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 …