC August 18, 2010

Pennsylvania courts’ broad exemption from the Right-to-Know Law shields judicial records from public scrutiny even when they are in the hands of agencies that are subject to the law, a three-judge panel of the state Commonwealth Court has ruled. August 18, 2010 By The Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. — Open-records advocates said enforcement of the 19-month-old law could be hindered by the Aug. 11 decision, which revolves around what Lackawanna County officials have described only

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