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March 15, 2012
As Sunshine Week continues, questions about Cuomo administration's responsiveness (and what about my 2010 FOIL requests?)
Atlantic Yards Report
It's Sunshine Week, a national initiative organized by press groups (and allies) to spotlight open government, but sunshine regarding New York State government--notably, Empire State Development ESD)--seems to be lacking.
I've been waiting 18 months for a response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request from ESD, as I'll describe further below.
And journalists from much larger organizations, and even lawmakers, have been stymied, according to a 3/10/12 Albany Times-Union article headlined Delay hurts public access: Cuomo administration offers a mixed record in release of information to New Yorkers.
...What am I asking for?
Well, the 9/16/10 request, which might be considered fairly broad, sought several documents regarding the Atlantic Yards Development Agreement.
The 10/5/10 request, however, was more narrow, regarding Executive Director Peter Davidson's planned trip to China on behalf of the New York City Regional Center's effort, under the EB-5 visa program, to market an investment in Atlantic Yards that would bring Forest City Ratner a $249 million low-interest loan.
I sought records to explain:
- the cost and itinerary of the trip
- what Mr. Davidson is expected to do (outline of remarks, etc)
- the solicitation for and decision to make the trip
- any evaluation on ESDC's part of the job numbers used by NYCRC
NoLandGrab: The Cuomo Administration, apparently, has stuffed those records where the sun don't shine.
Posted by eric at March 15, 2012 12:12 PM