Environmentalists, workers protest public records rule change (NJ)

[struggle4progress]

ANGELA DELLI SANTI

Associated Press


TRENTON, N.J. - Environmentalists and chemical industry activists picketed the Attorney General's Office Wednesday over a proposed change to public records law the protesters say would limit their access to information on toxins in their communities.

Carrying signs that read, "Stop the Information Lockout," the 50 or so protesters accused authorities of using domestic security as an excuse to hide information sought under the state's Open Public Records Act.

"We believe the new rule as proposed will significantly weaken the right of citizens to monitor their government while doing little or nothing to protect them from terrorism," said Elizabeth Abruzese Mason of the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, one of the groups protesting Wednesday.

The Attorney General's Office scheduled a public hearing on the matter for July 22. <snip>

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11958997.htm