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Response to 'Balancing act of privacy and transparency in public records'"
Dear Mr. (Ethan) Watson, Albuquerque city clerk,
Your recent Albuquerque Journal op-ed raises important points about public records management, but the proposed $30 per hour fee for "commercial purpose" requests in House Bill 283 is deeply concerning. This fee would effectively paralyze many legitimate inquiries, stifling transparency and accountability in our local government.
Let's be clear: A $30 hourly rate could quickly make even modest requests prohibitively expensive. A small business researching local regulations, or a non-profit examining city policies could face hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees. This isn't promoting transparency — it's erecting a paywall around public information.
While we acknowledge the strain on resources from increased request volumes, the solution cannot be to price out the public from accessing their own government's records. The comparison to Los Angeles's request numbers is misleading, as it fails to account for differences in reporting systems and departmental structures between the cities.
Instead of supporting measures that could severely restrict access, we urge you to consider alternatives that preserve the spirit of sunshine laws:
• Improve digital infrastructure for more efficient record management.
•Implement a tiered response system to prioritize requests.
•Expand proactive disclosure of frequently requested information.
•Collaborate with stakeholders to develop solutions that balance efficiency and access.
Public records are a cornerstone of democratic accountability. Let's work together to find solutions that streamline processes without compromising the public's right to know.
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Lucia Clearview
Albuquerque
