MEDIA ADVISORY: Groups Urge Legislature and Governor to Strengthen New York State’s Freedom of Information Law for Sunshine Week

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MEDIA ADVISORY


Groups Urge Legislature and Governor to Strengthen New York State’s Freedom of Information Law for Sunshine Week 

(NEW YORK, NY, 3/11/2024) – The New York Coalition for Open Government, Reinvent Albany, and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project invite you to a joint press conference in honor of Sunshine Week. We will be joined by legislative champions and other advocates to present several pieces of legislation to address the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) crisis in New York State. 

Date: Tuesday, 03/12 
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Albany - New York State Capitol, fourth floor lobby outside the Senate Chambers 

Legislators in Attendance (sponsors of FOIL reform legislation): 
  • Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
  • Senator John Liu
  • Assemblymember Steven Raga

Speakers (in formation): 
  • Paul Wolf Esq., President - New York Coalition for Open Government 
  • Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor - Reinvent Albany  
  • David Siffert, Legal Director - Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.)
  • Blair Horner, Executive Director - New York Public Interest Research Group 
  • Erica Smitka, Deputy Director – League of Women Voters of NYS
  • Justin Harrison, Senior Policy Counsel - New York Civil Liberties Union 
  • Shane Ferro, Staff Attorney with the Digital Forensics Unit - Legal Aid Society 

Sunshine Week is a non-partisan, nationwide initiative uniting participants from journalism, civic groups, government, and the private sector to emphasize the critical role of public record access and transparent government in maintaining a healthy democracy. Celebrated annually in mid-March, this event coincides with the birthday of James Madison, a staunch advocate for transparency, and is marked alongside National Freedom of Information Day on March 16th. 

CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn.

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