FOIL: Involvement with and Influences from GARE (County Executive)
It is a clone of this request.
| Multi Request | FOIL: Involvement with and Influences from GARE |
| Submitted | March 19, 2023 |
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Communications
From: Jackson Parker
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:
I am writing to request records pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (Public Officers Law Article 6) regarding the involvement of the agency with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) or The Local & Regional Government Alliance on Race and Equity and/or an organization by the name "Race Forward" and/or an organization by the name "[the] Center for Social Inclusion" collectively referred to as GARE.
I am requesting access to any and all records, documents, communications, or other materials related to the following:
1. Any contracts or agreements between the agency and GARE or any related organizations.
2. Any training materials or presentations related to racial equity, diversity, or inclusion that the agency has used or received from GARE or any related organizations.
3. Any policies or programs related to racial equity, diversity, or inclusion that have been influenced by GARE or any related organizations.
4. Any reports, data, or other information related to the agency's efforts to promote racial equity or reduce racial disparities among students, faculty, staff, or the community at large, in collaboration with GARE or any related organizations.
5. Any meeting minutes or other records of discussions or decision-making related to the agency's involvement with GARE or any related organizations.
Please include all documents and materials from January 1, 2016, to the present.
If any portion of my request is denied, please provide a written explanation for the denial, citing the specific FOIL exemption(s) that justify the denial.
Please note that your agency/county/city were considered in scope for this FOIL request as your jurisdiction is listed on the website for a GARE organization stating that they work in your offices: https://www.racialequityalliance.org/where-we-work/jurisdictions/
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, 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,
Jackson Parker
From: County Executive
Hello Jackson Parker,
Pursuant to Section 89(3) of the Public Officer's Law, commonly known as the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), this will constitute a written acknowledgement of your email dated March 20th, 2023. Furthermore, this shall be a written statement of the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied, which I estimate to be by Monday, April 10th, 2023.
Although we will do everything we can to supply you with the information electronically, depending on the nature and extent of the records requested, there may be a fee of $0.25 per page for the reproduction of records and documents. You will be advised of the amount of any fee prior to the release of the documents or records.
Please be further advised, that pursuant to Section 89(3) of the Public Officer's Law, if circumstances prevent the disclosure to the person who requests such records within twenty (20) business days from the date of acknowledgement, we are required to state in writing the reason for the inability to grant the request and a date certain within a reasonable period, depending on the circumstances, when the request will be granted in whole or in part.
I trust the above is of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Copernicus Crane,
Freedom of Information Access Officer
Office of the Westchester County Executive
From: County Executive
Hello Jackson Parker,
I write in further response to your email dated Monday, March 20, 2023.
In response to your request, this department must compile and review, and then potentially copy and redact a number of records. The records in question are stored in several different locations in a number of different formats. We will not be able to respond by the time we initially indicated.
In accordance with NYS Public Officers Law Section 89(3)(a), we inform you that instead we anticipate granting your request, at least in part, no later than Monday, May 1, 2023.
Any appeal from the foregoing determination should be addressed to:
John Nonna, Esq.
Westchester County Attorney
148 Martine Avenue - Room 600
White Plains, New York 10601
FOIL-Appeals@westchestergov.com
Sincerely,
Copernicus Crane
Freedom of Information Officer
Westchester County Executive's Office
From: Jackson Parker
Thank you! I understand that compiling and reviewing the records requested can be a time-consuming process, and I appreciate your efforts to provide a complete and thorough response.
Thank you for informing me that you anticipate granting my request, at least in part, no later than Monday, May 1, 2023. I understand that the process of locating and reviewing the requested records may take time, and I appreciate your commitment to providing a timely response.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following New York Freedom of Information Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 20, 2023. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on May 1, 2023. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: County Executive
Dear Jackson Parker,
This shall be the Office of the Westchester County Executive’s formal response to your Freedom Of Information Law Request (FOIL) dated March 20th, 2023. The FOIL is intended to allow citizens to have access to records made and kept by a public body.
You asked for records regarding:
"...
1. Any contracts or agreements between the agency and GARE or any related organizations.
2. Any training materials or presentations related to racial equity, diversity, or inclusion that the agency has used or received from GARE or any related organizations.
3. Any policies or programs related to racial equity, diversity, or inclusion that have been influenced by GARE or any related organizations.
4. Any reports, data, or other information related to the agency's efforts to promote racial equity or reduce racial disparities among students, faculty, staff, or the community at large, in collaboration with GARE or any related organizations.
5. Any meeting minutes or other records of discussions or decision-making related to the agency's involvement with GARE or any related organizations..."
Please be advised that your request is granted in part, and records responsive to your request are attached to this email for your reference.
Pursuant to §87(2)(g) of the New York State Public Officers Law<https://opengovernment.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/01/foil-law-text-01122023.pdf>, some records have been redacted:
"...such agency may deny access to records or portions thereof that...
...are inter-agency or intra-agency materials which are not:
i. statistical or factual tabulations or data;
ii. instructions to staff that affect the public;
iii. final agency policy or determinations; or
iv. external audits, including but not limited to audits performed by the comptroller and the federal
government;
..."
Any appeal from the foregoing determination should be addressed to:
John Nonna, Esq.
Westchester County Attorney
148 Martine Avenue - Room 600
White Plains, New York 10601
FOIL-Appeals@westchestergov.com
Sincerely,
Copernicus Crane
Freedom of Information Officer,
Westchester County Executive's Office
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