Fast and Loose with Freedom of Information

Recently we posted the results of a freedom of information inquiry into Maud Robinson's 2006 economic interests. We then decided to seek her statement of economic interests from 2001-2005 to check for conflicts (those will be posted soon). The Town of Vienna delivered the requested records, but the records had a problem, they were edited.

It seems someone at Town Hall decided to 'white out' Maud Robinson's phone number on the documents. You might say, 'No big deal, so what.' Yes, it is a big deal. Complete, unedited Town records are open to inspection by ANYONE. Town employees, or whoever, are not allowed to unilaterally decide that some aspect of a record is 'private' based on their subjective whim at that moment. Town employees and Town Council members must operate under State law. They don't get to make up the law as they go. Better yet, if forced to talk, would we find someone in Town Hall was ordered to do this by Maud?

And that is why this seemingly innocuous act is so important. Maud Robinson over 50 years has crafted a culture of elitism that seemingly floats outside of any boundary. Altering records shows clearly, in yet another way, the disdain that the Vienna Town Council and Vienna Town Staff have for the rule of law. It's their country club and who are we to tell them how to run things.

Guess what? They rolled over. The Town has now agreed to provide the complete and unedited documents while not explaining why the records were edited in the first place. They did offer Robinson's phone number in an email response and said that her phone number was listed in the phone book. That's brilliant, why were the documents edited then?

Lastly, whoever decided to redact Maud's phone number must be oblivious to what happens when you type in the phrase 'Maud Robinson Vienna' in Google. By George, it's a phone number!

This is not the first time Town Hall has played games with public records.