For too long, New York State government transparency has depended not on the law, but on patience. Every year, thousands of New Yorkers submit record requests to the government, only to wait months—sometimes years—for a response. If they hear back at all. This process undermines trust in the institutions that were built to assist our community.
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), enacted in 1978, was built on a simple promise: that government records belong to the public. Government agencies are not doing the public a favor by providing access to records to which the law entitles them, and when those agencies endlessly extend their time to respond to requests, they are effectively refusing to comply with New York State law.
Which is why I introduced legislation to address those delays. My bill (S.2520B) requires agencies to provide binding deadlines for fulfilling requests, prohibits blanket denials based on volume or staffing, and mandates written justification and monthly updates if wait times must be extended. This bill also allows courts to impose fines on agencies that miss deadlines without cause–turning accountability into a reality.
The ability to review documents allows the press and public to hold government agencies accountable, and is essential to a functioning democracy. New York’s FOIL is an obligation, not a choice.
