Ask Aunt Helen -- In a Nutshell: Techniques of Harassing Public Agencies
A question recently arose on a Listserv about how to acquire information about a particular public project:
Query: "[Description of project]... _So-and-so_,
Director of Blah-Blah, mentioned this on a radio show last Friday,
but made a point of not saying exactly who was paying whom. I
would like to track down the particulars of this subsidy but don't
know where to begin. It must be on a public record somewhere. Any
advice or additional info will be greatly appreciated."
Can anyone help Intrepid Inquirer?
Aunt Helen's Answer:
My, my, you young whipper-snappers could use some lessons in
harassing public employees.
Intrepid Inquirer, your first call is to Mr. _So-and-So's_ office.
Ask HIM. Then if no luck, try other offices, including the City
Mgr. Once when Santa Rosa refused to tell me the name of its
insurance carrier, I threatened to sue the City under the Calif.
Public Records Act, demanding a copy of the face sheet of their
insurance policy; they immediately caved. You could, if necessary
as a last resort, demand a copy of the lease agreement, under
that Act. A CPRA suit is very simple; this is a far more useful
law than the poor old toothless Brown Act. Anytime you need to
throw this particular book at an agency , let me know and I'll
send you instructions. (You have to make a written formal demand
FIRST, and most agencies recognize the signs, but that does not
mean you actually have to sue anybody).
But you won't have to go that far: start off as Mr. Nice Citizen, and you will
probably find some nice person who will be puzzled, because she hasn't heard
of it, but will try to find out for you; there are lots of very nice, accommodating
people working in most government offices, including even Santa Rosa. Then if
no luck, you just ratchet it up; eventually some PR person takes over and you
get either a) a nice call saying Mr. _So-and-So_ misspoke himself, or b) your
info. The very LAST LAST resort is a letter to the Ed, but that won't be in
time on your timetable.
Helen Libeu
Consultant, Techniques of Harassing Public Agencies.
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