Joel Petlin, the school superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District has written a letter to LOHUD (the Journal News' website for the Lower Hudson valley). He complains about the awful actions by...
...elected officials (who) are now attempting to limit democracy as it relates to the Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish population of the Hudson Valley.
An Assemblyman has proposed a bill to create a state commission to better enforce the Freedom of Information and Open Meetings laws. His press conference and press release made it clear that this legislation is targeted toward a single municipality – the Village of Kiryas Joel, inhabited by a Hasidic Jewish population.
The Assemblyman and his colleagues that joined him at his press conference have been longtime critics of any actions taken by the elected leaders of Kiryas Joel. So it comes as no surprise that they would propose a new law designed to constrain a growing neighboring municipality. What is curious, however, is why there is a need for the creation of a new layer of government, at a proposed annual cost of up to $15 million, when all laws, including FOIL and open meetings, are already reviewable and enforceable by the judiciary.
The unnamed Assemblyman (who's initials are James Skoufis) is, it seems, seeking to restrict KJ's democratic right to illegally hold secret board meetings and ignore FOILS.
Methinks, Mr. Petlin protests too much.
ReplyDeleteHere is an interesting proposition: Let's have the Record seek a response to the following question: "Has anyone from the public or any government agency FOILed a request from Kiryas Joel and received any information?"
It could be a contest.
Also, wouldn't you think that if the Village of Kiryas Joel felt that it was inaccurately being accused on of not responding to legal proper requests for information that it could easily put the issue to rest by simply supplying documentation that it does not ignore FOILs. And if the information that it does not respond is untrue, shouldn't the Village applaud this initiative to do what is says it does so the law would not apply to them at all.
Perhaps someone could suggest this at a Kiryas Joel public meeting, if only anyone knew where and when they meet.
Thank you to the so called "long time critics" that are cited above as attending the press conference and simply supporting what the law says a public body is suppose to do--operate in the open and response to public inquiries for public information. Notice how the Village of Kiryas Joel always tries to distract any criticism by claiming to be a victim. I agree with the above comment--no need to complain if you are already following the law.
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