Release Takoma Junction Records
Donation protected
PLEASE SEE UPDATE: I have changed the goal to encourage additional donations, which will both show support for this campaign and provide the opportunity to seek expert legal advice as I pursue real change in this City government's transparency and accountability.
Negotiations over the proposed Takoma Junction development, a controversial use of our public land, are going on behind closed doors. Without public information requests, we would be in the dark as to what is being planned.
For example, we have been told there are no such private conversations going on. But then, after submitting a Public Information Act (PIA) request--the local version of FOIA--we learn that just in recent weeks there really have been over 200 such communications about the Junction.
Worse yet, we are told that unless we pay the City Attorney to decide whether to hide these communications behind "executive privilege" or "attorney-client privilege" --where have we been hearing that lately? -- we will never know.
So we need to raise and pay up $985 before the release of any such records. And, we need to do it now, before the project gets approved.
Help us bring these public records to light with your donation! Help us restore true democratic governance in Takoma Park!
It's not just about this money, it's that we need to show there’s a broad coalition of residents who believe that this is our property, our public information, and that we still believe in the idea of the People’s Republic of Takoma Park. All donations are welcome, no amount is too small.
Any donations in excess of the needed amount (which is just an estimate--it could be more) will go to further action to bring this type of information to light in the name of transparency and accountability.
We will report back on this page on how this money is spent.
Thank you for funding transparency and accountability!
EDIT: Many neighbors are asking to see the letter, incredulous that the City really could be taking this position. Here it is (contact info redacted):
Negotiations over the proposed Takoma Junction development, a controversial use of our public land, are going on behind closed doors. Without public information requests, we would be in the dark as to what is being planned.
For example, we have been told there are no such private conversations going on. But then, after submitting a Public Information Act (PIA) request--the local version of FOIA--we learn that just in recent weeks there really have been over 200 such communications about the Junction.
Worse yet, we are told that unless we pay the City Attorney to decide whether to hide these communications behind "executive privilege" or "attorney-client privilege" --where have we been hearing that lately? -- we will never know.
So we need to raise and pay up $985 before the release of any such records. And, we need to do it now, before the project gets approved.
Help us bring these public records to light with your donation! Help us restore true democratic governance in Takoma Park!
It's not just about this money, it's that we need to show there’s a broad coalition of residents who believe that this is our property, our public information, and that we still believe in the idea of the People’s Republic of Takoma Park. All donations are welcome, no amount is too small.
Any donations in excess of the needed amount (which is just an estimate--it could be more) will go to further action to bring this type of information to light in the name of transparency and accountability.
We will report back on this page on how this money is spent.
Thank you for funding transparency and accountability!
EDIT: Many neighbors are asking to see the letter, incredulous that the City really could be taking this position. Here it is (contact info redacted):
Organizer
Andrew Strongin
Organizer
Takoma Park, MD
