Real World Police

FOIA fee estimate: $974,277.89

This fee estimate was shared by someone on a public records listserv I subscribe to.

That person (who requested anonymity), asked the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security for the portion of its inventory listing of classified documents that are more than 40 years old. BIS responded with a fee estimate of nearly $1 million.

To fully grasp just how crazy that fee estimate is, you need some background information: BIS is required by law to maintain an inventory of their classified records. Otherwise, for example, they wouldn't know if something goes missing.

This fee estimate suggests that BIS is not maintaining an inventory of their classified documents, as the law requires.

2 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 487

Real World Police

Do you believe that it is possible to determine whether someone is lying using a machine?

3 years ago | [YT] | 258

Real World Police

Progress.

From the original appeal:

"In the alternative, I urge you to submit the records in question to the TSA's SSI office for review, and for their final determination as to whether the records should be withheld due to safety concerns. The TSA's SSI office routinely reviews airport surveillance videos and makes SSI determinations regarding their content. Under most circumstances, government agencies are in the best position to determine whether an exemption applies to their own records. In this situation, however, the TSA is best-positioned to evaluate the responsive records and to reach a reality-based, focused, and informed conclusion regarding whether release of the records would be harmful to transportation security."

From the mayor of Burlington's determination:

"While the Airport is empowered to designate the footage as SSI, the TSA's SSI Program Office is the ultimate judge of whether information should be deemed SSI and the City has transferred the footage to the TSA SSI Program Office for their final review. If the footage or sections of the footage are deemed releasable by the TSA, then the City will promptly transfer to you the releasable footage."

Good stuff. The TSA is going to green-light release of the records.

A full-size version of the mayor of Burlington's determination, and the original appeal, are linked in a pinned comment.

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3 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 220

Real World Police

Judicial opinion incorporates Spider Man meme

3 years ago | [YT] | 350

Real World Police

Benzino is more than $18,000 behind in child support.

Yesterday, Georgia's Department of Human Services filed a motion asking the court to hold Benzino in contempt.

3 years ago | [YT] | 312

Real World Police

Apparently I'm a documentary producer.

3 years ago | [YT] | 493

Real World Police

Yeah, I’m gonna both disclose and copy

3 years ago | [YT] | 488

Real World Police

Success! The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has come to their senses and agreed to release the video that I requested, without requiring a nondisclosure agreement.

That said, MWAA’s NDA demand should never have happened in the first place.

3 years ago | [YT] | 331

Real World Police

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is refusing to release public records unless I agree to keep them secret. Not happening.

(Yeah, I know. "I am reporter." Apparently I miss letters when I'm annoyed.)

3 years ago | [YT] | 376

Real World Police

Courtesy of a source who insisted on anonymity, I have obtained exclusive, never-before-seen post-mishap footage and imagery associated with the 2016 fatal crash of a United States Navy Blue Angels Hornet. Coming your way this week on ‪@WhatYouHaventSeen‬.

3 years ago | [YT] | 358