Jefferson Banner - Opinion
John Foust - JCEDC Refusals

 

Statement to the press, 12/26/01

Bucher's response is baffling. I think the County, the JCEDC and I all wanted the same thing an item-by-item opinion on whether my requests for records from the contract were valid or not. He didn't give anything close to that. His response isn't going to make anyone happy.

Bucher states that although he didn't review the records that the JCEDC surrendered and that he didn't compare them to my requests, he's confident that all the records in the contract were delivered. It's outlandish. None of the parties believe that. I think the County, the JCEDC and I all agreed that all of the records had not been supplied. We were all hoping for clarification, and Bucher has given none.

As for his opinion denying my access to CIA records, again Bucher's response is bizarre. Bucher constructs a strained analogy that calls the CIA a contractor and the Chamber a sub-contractor, and shoehorns this situation into one where the courts have previously ruled that sub-contractor wage records were not open to inspection.

He doesn't seem to understand that the CIA was an arm of the City and already subject to Open Records Law, not a contractor.  I have written a response to District Attorney Bucher, asking him to reconsider. If he refuses, I will appeal to the Attorney General's office.