Jane Grover: Transparency and Accountability in Government

Submitted by Jane Grover on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 10:12

As a long-time advocate for open and transparent government, working both from within and outside government, I understand our elected officials' duty to satisfy the public's right to information and accountability.  The business of the public must be conducted in full view of the public (Open Meetings Act) and citizens must have access to all public records (Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)). 
 
A year ago, I resorted to FOIA to seek information about School District 65's proposed school calendar and the District's use of half-days and early dismissal days.  In many ways, FOIA operates to protect government from claims that it withholds relevant information.  The information channel that FOIA creates serves both the requester and the responder.  
 
My experience last year only strengthened my conviction that transparency and accountability are essential components of effective and responsive governance.  My commitment to open government permeated my service on the Evanston Mental Health Board.  In my first term on the Board, I worked to educate my Board colleagues about our responsibilities under the Illinois Open Meetings Act and, with City staff, ensured that all meetings of the Board were held and reported in strict compliance with the Act. 
 
But our elected officials have an obligation to openness and candor that goes beyond compliance with the law.  The job of our school board and City Council members is to ask the impertinent questions themselves.  For their decisions, they must request all relevant information on behalf of the citizens they are elected to serve.  When our elected officials truly serve their constituents, no one needs to invoke their statutory rights to information and access.  
 
I encourage you to understand your rights to an open and transparent government at every level.  For more information about the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, go to www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/government/foia_illinois.html. 
 
Finally, Sunshine Week 2009, a national initiative about the importance of open government and freedom of information, is March 15 to 21.  Go to www.sunshineweek.org.  

 
Let's bring more sunshine to Evanston. 
 
Jane
 
For more information, go to www.janegrover.org.  

Comments

JunadRizki

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 19:25

Jane - you are claiming you are in support of the open meeting act- Please give us an example where you feel the city of evanston has not followed the act and how you will do better?
Also  you are running for council member not school board - you need to stick to topic.
Jane does the mental health board meet in executive session? It is a citizens board - not council members - can you clearify this for us?
Frankly Jane I have filed numerous FIOA over the years - I hope you do not thinki filing one, makes you qualified for the city council?
Finally I have filed a FIOA on which council members take medical insurance - at our expense - they are refusing to give me the information based on the fact it is in their personal files - alot of nonsense - are  you planning to take the medical insurance for your family at the almost free price of $37 a month for $17,000 a year in coverage?

jeffpsmith

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 22:28

Jane, I believe that Sunshine Week for 2009 was cancelled by the City Council and will not be observed in Evanston. Because the reasons relate to litigation or threatened litigation, discussion was had only in executive session.
 
In all seriousness, I of course share your expressed desire for more transparency. FOIA is a useful tool for the litigator or investigator, but an extremely cumbersome and inefficient way for information to be transmitted from government to citizenry. The point is that citizens shouldn't be forced into the role of litigator or investigator; a responsible government proactively provides the information that residents need for informed self-government.
 
Thanks for your continued posting.