Ben Carson Schedule/Itinerary

Hello,

You requested "All available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities for Pam Patenaude, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, from September 15 2017 through the date this request is processed."

A search is still being conducted for the information and you will receive a response once the search and review is complete.

Hi Jimmy,

Your request is still being searched in our electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is complete.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

Hello,

Your request asks for calendar entries of a HUD employee. It requires utilization of the Department's eDiscovery tool for a search for responsive records. The Department's eDiscovery tool is contracted with a third-party. The system utilized by this contractor auto-assigns a collection date on a first-in-first-out basis, and is capable of collecting records for a set number of custodians per day. As a result, the Department does not maintain direct control over the collection process and cannot alter the scheduled collection date for a particular request.

Given the high volume of requests for eDiscovery searches, the third-party system is operating at capacity with a significant backlog. Once the record collection has been completed, responsive records will be delivered to the FOIA Branch for review. At that time, we will work diligently to finalize your request as quickly as possible.

Hello,

You were already sent a response to your request for Carson gifts.

The request for calendar entries is still being processed.

Hello,

You were already sent a response to your request for Carson gifts.

The request for calendar entries is still being processed.

You should receive a final response next month.

Your request asking for all available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities of Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, from March 2, 2017, through the date this request is processed, is being reviewed.

Your request asking for all available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities of Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, from March 2, 2017, through the date this request is processed, is being reviewed.

Your request asking for all available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities of Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, from March 2, 2017, through the date this request is processed, is being reviewed.

Your request asking for all available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities of Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, from March 2, 2017, through the date this request is processed, is being reviewed.

Your request asking for all available calendars, daily itineraries, and schedules of activities of Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, from March 2, 2017, through the date this request is processed, is being reviewed.

Attached is the response to your FOIA request.

Part 2 of response.

Hello, Please, let me know, via email to me at your earliest convenience,whether or not you are still interested in receiving a response to yourDepartment of Housing and Urban Development FOIA request 18-FI-HQ-01107. I have been reassigned to process thisrequest due to the prior processor’s FOIA Branch departure. Youmust confirm via email at william.d..smith@hud.gov to me within 10 business days from the date of thisnotice that you want to continue with your request. If you do not confirm thatyou are still interested in receiving a response to your HUD FOIA requestwithin that time, your request will be administratively withdrawn. Please beadvised that such an action will not preclude you from filing this or otherrequests in the future. Currently,along with the present incoming FOIA requests, we are still working to completeyour FOIA request as well as all the other backlogged FOIA requests. Our effortis to provide responses to FOIA requesters who are still interestedin receiving them. We must applythe Departments’ first in and first out FOIA procedures, as there are manyrequests surrounding each other.  However, if you are still interested, Iassure you that we will provide a response to your request as soon aspossible. The Department apologizes for the delay in processing your FOIArequest. HUD has experienced changes that have contributed to a tremendousbacklog and extensive delays in the ability to process incoming requests in atimely manner. We lookforward to your email response.

Hello Mr. Jimmy Tobias,
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 44361
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

Pertaining to your August 10, 2020, email forwarded below regarding FOIA request 18-FI-HQ-00048, please see the Department’s September 3, 2019, response to you attached above.

Sincerely,
William Smith
HUD Exec Sec/FOIA Branch
(202) 402-2141

Hello, Thisemail acknowledges the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s presentcontinuation pursuit to respond to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)request. Pursuantto the FOIA, 5 USC 552(a)(6)(A)(i), once HUD properly receives a FOIA request,the Department has 20 working days within which to make a determination on therequest unless unusual circumstances exist. Under unusual circumstances, suchas an agency’s backlog, or the need to examine a voluminous amount of recordsrequired by the request, HUD can extend the 20-day time limit for processing arequest.  Presently, unusual andexceptional circumstances exist. Inaddition, HUD has experienced FOIA staff changes that have contributed to atremendous backlog and extensive delays in the ability to process incomingrequests in a timely, and other changes as well asfield policy changes that have contributed to a tremendous backlog andextensive delays in the ability to process incoming requests in a timelymanner. I’vebeen recently assigned to process your FOIA request. The Department apologizesfor any delay occurrences while processing your request. Pleaseconfirm that you want to (1) show interest to continuewith your request as it was initially submitted; (2) modify your request to prioritizeand segment it to receive various parts at interims; (3) reduce the size andscope of the request to receive a timely response to better accommodate yourcurrent need; or (4) withdraw your request to resubmit it later at a moreopportune time within 10 business days from the date of this letter via email to me atwilliam.d.smith@hud.gov. If we don’thear from you within that time, the Department will conclude that you are no longer interested in pursuing your request and it willbe administratively withdrawn for you. eare asking that you please keep in mind the following: 1. Presently unusual and exceptional circumstances exists within theDepartment’s FOIA processing program; 2. Although the FOIA provides aright of access to federal agency records that exist and can be located in federal agency files, the FOIA does notrequire agencies to conduct research for requesters, to analyze data, to answer questions, to create new records(such as lists or statistics) in response to a FOIA request or provide regular updates; and 3. You have an optionto reschedule your FOIA request by amending your request to reduce its volumeor withdraw yourrequest for a later date more suitable. Also, you may contact the Office ofGovernment Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and RecordsAdministration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services NationalArchives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS College Park, Maryland 20740-6001 Telephone: 202-741-5770, toll free at 1-877- 684-6448 FAX: 202- 741-5769 Email: at ogis@nara.gov If you decide to appeal, your appealshould include copies of your original request and this response, as well as adiscussion of the reasons supporting the appeal. The envelope should be plainly marked to indicate that itcontains a FOIA appeal and be addressed to: U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development Attention: FOIA Appeals Office of General Counsel Office of Ethics and Appeals Law Division 451 SeventhStreet, SW, Suite 2130 Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-3815 You may also submit your appeal on line at: https://www.hud.gov/program_ offices/administration/foia/ foiaappeals or email at HUDFOIAappeasls@hud.gov. Thankyou for your interest in the Department’s programs and policies.

Hello, Thisemail acknowledges the Department of Housing and Urban Development’spresent continuation pursuit to respond to your Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) request. Pursuantto the FOIA, 5 USC 552(a)(6)(A)(i), once HUD properly receives a FOIA request,the Department has 20 working days within which to make a determination on therequest unless unusual circumstances exist. Under unusual circumstances, suchas an agency’s backlog, or the need to examine a voluminous amount of recordsrequired by the request, HUD can extend the 20-day time limit for processing arequest.  Presently, unusual and exceptional circumstances exist. Inaddition, HUD has experienced FOIA staff changes that have contributed to atremendous backlog and extensive delays in the ability to process incomingrequests in a timely, and other changes as well asfield policy changes that have contributed to a tremendous backlog andextensive delays in the ability to process incoming requests in a timelymanner. I’vebeen recently assigned to process your FOIA request. The Department apologizesfor any delay occurrences while processing your FOIA request. Please confirm that youwant to (1) show interest to continue with your request as it was initiallysubmitted; (2) modify your request to prioritize and segment it to receivevarious parts at interims; (3) reduce the size and scope of the request toreceive a timely response to better accommodate your current need; or (4)withdraw your request to resubmit it later at a more opportune time within 10business days from the date of this letter via email to me atwilliam.d.smith@hud.gov.  If we don’t hear from you within that time, theDepartment will conclude that you are no longer interested in pursuing your request and it willbe administratively withdrawn for you. e are asking that you please keepin mind the following: 1. Presently unusual and exceptional circumstances exists within the Department’sFOIA processing program; 2. Although the FOIA provides a right of access to federal agency records thatexist and can be located in federal agency files, the FOIAdoes not require agencies to conduct research for requesters, to analyze data, toanswer questions, to create new records (such as lists or statistics) in response to a FOIA requestor provide regular updates;  and 3. You have an option to reschedule your FOIA request by amending your request toreduce its volume or withdraw your request for alater date more suitable. Also, you may contact the Office of GovernmentInformation Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administrationto inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer.  The contactinformation for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services NationalArchives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS College Park, Maryland 20740-6001 Telephone: 202-741-5770, toll free at 1-877-684-6448 FAX: 202- 741-5769 Email: at ogis@nara.gov If youdecide to appeal, your appeal should include copies of your original requestand this response, as well as a discussion of the reasons supporting theappeal.   The envelope should be plainly marked to indicate that itcontains a FOIA appeal and be addressed to: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Attention:  FOIA Appeals Office of General Counsel Office of Ethics and Appeals Law Division 451Seventh Street, SW, Suite 2130 Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-3815 You mayalso submit your appeal on line at: https://www.hud.gov/program_ offices/administration/foia/ foiaappeals or email at HUDFOIAappeasls@hud.gov.

Hello,
Please, see the Departments' attached first interim response to your FOIA request.
Sincerely, William Smith, HUD FOIA Branch

Hello,
Via the email address you submitted (requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>) with your FOIA request, you were sent and recently received an interim response to item2 of your HUD FOIA request. Responsive documents in reference to Item 1 of your request may still be in litigation and not available for a FOIA release to the public.

You'll be notified when the FOIA Branch staff is informed of the Departments' litigation completion.

Sincerely,
William Smith
FOIA Branch

Hello :
The Departments’ records show that you were sent a final response on 9/3/2019 for FOIA request 18-FI-HQ-00048.

Sincerely,
William Smith
FOIA Branch

Hello,
Please, see the Departments' attached letter dated April 22, 2022, in need  of response from you, via email to me prior to the date indicated.
Sincerely, William Smith, HUD FOIA Branch

Dear Mr. Tobias,

Good morning and hope you're having a nice first week of Summer. This is a "still interested" inquiry letter for the last of your pending HUD FOIA requests. I hope it is sufficiently apologetic!

And in the admittedly unlikely event that you had no idea what ever became of the more general subject that your request relates to, here's a link to an April 2021 announcement by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel:

https://osc.gov/News/Pages/20-15-HUD-Hatch-Act-Discipline.aspx
Thanks,

Howard Rosenberg
FOIA Specialist
HUD