The New York Coalition for Open Government helps New Yorkers use the Freedom of Information Law and the Open Meetings Law, and advocates for stronger transparency legislation at both the state and local levels.
Plain-language guides for getting records and getting into meetings, written for citizens, not lawyers.
How to request documents from any state or local agency, what they must give you, and what to do when they stall.
Your right to attend public meetings, speak, and see documents before boards vote. And how to push back on closed doors.
Real questions from New Yorkers, answered. Executive sessions, minutes, deadlines, denials, and more.
Our members are citizens, journalists, attorneys, and former officials from every corner of the state, seen here during Sunshine Week in Albany.
You do not need a law degree to hold government accountable. You just need to show up.
We educate citizens and push legislators to pass bills that make open government work better.
Track FOIL requests statewide
State agencies do not track their own response times. We are backing a bill to change that.
A right to speak at public meetings
New York does not guarantee public comment. Our Silence is Not Golden reports make the case.
Livestream every public meeting
If a board meets in public, the public should be able to watch from anywhere.
bills we backed passed the Assembly and Senate
written into law
research reports on government transparency
times in the news statewide
