Find out what your government is doing - but then what?
By John Bury | December 12, 2008If you are curious as to what your government is doing you can OPRA whatever information you want. New Jersey’s Open Public Records law, as revised in 2002, is one of the best in the nation. Last month Rutgers sponsored a symposium on OPRA for activists and journalism students.
As encouraging as it was to see so many people there and eager to learn (or get class credits), it was just as discouraging to ponder what becomes of any incriminating information that comes forth. Maybe New Jersey’s OPRA law is so liberal because government officials feel no need to hide any shady actions since even the most blatant thefts of taxpayer money that may be exposed will not stir any prosecution, even if they do see the light of print.
At this symposium, I posed a question (1:24:10 in on the tape but everything up to that might repay viewing) about what happens after the OPRA process uncovers what you believe might be unethical and/or illegal activity. I referenced a real life case involving a shared services committee set up in Union County that produced nothing but $30,000 in income for the connected politicians on it. This case got some internet play and I did personally hand over information on it to Governor Corzine but nothing seems to have moved.
Where is the citizen-activist to go? Once you have outed a no-action committee and authorities do nothing but shrug does your obligation end? Can you do more than confront and embarrass (if such a thing is even possible) the politicians involved in the hopes that enough voters will be swayed against them in the next election? Is legal action possible?
And what if you are a journalist? Does your job end when you you have written your story and would any further action on your part be considered unprofessional?
New Jersey may have a great OPRA law but its remediation process remains archaic. Maybe that is why the law is so good. Politicians don’t need to worry about their dirty laundry showing since they sense that there is no process in place that would make them clean up their acts.