Despite a state Freedom of Information Law that requires the city to release certain specific information, the Goggin/Mandel Administration has simply refused to release certain vital information and documents that residents have a right to see.
What is the City Hiding?
Where is the city's financial audit that was due in November that would show the city's real deficit?
Did Council Member Torres and other high city officials get FEMA generators for free, have city workers install them at their homes on city time, and use them in their homes after Sandy?
Did any city workers do work for members of the City Council for free on city time after Sandy?
Did any city exempt employees, such as Jack Schnirman and/or Jim Lacarrubba "double dip" salary and/or overtime from FEMA or other agencies during/after Sandy?
The city doesn't want the resident to know the answers to these questions.
During the campaign for City Council, the Democrat Candidates promised "transparency" in city hall; it was on their website as a campaign promise. Then, soon after the election Fran Adelson said, "We want to bring the government back to the people and transparency back to the people." That hasn't happened!
Actions speak louder than words. Since taking office over 15 months ago, the Mandel Administration has done little to back up their promise for "transparency" with any substance. In fact, if there record is any indicator they have totally clammed up and they simply refuse to give any public information of substance They are blatantly and simply refusing to release information that the law requires them to release.
The New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) pertains to the public's right to gain access to government records. Every New York State, municipal board or other governmental entity, like the city of Long Beach, performing a governmental or proprietary function is subject to the Law. In the case of my numerous FOILs the city has simply ignored them.
Despite the promises to be more transparent the City of Long Beach has routinely ignored nearly all of the FOIL requests that I have made. Here are some examples of information the city refuses to release in accordance with FOIL Law (this is only a PARTIAL list):
- A copy of the Independent Audit for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2011, that would show exactly what the real budget deficit is, not what Jack Schnirman wants us to think it is.
- Copies of budget year-to-date expense and revenue reports for the city budget · Personnel actions over the last year showing the hiring of new employees raises to given to others, and promotions given to yet others during the "hiring freeze" and "salary freeze".
-Copies of performance goals supposedly set by City Manager Schnirman for each department, which supposedly do not exist and we supposed to save the city money and create efficiencies.
-Details about exempt employees, such as the city manager and others receiving overtime pay and compensatory time from FEMA, essentially double dipping pay when they may be contract workers with a specific salary and no option for overtime and/or compensatory time.
-Copies of state audits that were supposedly conducted regarding $30,000 in missing summer beach fees that disappeared last summer.
-Information about the members of the newly formed Local Development Corporation and how much the new members get paid, if at all.
-Overtime records that would show that overtime, even before the storm, was more than the previous year in some departments for the city, despite what City Manager Jack Schnirman says.
-Itemized bills from city contractors hired by the city, and already paid by the city, that would show exactly what work was done and when.
-Documents that may prove or disprove that certain city council members may have had city workers doing free work at their personal homes, while being paid on city time, in the days after Hurrricane Sandy.
-Documents that may prove or disprove rumors that some members of the city council and friends of the LB Democrat club may have been given FEMA generators for personal use, at no charge, in their homes, in the days after Sandy.
I have brought the city's refusal to comply with the FOIL law to the Committee on Open Government and its head, Mr. Robert Freeman, who agrees that the city's actions are wrong. Unfortunately while the FOIL law requires that the city release documents to the public on request, the law does not have any punishment for the city's refusal to do so. The only recourse a citizen has is to file an "Article 78" with the courts that would force the city to release the documents. However, that procedure and filing fees can costs thousands of dollars, according to Mr. Freeman.
Here is my question. How does the newly appointed Council Member Ms. Goggin feel about this? Will she sit back and let this to continue to happen? I have written emails to the others members of the City Council majority and each one has been ignored.
So despite all the claims that Mandel, Goggin, Adelson, and Torres have been transparent it's all just another Jack Schnirman "smoke and mirrors" game.
In fact, just today the Patch wrote an article titled, "Long beach Signs Up for State Data Transparency Website." Is this a joke? Joining a state website shows the city is being "transparent?"
This administration should release all of the information that was requested within accordance with the law. Let the people of LB then be the judge of their actions once we have the documents.
If the Mandel, Goggin, Adelson, Torres & Schnirman administration is so "transparent" and they have nothing to hide why don't they put these matters to rest relase all the documents? I wonder.......
