[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Resubmitting FOIA Request

[Christine Boone]

If Pat Cannon is going to record a public meeting, he is compelled to make such recording(s) a part of the public record, and that includes sharing them with anyone who asks.  Now, just in case Mr. Cannon does not completely comprehend the scope of his actions with respect to his duties and choices as director of the Commission for the Blind, here is a short lesson in civics 101:  
He is a public figure.  When Pat decided to shoot for the stars and take his high school education to the upper levels of the executive branch of Michigan State government, he waived any and all of the privacy rights that he had previously enjoyed as a member of the public.  As an executive at this level, Pat must share many things that most people would prefer to keep private.  He must disclose his financial history, including investments, properties owned and donations made.  Anything that he does as a part of his daily work at the Commission for the Blind, whether or not he is expected or required to do it, is also subject to scrutiny by any member of the pub lic.    When he stepped into the six figure salary bracket, and took the helm of the Commission for the Blind, Pat's status as a public figure was all sewed up.  That means, that even if he is only recording a meeting because it is the only way he has of taking notes on that meeting,  he must share such recordings with any person who requests them.  We have always said that there are many reasons to learn Braille.  Perhaps now we can add another reason to that long list.  If you want to take your own notes on a meeting, and you are a public figure, you might want to learn how to write those notes down in Braille, rather than whispering them into your recording device to become a part of the entire proceedings being memorialized there.  

On May 6, 2011, at 1:10 PM, joe harcz Comcast wrote:

> Dear Ms. Haynes,
> 
> I reiterate Mr. sontag's request here except to say I do not invoke the FOIA, but rather I invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title II, subpart E, and the Auxiliary Aids and Services provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.. Note, a failure to respond is a civil rights violation in and of itself and a failure of timely response violates Tyler v. Manhatten, just to name one case law consideration of this matter.
> 
> Regardless Cannon recorded this last meeting. His recordings are and should be made available under the FOIA, the ADA, and 504 just to name a few laws.
> 
> Now, Cannon is famous for claiming access and for fighting for disability rights.
> 
> Don't we all think it is time for this son of a gun to deliver on both accounts?
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Joe Harcz
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com>
> To: <haynesc at michigan.gov>
> Cc: "James Hull" <hullj at michigan.gov>; "Connie Zanger" <ZangerC at michigan.gov>; "Patrick Cannon" <CannonP at michigan.gov>; "NFB of Michigan List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>; "NFB of Michigan Vendors List" <vendorsmi at nfbnet.org>; <farmerm at michigan.gov>
> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 12:50 PM
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Resubmitting FOIA Request
> 
> 
>> May 2, 2011
>> Joseph Sontag
>> 1204 Morris Avenue
>> Lansing, Michigan 48917
>> Phone:  (517) 323-8970
>> E-mail:  suncat0 at gmail.com
>> (Request made via e-mail)
>> Carla Haynes, FOIA Coordinator, Michigan Commission for the Blind
>> hanesc at michigan.gov
>> Dear Ms. Haynes:
>> I am writing you today to request, pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information
>> Act, all audio recordings taken by MCB Director Patrick Cannon, all audio recordings
>> taken by or on behalf of the Elected Operators'
>> Committee and similar recordings made by any Business Enterprise Program staff of
>> the May 1, 2011 business meeting of the Elected
>> Operators' Committee as part of the BEP's 42nd annual training workshop.
>> These may be conveyed to me digitally at the e-mail address above or by any other
>> file sharing facility with which you and MCB are
>> comfortable
>> Sincerely,
>> Joe Sontag
>> 
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