Archives for June, 2011

HUD grants FOIA request but now wants the documents back

Posted: June 22, 2011 | Tags: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Freedom of Information, We ARE Marina del Rey

One of President Obama’s first acts after taking office was to issue a remarkably strong affirmation of the Freedom of Information Act.

“The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears,” the president said. “All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher ...

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Agencies lag in filing FOIA reports

Federal agencies again lag in filing reports about how they handled Freedom of Information Act requests.

Nearly a month after the deadline, only five cabinet department reports — out of 15 — are listed on the cental Web page hosted by the Justice Department.

Gun permits stoke debates over privacy, open government

Should public records, including those naming gun permit owners, be printed in your local paper and online? Is it newsworthy to list the names of all who lawfully own guns? Since the December 2012 killings in Newtown, Conn., new questions about access and accountability — and trust — have arisen.

Sunshine Week: A commitment to open government

Next week is the annual Sunshine Week observance, reminding us of the importance and value of open government.

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