Mayors Run Out the FOIL Clock

Local executives can neutralize transparency by systematically assigning multi‑month response dates to freedom‑of‑information requests, turning a statutory right into a de facto delay tool. When that becomes common practice (City Journal found ~89% of requests getting six‑month timelines), it creates a predictable playbook that future administrations can copy unless checked by courts or statutes. — If municipal FOIL delays scale, they erode public accountability across cities and shift oversight from routine disclosure to litigation and court interpretation.