Letters

Your editorial on the importance and abuses of the Freedom of Information Law [“Road To Good Government,” Editorial, March 17] really hit home.

Take as an instance the antics of the Village of Southampton, which guards its meeting dates and agendas like state secrets and decided at their last go-round to hold a “public hearing” on the enactment of a new and onerous law on rental regulations, which packs serious consequences, without the public “hearing” anything about it beforehand or being able to retrieve documents under consideration.

Southampton Town has a “FOIL technician” who redacts with a heavy hand, while they all abuse the provision in FOIL allowing up to five days to acknowledge a FOIL request, and up to 30 days to provide the information. While FOIL allows this period of time, ostensibly to search archives for material, it does not mandate it and always provided for an “over-the-counter” handover of pertinent documents, defined as those up for discussion or resolution. This over-the-counter provision is routinely ignored, with the public’s information being doled out on a seemingly need-to-know basis.

Governor Kathy Hochul may be serious about “taking meaningful action to make government/information more accessible” which may be “heartening,” but, as is increasingly her style, she takes credit where it may be undue. Unacknowledged by her, and no doubt unbeknown to local bureaucrats and secretive officials, Senator Brian Kavanagh instituted a Pro-Active Information Law in January 2021 to make all documents under municipal discussion available without the public having to request them. This gets around the dilemma (as in the case of village residents and the looming rent regulation law) of having to know about them without being told about them.

As concerns the rent regulations law, revenue from which may have been precipitously factored in the village’s new budget before it even underwent any public vetting: It is seriously flawed, egregious, intrusive and unnecessary. It will impose heavy hardships and impact the very homeowners whom politicians like Fred Thiele and probably the mayor and village trustees are spinning as “helping them.” Village residents would be better served if the code and the laws already on the books were enforced. And if taxation by other names would end.

More than ever, tracking this stuff requires diligence and participation on the part of the public. Especially if you wish to protect your assets. FOIL fluidity is the first requirement. Participation is essential.

The public hearing on adopting the rent regulations law, has wisely been rescheduled by the village for April 12 at 5 p.m.. Shluff off the COVID cocoon and plan to be there — in person, finally, if you choose, as meetings are finally “hybrid.”

Frances Genovese

Southampton