Holiday message and appeal

Fritz Mulhauser | December 30, 2019

Dear Reader,

With the year ending, the D.C. Open Government Coalition is writing to thank those who have contributed before and to encourage all those who value the Coalition’s work to plan a gift before the end of the year.   

Please support our work by donating here.  Your contribution of $5, $50 or $500 helps us continue to promote full access to District of Columbia public records, meetings and data—in law and in practice.

Coalition President Thomas Susman has summarized in his annual letter the many activities that have made this year one of the busiest ever for us. 

You’ve seen our advocacy for positive new proposals such as adding charter schools to FOIA coverage and improving the FOIA portal used by thousands every year but sadly ignored for years until our testimony this spring.

You have seen our mobilization, with many community voices, to oppose backward steps such as the deeply unwise Council proposal this May to make fewer records available.

And you’ve seen the stream of Coalition open meetings complaints, FOIA advisory opinion requests, FOIA appeals and amicus opinions. And we’ve met you in our Sunshine week summit and our advocacy forums.

I am proud to be part of the devoted volunteer Coalition crew that has done so much in 2019.  Our new website (and the blog I’m honored to contribute to) offer new resources: user-friendly guidance for those seeking practical tips on open government access (and ready help by telephone or email), plus news from the policy and practice fronts and in-depth background research and information on the government transparency issues facing the community.

These efforts by a combined group of advocates and legal experts on the Coalition board (meet them here) will continue, as always without dues or subscriptions. The Coalition depends on your donations for funds to sustain our operations. Thanks for your past support and please contribute as generously as you can this year.