A powerful Senate committee charged with determining which bills are considered germane and will be heard in the 30-day session is not webcasting its hearings. FOG wrote to demand better transparency and public access to these proceedings. Read More …
We ask you to reconsider your denial of Ms. Traxler’s IPRA request and make those records available. Further I am making a mirror request on behalf of FOG for the same records pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act. Read More …
Open Government (FOG) reminds you that Article IV, Section 12 of the New Mexico Constitution requires that all sessions of each house of the Legislature be open to the public. Whether proceedings are conducted via digital streaming, in-person or in a hybrid environment, FOG urges transparency remain at the forefront. Read More …
Did you know FOG Board meetings are always open to the public? We would love for you to listen in or join the conversation during the public comment period. Please email our Executive Director, Shannon Kunkel, at director@nmfog.org if you would like the passcode to participate. We will also be recording the meeting and will Read More …
Transparency in government extends beyond open meetings and records. It requires that public officials openly communicate with the public they serve. The policy within the Santa Fe Public School Board prohibiting rank-and-file members from making public statements, and instead relying on the school board president to be the sole spokesperson for the entire body, is fundamentally at odds with the principles of transparency and accountability. Read More …
The Board of Directors of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has named Shannon Kunkel as the new Executive Director of the organization beginning Jan. 3, 2022. Kunkel is an Albuquerque native who graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico, where she studied journalism, advertising and marketing. Her past employment includes Read More …
This letter was sent to the leadership in the New Mexico Legislature on Dec. 15, 2021 December 15, 2021 Hon. Peter Wirth sent via email peter.wirth@nmlegis.govNew Mexico LegislatureSanta Fe, NM Dear Senator Wirth, Transparency is at the heart of everything we do at the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG). The New Mexico’s Legislature Read More …
By Heather Ferguson, Executive Director, Common Cause New Mexico, NMFOG Board Member Ever since the 1970s, when Americans woke up to the dangers of government secrecy thanks to Watergate and Vietnam, the value of transparency in public policymaking has become more and more apparent. Bad things are more likely to happen in darkness, not Read More …
Open Records in the Time of Covid . FOG’s Continuing Legal Education half-day seminar, “Open Records in the Time of Covid,” is Cancelled, The in-class version will be limited to the first 20 registrants and others are invited to attend the training virtually. The onsite class will be held at the Albuquerque Journal Auditorium, 7777 Read More …
Summary:The FOG Executive Director is responsible for all administrative, fundraising, community outreach, advocacy, communication and financial responsibilities as outlined below. This person will be charged with a wide range of responsibilities from responding to hotline inquiries related to New Mexico’s inspection of public records act and open meeting laws along with posting regularly on social Read More …
View this post to see the 2021 Dixon Awards beginning noon on Oct. 7. Read More …
2021 William S. Dixon Awards Event October 7, 2021. Get your tickets here He’s been called a hero, a legendary journalist, and the ultimate old-school editor. When he retired this year from a 40-plus-year career, a billionaire, Hollywood moguls and news media elite attended his retirement sendoff. Now, retired Washington Post Editor Martin Baron will Read More …
In the interesting and trying days that are upon us it seems that everyone has an opinion of our federal, state and even local governments and are more than willing to share that opinion. While these discussions make for exciting dinner conversation, it seems that citizens have forgotten we have a “right to know” what Read More …
A reporter’s investigation that led to one senior state official’s departure and a whistleblower lawsuit, a citizen’s quest for records that forced the creation of a new youth grievance policy and actions by two New Mexico Legislators to open up state government will be recognized by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) as Read More …
By Lucas Peerman, NMFOG Board Member The first sentence in New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act Compliance Guide states, ”Access to public records is one of the fundamental rights afforded to people in a democracy.” Citizens can hold public institutions in the state to account through IPRA, and the Open Meetings Act. These acts Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award – given to those who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to casting sunshine (transparency) on government operations in New Mexico. Award Read More …
by Charles “Kip” Purcell Thirty-odd years ago, a champion of government transparency was lectured by a legislator who insisted that no one really cared what the government did behind closed doors, other than a special-interest group known as the press. The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government was founded in the wake of Read More …
Secretary Ryan Stewart suspends the entire Los Lunas school board due to credible evidencet hat certain members have persistently violated procurement and public access laws including IPRA and OMA. See the letter here.
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) has officially kicked off a fundraising campaign aimed at strengthening the 31-year-old organization’s efforts to increase the public’s right to know. NMFOG’s goal is to raise $300,000 in “seed” money, which will pay for a dedicated attorney for two years as well as establishing a reserve fund Read More …
DataFest:ArtQuest – an effort to combine the public’s art with the public’s right to know in a local Hackathon event spread over two weekends in June – is now accepting individual and team registrations. The event is free, but registration is required. A full schedule of events, as well as the registration form, is available Read More …
By Kent Walz Transparency issues often focus on elected bodies and whether they follow the law governing public meetings, or executive agencies and whether they comply with statutes like the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act. Important questions, to be sure. But a judicial system that is open and accessible to the public is Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) has filed an amicus brief (friend of court brief) urging the New Mexico Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court ruling protecting Santa Fe City police disciplinary records from release to the Santa Fe Reporter under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). NMFOG was joined Read More …
Second Judicial District Court Judge Nancy Franchini has determined the Albuquerque Public School District (APS) failed to turn over public records in a timely manner and did not adhere to statutory deadlines in its response to requests for documents related to former Superintendent Winston Books’ departure. The Judge has ordered APS to pay more than Read More …
Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham took the state in a positive direction on April 7, 2021, with the signing of House Bill 55, publication of capital outlay allocations, making New Mexico’s public infrastructure funding process transparent. House Bill 55 will reform the capital outlay process resulting in the production of a searchable list identifying the projects sponsored Read More …
DataFest:ArtQuest is the name of the FOG Hackathon, designed to promote creative problem solving, and increase the level of transparency and open government, set for June 12 and June 19. FOG and the City of Albuquerque Arts Department will host a two-weekend event. The first weekend participants will capture information about the city’s public art, Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has sent a letter to Governor Lujan Grisham urging her to sign House Bill 55, Publication of Capital Outlay. The full letter is below.
All of my elementary aged grandchildren sleep with a nightlight because, like their parents a generation ago, they fear the dark. Although the flip of a switch can confirm that no monsters lurk in the shadows, better to keep a small light burning to cut through the darkness. What you cannot see fuels worry, distrust Read More …
House Bill 55, making New Mexico’s public infrastructure funding process transparent, passed the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee today on a unanimous vote. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration. The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) testified in the committee today in support of the bill sponsored Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has learned of the death of Tom Scharmen, one of the recipients of the 2019 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award. He died on Dec. 1. Scharmen was the first-ever Dixon Award recipient in the health category. A virtual memorial is being planned for January 22, 2021. Read More …
Opinion Defines what is the Public’s Business In a significant opinion enforcing transparency and accountability, the office of the New Mexico Attorney General (AG) has resolved the issue of what constitutes the “public’s business,” as it pertains to the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). The opinion states that when the Office of the Medical Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) and The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, joined together on Nov. 6, 2020, to file an amicus brief asking the New Mexico Court of Appeals to uphold a lower court ruling that records held by the UNM Lobo Club and the UNM Foundation are subject to Read More …
Did you miss the 2020 Dixon Event on Oct. 1? View the event by clicking here.
FOG extends its thanks and gratitude to the following organizations for sponsoring the 2020 Dixon Awards. Sponsors include: Albuquerque Journal Carl Baldwin, LLC KOAT TV-7 New Mexico Broadcasters Association New Mexico Press Association Rio Grande Sun NM First Rodey Law Firm
The results of a New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) survey of current members of the New Mexico Legislature and their election opponents show there is wide support for new House and Senate rules to eliminate closed meetings and backroom negotiations involving the state’s budget. When asked if they would “support action to change Read More …
Find out what President Trump really said and when he said it in Bob Woodward’s new book — Rage. The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) and Bookworks have teamed up for a special book deal. Purchase your copy of Rage online through this special offer and FOG receives a portion of each sale. Read More …
Tickets are now available for the 2020 Dixon Virtual Event. Click here to purchase your tickets. Tickets are $60 each, which includes a one-year membership to FOG or $30 for just the virtual event attendance. Tables of 14 are available for $600. All proceeds benefit the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, a 501(c)(3) New Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation of Open Government (FOG) is pleased to announce Bob Woodward, associate editor of The Washington Post, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, will be the keynote speaker at the annual William S. Dixon, First Amendment Freedom Award virtual event at noon on Oct. 1, 2020. Woodward has been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. He won Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) today launched a survey of candidates for the New Mexico Legislature to determine their positions on transparency and accountability. FOG is emailing the questionnaire to each Legislative candidate. “This is a new initiative for FOG, so we can better gauge how candidates stand on open government issues Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has chosen six New Mexicans as the recipients of its 2020 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards. The awards are annually presented to those New Mexicans who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to casting Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is disappointed with Judge Joshua Allison’s determination today in the case NM Restaurant Association, et al., v. NM Department of Health, et al.D-202-CV-2020-04272. FOG believes that providing the public with access to information about the workings of government results in better government. The Inspection of Public Records Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award – given to those who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to casting sunshine (transparency) on government operations in New Mexico. (See Read More …
The New Mexico Commission for the Blind and the New Mexico Council for Purchasing from Persons with Disabilities will meet this week under a new resolution adopted to address the issue of how public bodies can balance the need to be open while conducting essential business during a time of public emergency. Working closely with Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government outlined its concerns about the public’s access to next week’s special session and reminded lawmakers that all sessions of each house of the Legislature be open to the public in a letter sent to the New Mexico Legislative Leadership today. The complete letter may be downloaded below.
by Morgan Smith, FOG member Back on November 7, 1972 Colorado’s voters passed Colorado Initiative 9, better known as the Colorado Sunshine Law, a citizen approved statute that requires that any state or local governmental body that meets to discuss public business or to take formal action do so in meetings that are open to Read More …
The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office has sided with the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government determining the PERA Board of Trustees violated the Open Meetings Act at their meeting on May 29. The determination was outlined in a letter the Attorney General’s office sent a letter to the PERA Board of Trustees on Friday. Read More …
An attorney for the state’s Public Employee Retiree Association admitted the board violated the Open Meetings Act at its May meeting. The admission came in response to a compliant FOG filed with New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on Wednesday. See the letter here In a letter addressed to the Attorney General, PERA Attorney John Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) filed a complaint with Attorney General Hector Balderas today claiming the PERA Board of Trustees violated the state’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) at their meeting on May 29, 2020. The meeting agenda for May 29, does list a item about the discussion and termination of withholding of Read More …
by Susan Boe The COVID-19 crisis has shown how quickly life can change. But it also has shown how much we need one another, that we are a community, looking out for one another, taking care of one another and being responsible for and to one another. Because of that commitment to our neighbors, we Read More …