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NYCLU Calls on Mayor to Terminate Giuliani Center Contract
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 6, 2002
The NYCLU today sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and Corporation Counsel Cardozo
urging them to terminate the city's contract to turn over the archival records of
the Giuliani administration to the Giuliani Center for Urban Affairs Inc.
"This 11th hour contract between the Giuliani administration and the
Giuliani Center violates the principles of open government embodied in the
Freedom of Information Law and the City Charter. Given the track record of the
Giuliani administration in withholding information from the public, one cannot
help worrying that the fox is guarding the henhouse," said NYCLU Executive
Director Donna Lieberman.
She added, "One provision of the agreement allows the former mayor to retain
veto power over the disclosure of documents he deems 'personal.' Another
provision allows theGiuliani Center and the City to destroy documents that may be
subject to disclosure under FOIL and to avoid judicial review of the
decision."
NYCLU Attorney Beth Haroules added, "The City Charter is clear: documents
such as these cannot be transferred without a detailed inventory and they can
only be transferred to the official municipal archives under the control of
DORIS. This contract violates both of these provisions which are designed to
ensure public access."
The NYCLU calls on Mayor Bloomberg to recognize thiscontract for what it is -- a
contract to sign away the public's right to know -- and accord it the same
treatment as the Decency Commission. This is an opportunity for Mayor Bloomberg
to set a tone of open government in the new administration. It would be a welcome
change.
Contact Information:
Donna Lieberman, 212.344.3005, x. 232
Arthur Eisenberg, 224
BethHaroules x.225
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