BuzzFeed’s Empire State Development Application
Submitted | Dec. 19, 2014 |
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Communications
From: J.K. Trotter
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (1977 N.Y. Laws ch. 933), I hereby request the following records:
A copy of BuzzFeed, Inc.’s application to the Empire State Development Corp. According to a press release published by ESDC on December 18 2014, BuzzFeed received $4 million in tax credits via the Excelsior Jobs Program:
http://esd.ny.gov/NewsRoom/Data/2014/12182014_Buzzfeed_PR.pdf
Records requested include any related correspondence, between BuzzFeed and ESDC, concerning BuzzFeed’s tax credit application, including any correspondence regarding BuzzFeed’s exploration of relocating their headquarters to a different state, as mentioned in the press release.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
J.K. Trotter
From: esd.sm.foil
Dear Mr. Trotter,
ESD is in receipt of the attached FOIL request seeking access to certain records of the New York State Urban Development Corporation (“UDC”) doing business as Empire State Development.
ESD is considering your request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers law, Section 84 et seq.) and its rules concerning access to the records of the Corporation. ESD will notify you of the results of its search for responsive documents within ten (10) business days.
Thank you.
IMPORTANT: This e-mail message and any attachments contain information intended for the exclusive use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any viewing, copying, disclosure or distribution of this information may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. Please immediately notify the sender by electronic mail or notify the System Administrator by telephone (518)292-5180 or e-mail (administrator@esd.ny.gov) and delete the message. Thank you.
From: esd.sm.foil
Dear Mr. Trotter,
We are still processing your FOIL request below. We hope to have a response to you on or before February 13, 2015.
Thank you.
From: J.K. Trotter
Thanks for the update, I will look out for an update then.
J.K. Trotter
From: esd.sm.foil
Dear J.K. Trotter,
Please be advised we are still processing your FOIL request. We hope to have a response to you on or before 3/13/15.
Thank you.
IMPORTANT: This e-mail message and any attachments contain information intended for the exclusive use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any viewing, copying, disclosure or distribution of this information may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. Please immediately notify the sender by electronic mail or notify the System Administrator by telephone (518)292-5180 or e-mail (administrator@esd.ny.gov) and delete the message. Thank you.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 19, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: esd.sm.foil
Dear J.K. Trotter,
Please be advised we are still processing your FOIL request. We hope to have a response to you on or before 4/24/15.
Thank you.
From: J.K. Trotter
Hello,
I kindly request that you fulfill this FOIL request as soon as possible. You have already sent literally the same document to the news organization Capital New York:
www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/03/8564735/backstory-buzzfeeds-new-york-tax-credits
According to past requests, this agency is capable of sending files electronically, so fulfillment should be fairly easy.
Thank you, and sincerely,
J.K. Trotter
From: esd.sm.foil
Dear Mr. Trotter,
This letter responds in part to your December 19, 2014 Freedom of Information Law ("FOIL") request for:
"A copy of BuzzFeed, Inc.'s application to the Empire State Development Corp.
According to a press release published by ESDC on December 18 2014, BuzzFeed
received $4 million in tax credits via the Excelsior Jobs Program:
http://esd.ny.gov/NewsRoom/Data/2014/12182014_Buzzfeed_PR.pdf
Records requested include any related correspondence, between BuzzFeed and
ESDC, concerning BuzzFeed's tax credit application, including any correspondence
regarding BuzzFeed's exploration of relocating their headquarters to a different
state, as mentioned in the press release."
Please find attached the requested copy of BuzzFeed's application for Excelsior Jobs program funding. We will continue to process your request for correspondence between BuzzFeed and ESD. We hope to have a response to you on or before April 24, 2015.
Please be advised that, pursuant to section 87, subdivision 2, paragraph (d) of FOIL, we have withheld portions of records that "are trade secrets or are submitted to an agency by a commercial enterprise or derived from information obtained from a commercial enterprise and which if disclosed would cause substantial injury to the competitive position of the subject enterprise."
In addition, pursuant to section 87, subdivision 2, paragraph (c) of FOIL, we have withheld certain records that if disclosed "would impair present or imminent contract awards."
The appeals officer to whom to direct an appeal of any portion of this determination is Carey Gabay, First Deputy Counsel of the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development, 633 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Kindly confirm receipt of this email.
IMPORTANT: This e-mail message and any attachments contain information intended for the exclusive use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any viewing, copying, disclosure or distribution of this information may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. Please immediately notify the sender by electronic mail or notify the System Administrator by telephone (518)292-5180 or e-mail (administrator@esd.ny.gov) and delete the message. Thank you.
From: esd.sm.foil
Mr. Trotter,
This letter responds to your December 19, 2014 Freedom of Information Law ("FOIL") request for:
"A copy of BuzzFeed, Inc.'s application to the Empire State Development Corp.
According to a press release published by ESDC on December 18 2014, BuzzFeed
received $4 million in tax credits via the Excelsior Jobs Program:
http://esd.ny.gov/NewsRoom/Data/2014/12182014_Buzzfeed_PR.pdf
Records requested include any related correspondence, between BuzzFeed and
ESDC, concerning BuzzFeed's tax credit application, including any correspondence
regarding BuzzFeed's exploration of relocating their headquarters to a different
state, as mentioned in the press release."
Please find attached responsive "correspondence, between BuzzFeed and ESD, concerning BuzzFeed's [Excelsior] tax credit application . . . ." ESD provided you with BuzzFeed's Excelsior Jobs Program application on March 25, 2015. This correspondence completes ESD's response to your FOIL request.
Please be advised that, pursuant to section 87, subdivision 2, paragraph (b) of FOIL, we have withheld portions of records that "if disclosed would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."
The appeals officer to whom to direct an appeal of any portion of this determination is Carey Gabay, First Deputy Counsel of the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development, 633 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Kindly confirm receipt of this email.
IMPORTANT: This e-mail message and any attachments contain information intended for the exclusive use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any viewing, copying, disclosure or distribution of this information may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. Please immediately notify the sender by electronic mail or notify the System Administrator by telephone (518)292-5180 or e-mail (administrator@esd.ny.gov) and delete the message. Thank you.
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