King Sweeney Proposes Law To Protect Privacy From FOIL Requests

Following reports from right before the election that a Town of Hempstead attorney attained the names and addresses of families that attend Camp ANCHOR, and used that information for political purposes, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney put forward legislation today that would make it harder for such an occurrence to happen again.

Last week, Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino was named in a lawsuit levied by families who attend Camp ANCHOR, the town's weekend and after-school program for people with special needs. According to the families, several of them received a letter from Santino's town council, William J. Muller III, and his wife Diane, urging them to vote for Santino because of how he supports Camp ANCHOR.

In response, King Sweeney proposed an amendment to the Town Code that would codify important provisions of the NYS Freedom of Information Law, require the exercising of substantial discretion and

judgment in the release of any record, as well as Town Attorney review of any release that might constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

unethical invasions of privacy," King Sweeney said in a statement. "I am calling upon the Town Board to
enact this amendment so that there can be no doubt that we expect the highest discretion and caution in the release of sensitive personal records."

King Sweeney's proposed law would also require that in the case where any record of portion thereof contained information that would, if released, constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, endanger the life or safety of an individual, constitute the disclosure of medical information or be used for solicitation purposes, an advisory opinion of the Town Attorney be issued with respect to any release of such records to ensure conformance with the amendment.

Photo: Town of Hempstead