Posts Tagged ‘Amanda Martin’
TRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PUBLIC RECORDS EDITION
Continuing on the theme of government transparency and how you get the information you need to cover the developing COVID-19 crisis, I have outlined here some principles to remember. Email first@smvt.com to request a sample letter you can use to make your requests. Of course, every situation is different and dependent on your relationship with…
Read MoreTRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 OPEN MEETINGS LAW EDITION
I want to begin with my gratitude for the vital and hard work that you all have been doing to report on the coronavirus crisis. Personally, I check five or six news websites about every hour to see what has developed, what has changed. I know I am not alone. On behalf of all your…
Read MoreBuncombe County commissioners vote to approve confidentiality agreement in contravention of public records law
The Asheville Citizen-Times has reported a decision by four Buncombe county commissioners to sign a nondisclosure agreement as part of efforts to land an employer. The agreement prevents signatories from revealing details about the company’s operations. The Citizen-Times quotes SMVT attorney Amanda Martin for her reaction: …elected officials already have a layer of confidentiality required under…
Read MoreFayetteville police refuse to release police dash cam video of officer-involved shooting
The Fayetteville Observer has reported that the Fayetteville police have refused to release a police dashboard camera video that may have captured an officer shooting a man as he fled in 2013. The article discusses the public records law and its application to dash cameras. SMVT attorney Amanda Martin is quoted: Amanda Martin, the lawyer for…
Read MoreFBI shows Patrick Cannon investigation video to public class
The Charlotte Observer reports that FBI officials showed confidential surveillance videos from their investigation of former Mayor Patrick Cannon to a community workshop. The article says that during the FBI’s annual “citizens academy,” officials showed four pieces of undercover surveillance video to more than 20 participants, including at least two reporters. The Observer quotes SMVT attorney Amanda…
Read MoreCity of Wilson seeks to rewrite public records law
The Wilson Times has reported on a bill authored by Rep. Susan Martin, R-Wilson, that would exempt information related to alarm registrations from the state Public Records law. The legislation would apply only to the city of Wilson, but the effect could be to erode the Public Records Law and eventually turn into statewide legislation. The Times…
Read MoreCharlotte officials used personal email for public work
In the wake of the revelation that Hillary Clinton used her personal email address while Secretary of State, rather than a government address, the Charlotte Observer has reported on similar activity at the local level. The story includes several examples of public officials using personal Gmail or Yahoo! accounts for official business. In some cases, the paper…
Read MoreHow open are Asheville’s records?
The Citizen-Times has published a thorough article on the City of Asheville’s public records practices as part of its ongoing reporting on Sunshine Week. The article quotes SMVT partner and North Carolina Press Association counsel Amanda Martin several times: “Our democracy is based on having an educated public,” North Carolina Press Association Attorney Amanda Martin says of…
Read MoreNew economic development group could keep more incentives records private
The News & Observer has reported on a new public-private partnership that will lead efforts to bring companies to North Carolina. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina will operate within a framework outside of the normal public records law, despite being funded by public money. The N&O quoted SMVT attorney Amanda Martin in the story. “A…
Read MoreHundreds of secret WNC county meetings, with few details released
The Asheville Citizen Times reports on an investigation by Carolina Public Press into how often county commissioners in North Carolina’s western counties went into closed session last year. The article quotes SMVT attorney Amanda Martin: “I get called with some frequency” about closed sessions, said Amanda Martin, an attorney for the North Carolina Press Association, which…
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