Mayor's office and full disclosure?????

[mtraininjax]

Spinning around the dial, it would appear that the Mayor's office is still running on 3 tricycle wheels as they are now in some hot water with the Times Union over public records requests. The legal action details the delays and excuses from the Mayor's office on documentation requested.

The Florida Times-Union has filed a lawsuit against the city of Jacksonville seeking “declaratory relief” from the Circuit Court in obtaining public records from local government officials.

The eight-page legal complaint filed Wednesday said, “This action concerns the city’s continuing refusal  to release a public record within a reasonable period of time, despite demands from the Florida Times-Union.”

The action filed by Morris Publishing Group, the owner of the newspaper, seeks to compel the city to comply with the Florida Public Records Law, said Times-Union Editor Frank Denton.

“Every citizen has a right to inspect public records whenever they want to,” Denton said Wednesday. “As the newspaper, we have a watchdog responsibility to inspect any records that we want to.”

Jacksonville General Counsel Cindy Laquidara said she was “surprised” at the legal action when reached by phone Wednesday evening.

“Typically, if there are delays people give me a call and we get the documents for them,” said Laquidara, who had not seen the complaint. “We take public documents very seriously.”

Denton acknowledged the city deserves “a reasonable amount of time” to respond to public records requests. But the lawsuit refers to several instances in the past three months where repeated delays and excuses were given from city officials to reporters seeking public documents that were not delivered.

The lawsuit references requests for documents pertaining to the new courthouse. It also specifically details how Mayor Alvin Brown’s spokesman David DeCamp was unresponsive to journalist’s requests and other instances.

“The city’s continuing refusal to allow access to the requested public record is a refusal to perform an official ministerial duty,” the complaint said.

“I’ll look at it,” Laquidara said. “The first thing we’ll do is check the facts. If there’s a public document that’s owed, we’ll get it to that person.”

A phone call placed to Brown’s Chief of Staff Chris Hand seeking comment on the lawsuit was unsuccessful in contacting him Wednesday, though a voice message was left asking for a return call. A voice mail seeking comment was left on DeCamp’s phone as well.

Denton said the Times-Union is not seeking any punitive damages from City Hall, just compliance with the law. However, if the newspaper is successful in getting an emergency court hearing that rules in its favor, city government could be directed to pay for the news agency’s attorney fees.

Yet another mark on the administration, are they going to hire some people who have a clue as to how to work with the public? How many more marks and possible dollars wasted must we endure? Is anyone driving the ship, or are we too busy making public appearances with Mickey Mouse?

[Tacachale]

Yikes.

[fsquid]

amateur hour

[Timkin]

Why am I not surprised

[konstantconsumer]

Ugh.  Moran should be mayor.

[Timkin]

Ugh.  Moran should be mayor.

^  If only...

+1

[vicupstate]

Brown needs to get on top of his administration and pronto.  Who is his chief of staff?  He needs to see if Sam Mousa or Audrey Moran will take the job.

Jax can't take another pointless administration. 

[ChriswUfGator]

Glad the times union is willing to demand accountability.

[ubben]

Moran!!!! Alvin Brown is a coward. He won't even stand strong for equality and back expanding the Human Rights Ordinance, not to mention return calls or letters to his office. Though I did see him strutting around the Players Golf Tournament fishing for adoration. Everyone was ignoring him--it was kind of funny. He is quickly losing the independents and moderates who put him in office. Moran, please get back in the race.

[tufsu1]

Brown needs to get on top of his administration and pronto.  Who is his chief of staff? 

that would be Chris Hand...although I've heard rumors of some past administration staff (that know the deal) being brought in soon.

[strider]

Under Peyton, sunshine requests were taken seriously.  Under this administration, it seems not.  We have two in that  they were very slow to acknowledge and once sent to the City Council people, they have been ignored.  We have not had the time to pursue this legally as of yet.  And, in my opinion, one should not have to call Ms. Laquidara to get the law followed. This is not a good sign for this mayor nor his administration.

[mtraininjax]

This is not a good sign for this mayor nor his administration.

The inexperience is showing! Let's hope the city and Brown learn quickly how to work together, for the sake of all citizens!

[DuvalHusky]

Brown needs a staff shakeup and in a hurry. Unfortunately, the disorganization appears to be top down. Brown wants to continue campaigning all over town with his stump speech turned drinking game while Chris and Karen drink from the firehose lacking anyone underneath with real operational knowledge.

It should also be said that when you summarily dismiss decades of government experience, some outstanding public servants, and replace them with political favors, you are going to have real problems.

In the end though, Brown will have to admit he needs help and then accept it. I don't see that happening.

[Timkin]

^ Then it will come crashing down for him much sooner, than later.  Times Union should not be the only ones demanding accountability. 

[Charles Hunter]

I remember hearing people in the campaign grumbling when Chris Hand was appointed Chief of Staff - apparently people skills are not high on Chris' talent list.

Mayor Brown is currently making a tour of the CPACs - be at Southeast Monday the 25th.  I am wondering if he thinks this is a substitute for the quarterly meetings each of his predecessors had with the CPAC chairs?