Open government

With a change in leadership I thought town government would become more open but I'm afraid little has changed. I offer two...

Riverhead’s loss of meaningful Town Board minutes is not a minor change. It is a blow to open, accountable government — and to local history.

Riverhead's lack of transparency was on full display throughout the process leading up to the Town Board's decision to find J, Petrocelli 'qualified and eligible.' Board members publicly castigating critics was a deeply troubling response to legitimate public discourse. Guest column.

Town Board ‘minutes’ no longer include anything but board vote tallies for resolutions. The town clerk says residents who want to know what's actually said during the meetings can watch the videos. Good luck with that. The town should reverse this boneheaded idea.

As Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote more than a century ago, "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." Cronyism and corruption thrive in the cover of darkness. Our job is to open the blinds and let the sun shine in.

If a factual report of the records obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request makes officials unhappy or uncomfortable, we’re sorry but our job as a news organization isn’t to protect their feelings. Our job is to report the facts.

Supervisor Tim Hubbard has promised a town government that will reach “a level of transparency…that has not been seen before.” Here's why that's important and what he should do to make this a reality in Riverhead.

With no penalties for violations and no enforcement except by lawsuits in State Supreme Court brought by private citizens, it's no wonder officials often act like complying with these laws are optional. There is a better way, if N.Y. state lawmakers were serious about transparency.

“You have to go through our PR firm.” The public might be surprised to learn how hard it can be for a reporter to get an interview with many public officials, who prefer to communicate by email or through intermediaries. It's a terrible trend. Here's why. Editorial.

Six-figure town contract tasked consultants with neutralizing public opposition by casting residents as "NIMBYs" who spread misinformation.