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The right of constituents to access records that governmental bodies have collected as well as attend public meetings where vital issues are discussed remains an essential component in how we practice democracy.
A self-governing system demands that citizens have access to accurate information about what their governments are doing. We canât make good decisions about how to structure society if those granted authority to preside over these matters conduct the peopleâs business in secret.
Laws enacted in all jurisdictions require public officials to make certain records available upon request and hold their meetings in the open. Exceptions are made to protect sensitive interests, but these are meant to be invoked only when necessary.
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Two more public bodies in Northern New York received poor grades from a government watchdog organization for their adherence to the stateâs Open Meetings Law.
The New York Coalition for Open Government âpromotes open, transparent government and defends citizensâ right to access information from public institutions at the city, county and state levels,â according to the mission statement on its website. Based in Williamsville, the nonprofit, volunteer group is âcomprised of journalists, activists, attorneys, educators, news media organizations, and other concerned citizens who value open government and freedom of information.
âWe believe that if government is of the people, by the people and for the people, then it should also be open to the people. Government exists to serve its citizens, so access to public information should be simple,â the organization said on its website. âFreedom of Information Laws and the NY Open Meetings Law mak