WHO IS THIS EMPLOYEE OF THE NORFOLK CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE / THIS MAN REFUSED TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHO HE WAS

VIRGINIA NEWS SOURCE™ went to the Norfolk City attorney’s office and presented a written request for ready access to public records under the civil right(s) given to VNS™ in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA);

VA Code § 2.2-3704. Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc

A. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all public records shall be open to citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth during the regular office hours of the custodian;
[“Custodian” means the public official in charge of an office having public records. (VA. CODE § 42.1-77) *],
of such records. Access to such records shall be provided by the custodian in accordance with this chapter by inspection or by providing copies of the requested records, at the option of the requester;

§VA Code 2.2-3700.B. By enacting this chapter, the General Assembly ensures the people of the Commonwealth ready access to public records in the custody of a public body or its officers and employees, and free entry to meetings of public bodies wherein the business of the people is being conducted. The affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government. Unless a public body or its officers or employees specifically elect to exercise an exemption provided by this chapter or any other statute, every meeting shall be open to the public and all public records shall be available for inspection and copying upon request. All public records and meetings shall be presumed open, unless an exemption is properly invoked.

The individual pictured came from the back of the office to the office’s front counter and asked what the VNS™ FOIA team wanted. The team presented their press identifications and explained that they were there for ready access to the documents set out in the written requests we handed to him.

His response was, “good luck with that”. The team tried asking several more times for ready access to the records, with each request being denied. The mystery man then told the team they needed to leave. At this point THE MYSTERY MAN was asked what his name was and he refused to identify himself, and told the team they were trespassing and he was going to have the team removed.

Now, several months and follow up requests later for the records there is still no response that is code compliant. Accordingly VNS™ has filed a petition for a Writ of Mandamus with the Norfolk Circuit Court to compel the City Attorney’s to comply with the Virginia Freedom of Information act and the Virginia Public Records Act.

As a part of this action we need to identify this individual in order to serve him a subpoena duces tecum to compel him to be a witness before the court and bring the documents listed in the Writ of Mandamus.

If you know who the mystery man is please share that information us VNS™;

Luke Reed VNS™ Reporter on Government Efficiency
757-739-7114
MANAGEMENT@PLBRC.COM