Block turns to crowd sourcing to fund public records request

PROVIDENCE – Former candidate for governor Kenneth J. Block announced on Monday that he has started a crowd sourcing effort to raise approximately $1,500 to pay for an open records request he made to the city regarding firefighter overtime.

Block, who runs the nonprofit WatchdogRI.org website, requested detailed records on firefighter absences and overtime shifts for fiscal 2015 to understand the city’s high firefighter overtime costs. He said he was told by city officials that his request could exceed $1,000.

As a result, Block launched the crowd sourcing effort at GoFundMe.com. Block said he was surprised that the data was not already readily available, given the city’s focus on the issue. He said it also was surprising that the city would place such a “large financial burden” on data that would help provide transparency and support Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s actions.

“Taxpaying citizens should not be required to battle for – and be expected to pay excessively for – records that belong in the public domain,” WatchdogRI.org Board member Pam Gencarella said in a statement. “The central issues on the table right now between the Providence Firefighters union and the city of Providence concerning the proposed shift change and confronting the bloated overtime system, are critically important issues for taxpayers. Citizens need and deserve a transparent and accurate understanding of the costs associated with the city’s Fire Department.”

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Block said WatchdogRI.org has self-funded other records requests as the organization has pursued research projects across the state. He said he was not aware of anyone else turning to crowd sourcing to fund a public records request. Block said he hopes to meet his funding goal by the week’s end.

“Rhode Island’s open records laws do not mandate that governments charge for data – the law allows governments to charge for data if they so choose,” he said. “Charging the public high fees for data that is public in the first place is one of many ways that governments can make life difficult for engaged citizens who want to get involved.”

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