We serve the public.
We fight for democracy.
What our nonprofit does is not always easy to explain.
Our work often gets described in abstract phrases like “promoting transparency” and “encouraging accountability.”
But what we do is not abstract. It's taking action.
When we challenge a closed-door meeting, it’s so parents can watch school boards make decisions about their kids. When we fight for a public record, it’s so a person can get the crash report they need to fix their car. When we file a lawsuit, it's so residents of our state don't lose their right to get information on government power.
This is how we serve the public.
And if we didn’t, some governments would keep operating in the dark — to keep the public away from what they’re really doing.
This is how we fight for democracy.
Thwarting secrets with Sunshine
There are two main laws that stop the government from keeping secrets. They’re called the Sunshine Laws because they force people in power to operate in the open, where light penetrates all shadows.
These laws have been enacted by every U.S. state and the federal government.
One Sunshine Law is about open meetings. It grants the public the right to observe elected leaders when they meet. In New Mexico, it’s called the Open Meetings Act.
One Sunshine Law is about public records. It gives the public the right to request records generated by the government. In New Mexico, it is called the Inspection of Public Records Act, while on the federal level, it’s called the Freedom of Information Act.
These laws rest on the foundation of the First Amendment with its promise of open information guaranteed by free speech and free press.
These are the laws our nonprofit uses every day to shine a bright light on all levels of government in New Mexico, from village councils to the governor’s office.
Sunshine Law Helpline for the Public
Across New Mexico, city clerks, county staff, and record custodians are the first line of defense for democracy. Most embrace their duty as public servants. They understand what the Inspection of Public Records and the Open Meetings Acts really are: the laws that keep our government from sliding into secrecy.
But occasionally, there are missteps, ranging from inadvertent mistakes to purposeful violations of the law.
That's why we run a Helpline for the public.
For those times when people hit barriers getting public records or accessing open meetings.
(505) 764-3750
It's all about
INFORMATION
The foundations of government transparency and the Sunshine Laws go back to the beginning of America, all the way to the Founding Fathers
