The SPJ-DC Washington, DC, chapter is a member of the DC Open Government Coalition.
At a July 6 hearing of the D.C. Council Committee on Housing and Community Development, the Coalition opposed a bill to exempt Advisory Neighborhood Commissions from the Freedom of Information Act. Board member LaVita Tuff testified that the bill would perpetuate ANCs’ blanket exemption from the Open Meetings Act as well.
She noted that Council member Anita Bonds, the committee chair, is a co-sponsor of the Strengthening Transparency and Open Access to Government Act of 2016, which Council member Grosso and Cheh introduced in January to help D.C. government implement best practices in transparency and accountability. Ms. Tuff said the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 before the Housing Committee is in direct conflict with the transparency bill and best practices.
Read full report here.
