Comments on: New Lansing FOIA policies to be developed behind closed doors

By: northcoast

northcoast — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:13:00 +0000

To say that an effort to develop a policy about releasing information to the public must be developed without the public's knowledge is to admit that the ultimate goal is to avoid releasing information. A policy created under such circumstances could conceivably allow wholesale refusal to release information that should be produced in response to a lawful request. There ALREADY IS a policy about releasing information in response to a lawful and proper FOIA request; that “policy” is contained in the FOIA act itself. This is stonewalling, and a waste of time and money, and an effort to look busy while doing nothing. Appalling. Thanks to Mich Mess for publicizing it.

By: northcoast

northcoast — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:13:00 +0000

By: bonniebucqueroux

bonniebucqueroux — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:28:28 +0000

It would seem to be a simple matter to remind the police department not to reveal the HIV status of people with whom they interact. (It might be even wiser for them to avoid similar stings, but that's another matter.) My concern with their desire to make the meeting private is that other press freedoms risk being lost in the process. Isn't transparency the goal?

By: neeson02

neeson02 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:33:08 +0000

Personally I also think that this type of act will be necessary. This will create transparency in creating information policy.