Today marks the second day of Sunshine Week. No, that doesn’t mean Spring is any closer. This week’s meaning portends ominous weather ahead.
Sunshine Week, which runs from March 12 through 18, is seven days set aside to take a closer look at how open our government is – from the local to the national level. You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that access to information that should be easily attained by any city, state or U.S. citizen is waning.
The Associated Press recently conducted a national survey to determine how far open government has slipped since 9/11. The results were not good. AP says 36 states have passed more laws restricting access than laws opening information to the public.
“In North Carolina, new advisory committees set up to examine medication errors in nursing homes keep their meetings and records confidential, though the medication error rates found in separate home inspections that exceed a higher, federal standard can be accessed through the federal government,” AP reported.
If you want to know how Grandma’s nursing home rates as far as medication errors, you won’t be able to find out very easily – if at all.
Depending on the state you live in, you might not be able to learn about your child’s school safety plan, or disciplinary actions taken against state employees. Neither of those instances apply in North Carolina – yet.
Most public information experts point to Florida as the Sunshine State – and they’re not talking about the weather. Florida residents have access to information that residents of most other states can only envy. But even Florida is slipping.
North Carolina has a long way to go to meet Florida’s standard, but we are entitled to a few records that could open a window to government.
Did you know, for instance, you have a right to copies of crime reports? Police may attempt – successfully – to disallow access to certain cases still under investigation, but the preponderance of the law is on your side.
Did you know you can request – and receive -- copies of city or county officials’ cell phone bills, if those bills are paid by taxpayers?
Did you know you can request – and receive – copies of elected officials’ expense reports, city and county employee e-mails, information on incentive packages offered to incoming businesses, candidates’ electioneering spending and a host of other things?
The very good reason for access to these documents is an attempt to keep government honest – keep it open and keep its actions clear to citizens.
You may shrug it off when you hear about a reporter who has been denied access to this record or that report, but remember: When government denies access to the press, it denies knowledge to the very people to whom it is supposed to be accountable – the public.
Exercise your own right to open government this week. Ask to see a public official’s e-mails for the last 30 days. He – or she – will be shocked, but you’re entitled.
It’s one more way you can keep them honest.
Lee Raynor is editor of KinstonPress.com. She welcomes your comments at
leeraynor@kinstonpress.com.
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