In case you were looking for something additional to be angry about, I've got an update on one of the absolute stupidest #FOIA battles I've ever been privileged to fight. It's with @NYSEDNews, if you couldn't guess. 1/

The background: On 5/5 I requested a document that would be relevant to the @RCSDNYS budget vote two days later. I specifically asked not to have to go through FOIL, since it was a single document, readily available, and very timely. They said no. Fine. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/education/2020/05/08/rcsd-state-education-dept-fail-transparency-watchdog-column/3094340001/

On 5/6, the next day, I asked if they'd received it. Response: "We did receive your request. You will receive a formal acknowledgement within the five business days allowed." Nonsense! But they did "formally acknowledge" on 5/12 ... and said they would respond by 6/9. Fine.

On 6/17 - which, if you're keeping score, is 25 days after even their nonsense "acknowledgment" date, more than the 20 allowed by state law - they provided an update, setting a new date as ... Sept. 30!

Reader, I've seen this document. It's as plain as could be, and is CLEARLY readily available, because NYSED's Elisa Alvarez cited it in detail in a 4/28 letter.

Your state government is playing games. And now I'll be wasting my time writing an appeal letter today.