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Friends,
After years of battling government secrecy alongside our coalition partners, we have a major victory to celebrate. The New York State Assembly just passed the FOIL Timeline Act, a meaningful step forward in our fight for transparency and accountability.
For too long, New York government agencies have stonewalled records requests, forcing New Yorkers to wait months on end to access public records. This much needed legislation establishes strict deadlines for FOIL responses, ensuring that government agencies can no longer hide behind endless delays and bureaucratic excuses.
The timing of this victory is especially important for New Yorkers as increasing government surveillance poses growing threats to immigrant communities and protesters. The legislation is also essential for journalists who need timely access to records to report on information the public deserves to know.
At S.T.O.P., we're proud to have advocated alongside Reinvent Albany, NYCLU, Legal Aid Society, New York Coalition for Open Government, and many more civil rights groups to push Albany to pass this crucial reform. This victory shows what we can accomplish when we organize together for transparency.
We promise to keep fighting for stronger protections and government accountability because New Yorkers deserve answers, not excuses.
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