[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of BEP Location at the State Capitol

Tue Oct 29 21:10:12 UTC 2013

----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of BEP Location at the State Capitol

Well does this mean that you outright fools in BSBP don't know how you spend federal and state taxpayer's monies?

Actually the more I think of it the more I am convinced that RSA should be-fund you and you all should go to the back of the unemployment line too.

I'm sick and tired of the constant "gaslighting" by you and BSBP and LARA.

The damage you and BSBP has done to my psyche is incalcuable.

And for you to do this to a blind man from an agency supposedly to serve the blind, and which wouldn't even exist without the rehab Act funding is ludicrous, insane and crazy making all bundled up inan Orwellian package of "double-speak".

I thought I lived in the United States of America and not some "Fascist" or Soviet style "communist" regime where even the most basic of information is spun and rung out and drawn out and not remitted ever, ever, ever.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
  To: joe harcz Comcast 
  Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Duell, Elsie (LARA) ; Essenberg, Rob (LARA) ; Zanger, Connie (LARA) ; Hull, James (LARA) 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 3:18 PM
  Subject: RE: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of BEP Location at the State Capitol

  October 29, 2013

  Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

  E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

  1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

  Mt. Morris, MI 48458

  Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expansion & Renovation of the BEP Location at the MI State Capitol

  Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

  This email is in response to your October 22, 2013, email requests for information, received by this office on October 23, 2013.  Please be advised that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons is processing these requests under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

  You have requested information as described in your email (also included below) as:

  "I simply wish to know today how much BSBP is spending for the expansion and renovation of the Business Enterprise location in the Michigan State Capitol."

  In order to determine the extent of the research time, the size and number of records of nonexempt information within BSBP responsive to your request, a search must be undertaken.  For this reason, it is necessary to extend the time for response, as permitted by Section 5(2)(d) of the FOIA, through November 12, 2013, for your request.

  If it is determined that there is a cost involved in the processing of this request, you will be sent an email which will include an invoice outlining

  FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

  October 29, 2013

  Page 2 of 2

  that cost (before or no later than November 12, 2013).  This email may either request a deposit (if the cost is over $50.00) or request payment of the total cost if the amount is under $50.00.

  Please note that nothing within the federal American with Disabilities Act (ADA ), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), as amended, or the state's FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.) requires a public body to process FOIA requests free of charge.  Further, while the ADA and Section 504 of the RA may mandate that, upon request, material be produced in an accessible format without charge, neither the ADA or Section 504 of the RA preclude a public body from charging costs under the state's FOIA. Thusly, please note that no labor fee charges have been, or will be, assessed to convert existing, nonexempt public records responsive to your requests into an accessible format to forward to you.

  Sincerely,

  Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

  Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

  Attachment:  Email Request for Information

  cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

            Sue Luzenski

            Mike Pemble

  Katie Belknap

  Rob Essenberg

  Constance Zanger

  James Hull

            Elsie Duell

  From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net]  

  Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 1:25 PM 

  To: Zimmer, Mike (LARA) 

  Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA); BSBPcommissioners; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov 

  Subject: simple question capitol bep renovation

  October 22 to Rodgers Zimmer Simple Question Capitol

  Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

  1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

  Mt. Morris, MI 48458

  joeharcz at comcast.net

  810-516-5262

  To: Ed Rodgers, Director BSBP

  Michael Zimmer, LARA, DSA

  Sirs,

  Could you all answer a very simple question without making a big FOIA stink over it?

  I simply wish to know today how much BSBP is spending for the expansion and renovation of the Business Enterprise location in the Michigan State Capitol.

  I would think the stewards of federal Vocational Rehabilitation funds and their state match should be able to come up with a simple dollar amount for this project.

  All I request is that in a simple e-mail response.

  Sincerely,

  Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

  Cc: NFB MI

  Cc: RSA

  Cc: several

  Carla Miller Haynes

  LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

  201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

  P.O. Box 30652

  Lansing, MI  48909

  Telephone:  517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200

  Fax:  517-335-5140

  www.michigan.gov/bsbp