'Stalking' Right To Know Request Issued In Yardley: Council President

YARDLEY, PA —Yardley Borough Council President Caroline Thompson is speaking out Monday about a Right to Know request that she says "crosses a line into the realm of stalking and use of RTK as surveillance."

Thompson issued a public service announcement regarding the misuse of a Right to Know request that Councilman David Appelbaum frequently opines about during his council meeting reports.

Thompson stressed that Yardley Boro Council does not object to requestors who seek to receive records that show what their government is doing in the context of agency business.

"In fact, we fully encourage the correct use of RTKL, she said.

But the one the borough received Monday was troubling, Thompson said.

"This morning, our office received a RTK request that crosses a line into the realm of stalking and use of RTK as surveillance. Just as requestors have a “Right to Know” what their government is doing, I have a “Right to No” on being surveilled by residents who believe that my whereabouts at any given moment are fair game. The thought that I am being watched, that my kids are being watched, that I cannot move freely about my hometown is a violation of the highest degree," Thompson stated.

The request submitted was for [QUOTE] “Email and text messages sent to or received by Caroline Thompson on Sunday, April 28, 2024 between 5:09 PM – 5:45 PM (i.e. text messages or emails sent or received during her walk on College Avenue)." [END QUOTE]

"I was not on College Avenue between these times, nor did I send or receive any text messages or emails during these times, but even if I had —do you want your tax dollars being used to aid stalking, or worse?," she said.

Yardley Borough spent more than $30,000 taxpayer dollars in RTK response and appeals, Thompson said.

"Yardley Borough, Please RTK responsibly and carefully… and if I may be so bold as to speak freely, don’t be a creep," Thompson said.

Thompson concluded by posting a picture of what she was doing at that time on Sunday, spending time at Yardley General and Vault Brewing Co. with a dear friend.