The Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association in February filed requests for public information with 31 state agencies, counties, municipalities and school systems. The idea was to look at trends in the number of public records requests they received over a three-year period and what effect the COVID-19 pandemic had, if any, on their responses.
Public records survey highlights unevenness of Maryland state and local government tracking and responses capitalgazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from capitalgazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Public records survey highlights unevenness of government tracking, responses
By Andrew Schotz and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi
A one-month test of government agencies in Maryland revealed a patchwork of approaches in how public records are tracked and how requests for access are filled.
The Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association in February filed requests for public information with 31 state agencies, counties, municipalities and school systems. The idea was to look at trends in the number of public records requests they received over a three-year period and what effect the COVID-19 pandemic had, if any, on their responses.
Asked for their average response time each year in filling or denying Maryland Public Information Act requests and whether it changed during the pandemic only about one-fifth of the 31 government entities that MDDC surveyed provided a full answer, or data to easily figure out the answer.
The Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association represents a diverse membership of media organizations, from large metro dailies such as the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun, to weekly publications such
Maryland s 7.700 victims of COVID-19 were remembered at a State House ceremony Friday, March 5. In front of the illuminated steps were, from left, House Speaker Adrienne Jones, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Rev. Johnny Calhoun, Gov. Larry Hogan at podium, first lady Yumi Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford. Governor s Office photo
‘ADJUDICATION PURGATORY’ YEAR LATER IN JOBLESS SYSTEMS: It has been a year since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the state has made significant improvements to its unemployment call centers-such as beefing up staff and expanding hours of operation but substantial problems remain as many Marylanders have been waiting months to receive their benefits and some are even unable to get a claims representative on the phone, Bryan Renbaum of Maryland Reporter writes.