Letter from Axel Ebermann
Pass ‘Report FOIL Activity’ Bill
Government transparency isn’t a luxury—it’s the backbone of democracy. Without timely access to information, the public cannot hold power accountable or participate meaningfully in civic life. That’s why we have Freedom of Information laws like FOIA at the federal level and FOIL here in New York.
But how well are these laws working?
The recent U.S. Department of Justice's 2024 FOIA Report paints a troubling picture: A record 1.5 million requests were filed—a 25 percent spike. Agencies processed more requests than ever, but backlogs still jumped 33 percent, topping 267,000—the worst in a decade. Even “simple” requests took an average of 44 days, more than double the statutory limit. Appeals rose by nearly 40 percent, and even “expedited” requests took almost twice as long as the law allows.
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