The Texas Open Records Act is meant to keep government open to the eyes of the citizens.
Republicans in the state legislature and the attorney general’s office have done everything they can to keep that from happening. If they could shut it down by dancin’ buttbuck naked around the Alamo, they’d do it.
Enter the City of San Antonio. There have been some very odd police officer and firefighter suspensions in San Antonio, so the local newspaper got curious. They filed an open records request with the city.
The requested information includes all emails sent or received by SAPD employees that mentioned suspensions of officers or coverage of those suspensions by the Express-News and mySA.com in 2015.
A governmental agency is allowed to charge “an amount that reasonably includes all costs for producing” public records, but must provide an itemized cost estimate if it exceeds $40.
The police department responded with a cost of $81,333 because their email system does not allow for searches. That means that all emails from all employees have to be transferred to another computer and then go through a hand search.
Yes, just like in 1980. Honey, if your email system is older than Y2K, it might be time for an upgrade.
Now see, there’s also the mathematical fact that $81,333 translates to 10,166 eight-hour days, which is a damn long time, even in dog years.
You know what? I don’t believe it. I think it’s hogwash. I hope the newspaper sues and makes some geek take the stand and explain why there’s no search function on their email program. Even if there isn’t one, I’ll bet you that’s on purpose, too.
Thanks to Lizbeth for the heads up.