Nancy Ancrum of the Miami Herald will lead a discussion with journalists Andrea Gallo of The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La., and Derek Kravitz of the Brown Institute, along with First Amendment Coalition Executive Director David Snyder. The panel will discuss tips for fighting for open government and records access. The event is Thursday, March 18 at 10 am. PST via Zoom. The…
Tag: Florida
‘Marsy’s Law,’ Public Records Law Clash in Police Case
The city of Tallahassee and media organizations tried to persuade a circuit judge that a 2018 constitutional amendment aimed at protecting victims’ rights does not allow police officers involved in use-of-force incidents to keep their identities secret. The arguments came in a lawsuit filed by the Florida Police Benevolent Association asserting that the constitutional amendment…
Why There’s Little Sunshine On Many Economic Development Deals In Florida — And Beyond
As the coronavirus has swept the country, forcing state and local governments to adjust to a new way of doing business, the public’s ability to keep track of government activities has not been easy. Video meetings are often the best governments can offer, and that has put new limits on public participation. But when it…
News Release – Knight FOI Fund supports lawsuit for “illegal” city council meeting during pandemic
May 29, 2020 For Immediate Release Contact: Daniel Bevarly Executive Director, NFOIC dbevarly@nfoic.org 352-294-7082 Knight FOI Fund supports lawsuit for “illegal” city council meeting during pandemic After the City of Sebastian (FL) Mayor Ed Dodd cancelled an April 22nd city council meeting due to the Governor Ron Desantis’ Covid-19 Emergency Declaration, three…
Coronavirus clampdown: The virus casts a shroud over American civic life
States and cities across the country are cutting off access to open records and canceling in-person meetings, starving the public — not to mention lobbyists and other influence-brokers — of information as the coronavirus outbreak reaches into all corners of civic life. The public access shutdown comes just as local officials make unprecedented decisions about…
Judge orders Florida Governor Rick Scott to release travel, campaign records; Governor will appeal
A judge on Wednesday ordered Gov. Rick Scott to release about three months’ worth of meeting schedules and travel plans — including upcoming campaign events — and rejected his argument that the information should remain secret for security reasons. Circuit Judge Charles Dodson in Tallahassee ruled in favor of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The group…
Broward Co. (FL) school board filed for contempt against Sun Sentinel — and then learned about it in Sun Sentinel
No one told some Broward school board members they were filing a contempt-of-court case against the South Florida Sun Sentinel. No one except the Sun Sentinel, that is. The district’s chief lawyer, Barbara Myrick, asked a judge this week to hold the newspaper and two reporters in contempt of court for publishing an uncensored report…
Lee County (FL) school board opens private meetings to public
The Lee County school board decided Tuesday that it will allow the public to attend meetings that it has been holding in private for more than a year. The board started having the private meetings in April 2017. They were held after the board’s regular meetings in a break room at the Public Education Center….
News Release – State/Local government FOI audits reveal administrative shortcomings
News Release May 30, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Daniel Bevarly (239) 823-1811 · dbevarly@nfoic.org State/Local government FOI audits reveal administrative shortcomings Charging different fees for the same public record. Refusing to allow residents to use their cell phones to copy records and save money. The absence of online content to provide necessary information…
Report Documents Florida’s Lack of Accountability for Public Records Requests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Report Documents Florida’s Lack of Accountability for Public Records Requests Percent of Requests with Fees and Amount Collected Varies Widely from County to County Gainesville, Fla., April 16, 2018 Despite having some of the most open public records laws in the country, Florida’s lack of accountability…