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For Immediate Release: Friday, March 18th, 2005 Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS RELEASE*** State
Senator Liz Krueger Says, “Every Week Should Be Sunshine Week!” New York – State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), applauded the American Society of
Newspaper Editors today for creatively highlighting the critical importance
of transparency in government for the continuation of
democracy through their National Sunshine Week. The idea to create a National Sunshine
Week started after 9-11 when lawmakers throughout the country scurried to
close public records. A group of “National security is dependent
upon public trust,” stated Senator Krueger. “The trend toward promoting secrecy is a great threat to
democracy. We must continue to be
vigilant at fighting for an open and accountable government in every
jurisdiction. While the climate in “I am particularly concerned
about the continuing trends of making it near impossible for the public, the
press, and even elected officials like myself to gain access to government
information,” said Krueger. “Web sites sponsored by the government have
been closed down, government sponsored scientific reports and standard
publications are less frequently available to the public, and there have been
too many attempts to weaken protections for government whistle-blowers. Reports from throughout the nation show
that government is consistently refusing to honor requests under our Freedom
of Information Laws.” Many New York Newspapers ran
series this week about the importance of public access to government, but Senator Krueger particularly applauds
the Albany Times Union for their coverage this week, which included detailed
materials about how members of the public can file Freedom of Information
Requests (FOILs). The Senator was so
impressed with these materials that she made the decision to create a link to
them on her website (www.LizKrueger.com) so that her
constituents will have easy access to information about how to file requests
for information from their Federal, State and Local governments. The American Society of
Newspaper Editors has coordinated with newspapers nationwide to raise
awareness about open government and records access. The American Society of Newspaper Editors, Society of
Professional Journalists, Coalition of Journalists for Open Government,
National Newspaper Association, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press,
Radio-Television News Directors Association, and the Newspaper Association of
America have formed a coalition called "The Sunshine in Government
Initiative." “The simple fact is that every
single week of the every single year should be sunshine week,” said Senator
Krueger. “There is no sound
rationale to keeping public information out of the public arena. Democracy requires an informed citizenry,
and government must not undermine the ability of the people to make educated
choices by denying them access to information.” -30- |
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