New York City Mayor’s Film Office Revokes Right to View Film Permits
November 10, 2009 | Filed Under Legal Issues
The following letter arrived via email from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. The key part of the letter states:
Effective December 1, 2009, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is discontinuing its weekly permit viewing sessions. Due to increasing constraints on space and staff time and numerous reported thefts of documents, the agency will no longer provide courtesy copies for perusal by members of the public.
This is ridiculous. The permits could easily be scanned and sent out as a pdf via email, just like the letter below, which would completely eliminate all the issues put forth in the letter. Since the Mayor’s Office is unwilling to do this, you realize the logic of their decision is political: they want to ensure that FOR PROFIT film companies that use PUBLIC RESOURCES, including the Mayor’s Office, will be subject to minimum intrusions from the general public, including those who function under the Freedom of Press, namely journalists.
What’s the Mission of the Mayor’s Office:
As the first film commission in the country, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting is the one-stop shop for all production needs in New York City, including free permits, free public locations and free police assistance. The agency markets NYC as a prime location, provides premiere customer service to production companies and facilitates production throughout the five boroughs. Whether production companies are shooting a feature film, a commercial, a television show or a music video, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting serves as an invaluable resource to the New York City entertainment production industry.
“free permits, free public locations and free police assistance” Pardon me, but none of these are free. Taxpayers pay for the Mayor’s Office employees who issue these “free permits.” Taxpayers pay for the maintenance and approval of all “free public locations.” And taxpayers pay for the police force which provides “free police assistance.”
Since when do FOR PROFIT film companies get to usurp the rights of citizens, especially when it involves public domain spaces or public domain information? Filing a freedom of information letter to get information that, by the time the letter is addressed, becomes obsolete, is not a satisfactory balance of interests.
Shame on you Mayor’s Office!
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9 November 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
This Wednesday, November 11, 2009, please note that the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) will be closed for the Veteran’s Day holiday. As a result, permit documents for dates ranging 11/4/09 through 11/17/09 will be available for public viewing the following Wednesday, November 18, 2009.
Effective December 1, 2009, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is discontinuing its weekly permit viewing sessions. Due to increasing constraints on space and staff time and numerous reported thefts of documents, the agency will no longer provide courtesy copies for perusal by members of the public.
New York State’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) provides a process for the review and copying of an agency’s records. Under FOIL, all requests for access to MOFTB records must be submitted in writing, either by letter or e-mail, to the agency Records Access Officer. In your request, please describe the records you are seeking as specifically as possible, including as much of the following as possible: types of documents, date, time, location, production title, and any other information that will enable the Records Access Officer to identify the record(s) you are seeking. Include how you would like to receive the requested information if your request is approved, or partially approved. Include a daytime phone number, in case the Records Access Officer has any questions about your request. Copies are available at the statutorily permitted duplication fee of $0.25 per page, by certified check or money order made payable to the NYC Department of Finance.
If you wish to view or photocopy MOFTB permits in the future, please submit your written request by:
Mail:
Records Access Officer
Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting
1697 Broadway, Suite 602
New York, NY 10019
Email:
FOIL@film.nyc.gov
Thank you for your cooperation.