After Statesman inquiry, lawsuit aims to keep Texas Teacher Retirement System’s lease under wraps
By Bob SechlerAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published May 15, 2020 The Teacher Retirement System of Texas describes itself as committed to public transparency and says it’s no longer trying to prevent disclosure of the full terms of its multimillion-dollar office lease in the luxury Indeed Tower high-rise under construction in downtown Austin. But that hasn’t stopped a development company in which the taxpayer-funded retirement system has a big financial stake from continuing [...]
Rivard Report: Pandemic is no time to deny the public’s right to know
By Robert RivardRivard ReportOriginally published May 17, 2020 One uncomfortable reality for some who collect their paychecks from taxpayer- and ratepayer-supported entities is that the public has a timely right to know what they are doing and how they are doing it. In Texas, however, the public’s right to know is always qualified, despite the existence of the Texas Public Information Act. A continuing legal fight over access to meetings and [...]
Austin police to release shooting videos sooner under new policy
By Tony PlohetskiAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published May 13, 2020 Austin police officials will begin releasing video from officer-involved shootings within 60 days of each incident, a drastic change to internal policy that used to shield that information for many months or longer until an investigation was completed. Officials say the policy is intended to help foster community trust and allow for greater accountability while still giving detectives two months to follow [...]
CANCELED: Open Government Seminar-San Antonio on June 4
Because of continuing COVID-19 concerns and social distancing rules in public settings, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is canceling its Open Government Seminar previously scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at the San Antonio Public Library auditorium. The library is not allowing large public meetings at this time. Please stay tuned, as we will try to reschedule this event for a later date.
Austin American-Statesman editorial: End the secrecy on virus deaths at nursing homes
By American-Statesman Editorial BoardAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published May 3, 2020 More than 300 coronavirus deaths in Texas have been tied to nursing homes and other senior living facilities. Which locations? For the most part, no one will say. In an extreme interpretation of state law, Texas officials have refused to tell the public about any COVID-19 outbreak at a specific senior facility — not even the number of cases or the mere [...]
FOI Foundation calls on health officials to identify nursing homes where COVID-19 is confirmed
April 29, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas called on state and local officials Wednesday to reveal the names and locations of nursing homes where cases and/or deaths from COVID-19 have been confirmed. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and some local government health officials have refused to say which nursing homes have experienced coronavirus outbreaks, though they acknowledge numerous cases have [...]
Journalists put new Texas public records law to the test
By Sofia Tyreman A new Texas law aims to provide more transparency through public access to government contracts under the Texas Public Information Act. Specifically, it’s intended to show how taxpayer money is being spent. News reporters are already using the law and learning about its scope. Senate Bill 943, which passed the Legislature last year and took effect Jan. 1, 2020, attempts to address some of the issues generated by [...]
Amid pandemic, Texas public record requests languish
By Asher PriceAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published April 17, 2020 A new state law, passed after Hurricane Harvey, has weakened the public’s right to know information in a timely fashion during a crisis. Some governments appear to be stretching the limits of the law and suspending filling open records requests for weeks on end. Read the full story here.
Coronavirus has upended local government, moving democracy online and putting it on hold in some cases
By Joshua FechterSan Antonio Express-NewsOriginally published April 13, 2020 Democracy at the local level usually involves elected officials weighing policy within arm’s reach of each other, residents delivering impassioned remarks at a lectern, oblivious to the microphone’s cleanliness, and voters filing into libraries and schools. But the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus has forced elected officials to try to strike a balance between open government and the need for [...]
Reporters barred. Records delayed. How coronavirus shrouded local government in secrecy
By Jessica PriestUSA Today NetworkOriginally published April 8, 2020 Read the full story here. Thirty-five states have temporarily altered open government laws to curb the spread of coronavirus, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of government press releases, newspaper articles and information collected by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Governors Association. The agencies in these states — from the smallest municipal bodies to [...]
Texas is behind the curve on releasing timely information on the coronavirus. Here’s why.
By John Tedesco, Alex Stuckey, Stephanie Lamm, Matt DempseyHouston ChronicleOriginally published April 4, 2020 Texas is bracing for a pandemic that is projected to kill tens of thousands of people across the U.S., but health officials and state leaders are struggling to provide the public with timely updates on how many people are infected and how many hospital beds and ventilators are available for the critically ill. Other states across [...]
Palestine, Texas, city council improves technology to ensure public can access virtual meetings
By William PatrickPalestine Herald-PressOriginally published March 31, 2020 More than $2,000 of audio and video upgrades over the last week allowed Palestine City Council members Monday to meet virtually – and fully include the public. Computer equipment improvements came after audio and video problems marred last week’s council meeting. Dozens of residents complained on social media that they couldn't hear or understanding council discussions or action. The video failed just [...]
Open government awareness during coronavirus emergency
By Kelley ShannonExecutive DirectorFreedom of Information Foundation of Texas The coronavirus emergency is creating trying times for public officials and citizens when it comes to open government. But transparency and the public's right to know are vitally important during a disaster. We need more information flowing now, not less. Here are reminders and resources for complying with Texas transparency laws during the COVID-19 outbreak: Gov. Greg Abbott has suspended one [...]
Gov. Abbott suspends part of Texas Open Meetings Act during coronavirus emergency
By Kelley ShannonExecutive DirectorFOI Foundation of Texas We at the FOI Foundation of Texas recognize the need to avoid large public gatherings right now during the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Greg Abbott's suspension of part of the Texas Open Meetings Act allows additional options for governments holding virtual meetings, either through telephone or videoconferencing. Virtual meetings are already permitted under the law, but this action removes the requirement of a physical [...]
Sunshine Week Column: Sun starting to shine again on Texas government
By Kelley Shannon Texans have something to celebrate during Sunshine Week this year. But we also have more work to do to protect the public’s right to know about our government. Sunshine Week, March 15-21, is an annual national initiative proclaiming the importance of access to public information. First, the bright spot for Texas: Essential elements of contracts between governments and private companies – including pricing and promises – are [...]
POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled
The FOI Foundation's Open Government Seminar in San Antonio, previously scheduled for April 8, has been postponed amid coronavirus concerns and stay-at-home orders. Please stay tuned for the reschedule date, tentatively planned for June. The Open Government Seminar is part of a series of regional educational sessions the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting this year in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office. It is open [...]
Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files
By Karen BlumenthalOpinion piece in The Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published March 8, 2020 Getting state and local government records of any kind, especially those of a famous legal case that is nearly 50 years old, should not require a lawyer or a bucket of cash. The state’s Public Information Act is supposed to compel state and local governmental bodies to release records to those who request them within 10 business [...]
Austin officials fast-track new policy to release online videos of critical incidents
By Katie HallAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published March 2, 2020 Austin police are on track to begin releasing available video footage of new critical incidents by the end of this month under a new policy, police officials say. The video release policy — modeled after the Los Angeles Police Department’s rules on sharing footage — comes after the Austin City Council directed the police department in February to produce a clear protocol [...]
Odessa American files lawsuit against city of Odessa
By Laura DennisOdessa AmericanOriginally published Jan. 31, 2020 The Odessa American has filed a lawsuit against the City of Odessa to force the city to release public crime records in a timely manner and in accordance with state law. For months, the OA has battled the city to provide public documents to both the OA and the public that includes police reports and probable cause affidavits in a timely manner [...]
Photojournalist fights for First Amendment rights, supports FOI Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN – Freelance photojournalist Avi S. Adelman, who received a $345,000 legal settlement after he was arrested when taking photographs in a public place in Dallas, has become a major supporter of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas The Dallas Area Rapid Transit board of directors voted in October to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by Adelman over his arrest by a DART police officer [...]