Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved.

March 28, 2024

City of Chicago thumbs nose at FOIA – lies to keep Rahm’s records secret –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On April 6, 2015

Chicago, IL. (ECWd) –

For the past couple of months several people have attempted to gain access to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s records as it relates to bills payable and due to the City of Chicago.

In this most recent request, which was forwarded to me this afternoon, Adam Andrzejewski was attempting to get copies of those records and it has become apparent by now that this is nothing more than an attempt at keeping those records from the public – at least until after the election. First they claim they didn’t understand the original FOIA request, then when it is further explained they treat it as a new request that basically restarts the five day response time. Next they ask for an extension with the promise that a response would be received by April 6th at the latest. That date has come and gone.

Finally, the FOIA Officer, Mr. Carl Gutierrez ([email protected]) just simply ignores the emails sent to him.

I had requested these records a few months ago, and the same FOIA Officer responded after the mandatory five day response time, and told me over the phone that he would treat it as “unduly burdensome”. I asked him to confirm that in writing over email, but when the email arrived it stated that there were no responsive records – probably because he found out the city cannot claim unduly burdensome after the violate the mandated response time.

So now we have two instances of the City of Chicago FOIA Officer lying to the public about public records – AND we suspect the real bottom line as to why, is that he might be “in arrears of a debt to the municipality” which would violate the Illinois Municipal Code and disqualify him from office. But we have no way to verify that since the city will not produce the records.

It might be time to file a civil suit to obtain the requested records – because we know they have them, and we know they are public records.

SHARE THIS

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on print

RELATED

13 Comments
  • ECWDogs
    Posted at 21:03h, 06 April

    City of Chicago thumbs nose a FOIA – lies to keep Rahm’s records secret – http://t.co/elmxrOcVRa

  • SafeLibraries
    Posted at 21:16h, 06 April

    MT @ECWDogs: “Chicago thumbs nose at FOIA, keeps @RahmEmanuel ’s records secret – http://t.co/qEteAkYrzl” #Chuy2015 #runoff @garcia4chicago

  • AJMGrandma
    Posted at 21:19h, 06 April

    RT @SafeLibraries: MT @ECWDogs: “Chicago thumbs nose at FOIA, keeps @RahmEmanuel ’s records secret – http://t.co/qEteAkYrzl” #Chuy2015 #run…

  • George Barraclough
    Posted at 21:38h, 06 April

    Ole’ Carl may be telling the truth, if that is even humanly possible in the City of Chicago. Probably is “unduly burdensome” as Chicago is too big to jail!

  • TsLetters2Gates
    Posted at 21:40h, 06 April

    RT @SafeLibraries: MT @ECWDogs: “Chicago thumbs nose at FOIA, keeps @RahmEmanuel ’s records secret – http://t.co/qEteAkYrzl” #Chuy2015 #run…

  • Jon Bell
    Posted at 06:38h, 07 April

    dont these people get any repercussions for refusing your requests.

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 07:10h, 07 April

      Not unless we sue them…

  • just 2 b clear
    Posted at 06:58h, 07 April

    Did you say the FOIA officer’s name was Carl,because it sounds more like Arcola Township’s Foia officer Bill Coombe,and his style of dodge and weave.

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 07:13h, 07 April

      lol

  • Dave
    Posted at 08:56h, 07 April

    Imagine that Chicago city gov’t is corrupt….

  • Chris M. Gaines
    Posted at 09:05h, 08 April

    Sue this mayor of Chicago for FOIA law violations, first. Then investigate him thoroughly with a effective private investigator(not by our law enforcement agencies) and demand charges be filed against him by our States Attorney and prosecute him accordingly. Make an example of him to all the rest of our corrupt public servants/ politicians in our state. He is a criminal and a fraud like Obama his former boss is. Expose him publicly for that, relentlessly.

  • nfoic
    Posted at 18:16h, 09 April

    City of #Chicago thumbs nose at #FOIA – lies to keep Rahm’s records secret. #Opengov
    http://t.co/bqzZbrbY46

  • baielala
    Posted at 05:06h, 10 April

    RT @nfoic: City of #Chicago thumbs nose at #FOIA – lies to keep Rahm’s records secret. #Opengov
    http://t.co/bqzZbrbY46

$