RSS
Further FOIL updates
Some time ago, I updated readers on The Saratogian's ongoing quest to secure a copy of police and fire labor contracts, as well as a copy of the police policy manual that regulates operations in that department.
Today, I received word from City Hall that we will be receiving the contracts in short order (probably tomorrow or Friday.)
City Hall, and specifically the Department of Public Safety, maintains that some parts of the document are too sensitive to be released to the public, so we will not have access to the entire document, but it seems that the city will provide us with 137 pages (form still to be determined -- either paper of pixels) of the manual.
Now that we appear to be near getting these documents in hand, I am wondering what readers would like us to report from them. Feel free to weigh in.
Today, I received word from City Hall that we will be receiving the contracts in short order (probably tomorrow or Friday.)
City Hall, and specifically the Department of Public Safety, maintains that some parts of the document are too sensitive to be released to the public, so we will not have access to the entire document, but it seems that the city will provide us with 137 pages (form still to be determined -- either paper of pixels) of the manual.
Now that we appear to be near getting these documents in hand, I am wondering what readers would like us to report from them. Feel free to weigh in.
posted by The Saratogian City Desk at
5:41 PM
12 Comments:
Print the whole thing. When I ask for a foil request, for foilable material, I got ban as spam by the city attorney.
Andrew/Shoe-
The results of your hard work could be a major High Point for The Saratogian... and Saratogians. Scan every page ASAP and then have it all linked to a prominent new "button" on the front page of the on-line Saratogian. Maybe even as part of the masthead banner.
ABOVE ALL, LEAVE the LINK up for WEEKS... at LEAST until new agreements are signed and sealed.
These materials may prove to redefine "Required Reading."
-With Anticipation
and Appreciation,
Kyle York
Link us to the contract and manual.
I'd say two main parts to review in the contracts are the schedule for raises and how they differ among ranks. Also, how the overtime is allotted; whether it is given out on a basis of seniority. This tidbit may be in the operations manual.
Horatio: Thanks for your suggestion.
Kyle and anon 9:08: This is a great idea, and I will find a way to make it happen once we have the documents in hand.
I'd be interested in what Public Safety feels should not be released. Often that can be just as telling as what is released.
I also think you should follow this with requests for the DPW contract, the city hall employees contract, and any other union agreements with the city. Next stop, the school district.
These documents should not be hidden, awaiting a long drawn-out FOIL application process. They're public documents and should be treated as such. FOIL was never intended as a shield behind which Apparatchiks can hide routine documents.
Our elected officials and city employees work for us, not vice versa. They need to start acting like it, or we need to keep cycling through them until we find some that do.
Milhouse:
As it was explained to me, the sections of the manual that will not be released pertain to procedures for handling undercover operations/investigations, working with confidential informants, when to engage in a high speed chase, etc.
The justification for not releasing this information is that having it in the open would make it easier for criminals to get a one-up on police, thus making it more difficult (and potentially dangerous) for them to do their job.
We already have copies of the DPW and City Hall contracts. They are interesting reads, but certainly not edge-of-the-seat stuff.
Once you have this information, the police contract, then what? Toss up in the air and let everyone shoot at it? It will lead to more questions than answers. You have to compare the contents and benefits within with other public, city police contracts from economically comparable communities. Only then will you know if the taxpayers in Saratoga are getting a good deal or a bad deal. It isn't fair to the civil servants to kick'em around like dogs. They work hard to have a certain image that helps everyone in Saratoga, to hold up the public workers as the bad guys, gets votes and maybe sells papers but it does damage not good. FOIL a few Cities from around the state that are similiar to Saratoga and then release your findings.
Be cool.
Be cool-
Mr. Bernstein has a full plate. Our local PS contract is news and he is preparing to present it. An Investigative series with comparisons and analysis is, literally, "another story." And it seems as if YOU are JUST the person to DO it!
That's one of the great capabilities of this BLOG-thing-- It's an opportunity for the PUBLIC to share opinions and facts and outrageous personal slurs.
In any court of law, the contract sought here... or ANY contract... it would be accepted as evidence and said to "speak for itself." Between the wording of the contract and the handy-dandy internet, I look forward to coming away with more knowledge thanks to Mr. Bernstein's reporting.
And I'm equally certain we we all be the richer for any information and context that you'll be sharing. Cool.
-Kyle York
Certifiably Journalist
Make sure you have the other police contracts from around the area! Then everyone will see, that the Saratoga Springs Police are one of the lowest paid police departments in the area. And while your making that comparison, try to decide which City you would rather live in? Want to trade you home for a home in Albany, Troy, Schenectady? The police keep Saratoga Safe, a Great place to live. Ask some of the residents of Wilton, Malta, Galway, how long the response time is for the police agencies covering those areas.
"...the Saratoga Springs Police are one of the lowest paid police departments in the area..."
LOL...or is it ROFL.
Show me the money. I call your bluff and raise you two pence.
Anon 2:03:
Please be assured that I have no intention of tossing the contract up in the air and letting everyone shoot at it.
I intend to use the document as a reference for myself, and for the public, in the same way that we use civil service contracts with DPW and City Hall.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home