Fort Worth Zoo Daycare

[Taypo]

I filed a complaint with the city manager and attorney early last month and just a few minutes I go I received a call from a reporter at The Dallas Morning news asking for an interview. Come to find out he filed a FOIA request and the City sent him a copy of my full complaint. Not going to contact him back but it is interesting how things make their way around.

The next time anybody questions why more citizens don't step up and report crimes, I want you folks to remember this post. There's absolutely NO justification for a reporter to have your personal information, especially in regards to gun laws.

In fact, if it were me, I'd be on the phone first thing in the morning with the AGs office telling them all about what has happened, and how you as a gun owner and CHL are concerned now that your identity has been compromised. I am not as familiar with TX FOIA laws but in other states where I've lived they would have been required under the state's FOIA law to redact any and all personal identification. I think that you might even be able to make a case for how as a victim you have been compromised -- since they violated your rights in not allowing you to carry, and violated the law in doing so. If you could find out that they should have redacted, could possibly even make an issue out of this being retaliation for turning them in for violating the law. Perhaps Chas. would have a feel for whether or not there might even be an edge of whistle blower protection applicable. At the least I'd start saying all these things in a phone call tomorrow morning.

I don't like throwing accusations, but yeah - this looks retaliatory. I don't know how the typical FOIA works but if identities of complainants are broadcast in the clear, then people need to be aware of that fact.

[rtschl]

I'm going to the Ft. Worth Zoo tomorrow to see if they took down the signs. But I guess I could go tonight since they are now closed and it's the end of the 3rd business day. I also just checked their website and they still have the 30.06/30.07 combo notification listed there.

For the violation notification I gave a rarely used email account and a Google Voice phone number that I created awhile back. I get the notifications and will get any phone calls to it, but it's not my home, cell or work number.

[jamminbutter]

I filed a complaint with the city manager and attorney early last month and just a few minutes I go I received a call from a reporter at The Dallas Morning news asking for an interview. Come to find out he filed a FOIA request and the City sent him a copy of my full complaint. Not going to contact him back but it is interesting how things make their way around.

The next time anybody questions why more citizens don't step up and report crimes, I want you folks to remember this post. There's absolutely NO justification for a reporter to have your personal information, especially in regards to gun laws.

In fact, if it were me, I'd be on the phone first thing in the morning with the AGs office telling them all about what has happened, and how you as a gun owner and CHL are concerned now that your identity has been compromised. I am not as familiar with TX FOIA laws but in other states where I've lived they would have been required under the state's FOIA law to redact any and all personal identification. I think that you might even be able to make a case for how as a victim you have been compromised -- since they violated your rights in not allowing you to carry, and violated the law in doing so. If you could find out that they should have redacted, could possibly even make an issue out of this being retaliation for turning them in for violating the law. Perhaps Chas. would have a feel for whether or not there might even be an edge of whistle blower protection applicable. At the least I'd start saying all these things in a phone call tomorrow morning.

Not only retaliation for the zoo complaint but likely for an FOIA request I made to the COFW attorney a couple of years ago regarding her personal secretary using city email for personal matters (situation not germane to this thread so I won't go into further details).

[AJSully421]

I guess I can expect a call from a Startle Gram reporter soon.

Charles, any advice? I know the Star Telegram is not our friend, anything that we could say that could possibly help our side, or will they just make us look like a nut no matter what we say, and it will be better not to return their calls?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Filing a complaint or notice regarding an unenforceable 30.06 sign/notice is not reporting a crime because it's not a crime. It's a civil violation. Therefore, information contained in the complaint is not treated as is a criminal complaint. I do wonder why personal information was not redacted. If it were me, I'd send an Open Records Request asking for copies of all ORRs received that ask for complaints/notices filed under SB273.

Chas.

[treadlightly]

I"m not a lawyer or an expert, but it's easy to read up. Greg Abbott, as Attorney General, wrote an extensive handbook on open government - https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/fi ... nfo_hb.pdf .

First, as far as I can tell, there is no FOIA in Texas, at least not by that official name. It's actually called the Texas Public Information Act, and for a really nice feeling read the preamble. It's poetry:

Under the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government that adheres to the principle that government is the servant and not the master of the people, it is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy.

It's also one of the few laws that actually applies to the government. Most laws impacting official behavior have no penalties. The PIA makes denying public information a personal crime by the individual State employee.

That said, State officials can be slippery.

As far as getting your information from a complaint you filed, think about making a PIA request for any correspondence relating to a particular event. For instance, I once requested Rick Perry's correspondence, notes, and records regarding the speech he gave in Istanbul to the (cough) Bilderburg group. (The response, by the way, was he often makes off the cuff remarks at impromptu events such as day care visits where there are no records of the event or what he said. Nothing existed in State records regarding his Bilderburg appearance as sitting Governor of Texas. Yeah, right...)

If the State answers you honestly, you'll discover who they were talking to about what. That sword cuts both ways. Send a letter to a State official and you've made a public statement if anyone cares to peek.

At least that's how it appears to me. I don't let it slow me down. "Tread lightly" is a forum handle, not necessarily a way of life.

[rtschl]

I guess I can expect a call from a Startle Gram reporter soon.

Charles, any advice? I know the Star Telegram is not our friend, anything that we could say that could possibly help our side, or will they just make us look like a nut no matter what we say, and it will be better not to return their calls?

AJ, if they contact me, I intend to say I have no comment other than what is already on the record in my written complaint and now my affidavit to the AG if the signs are not down tomorrow.

I decided not to go to the Zoo tonight, since I want to see whether or not they comply with the law after opening their doors on the fourth business day of my notice to the City of Fort Worth.

[AJSully421]

I guess I can expect a call from a Startle Gram reporter soon.

Charles, any advice? I know the Star Telegram is not our friend, anything that we could say that could possibly help our side, or will they just make us look like a nut no matter what we say, and it will be better not to return their calls?

AJ, if they contact me, I intend to say I have no comment other than what is already on the record in my written complaint and now my affidavit to the AG if the signs are not down tomorrow.

I decided not to go to the Zoo tonight, since I want to see whether or not they comply with the law after opening their doors on the fourth business day of my notice to the City of Fort Worth.

I think that is the best thing. Never pass up an opportunity to keep our mouth shut.

I'd bet that those signs are still up tomorrow... and on Thursday when I go by. They think they are a frigging day care center and are exempt from the law.

See my tag line...

[AJSully421]

Just drove by the Zoo... As of 11:30 the sign is still at the entrance.

[jamminbutter]

Filing a complaint or notice regarding an unenforceable 30.06 sign/notice is not reporting a crime because it's not a crime. It's a civil violation. Therefore, information contained in the complaint is not treated as is a criminal complaint. I do wonder why personal information was not redacted. If it were me, I'd send an Open Records Request asking for copies of all ORRs received that ask for complaints/notices filed under SB273.

Chas.

Submitted the following open records request to the COFW:

Records Requested: 1) Records of all open records requests for copies of complaints related to the posting of TPC 30.06 and 30.07 signage at the Fort Worth Zoo. Also requesting documentation as to what complainant contact information was provided to the requester and which contact information was redacted. Exact copies provided to the requester will fulfill this portion of the request. 2) All communications (email, memorandums, recorded phone calls, minutes of face to face meetings, etc...) between any City of Fort Worth staff and the Fort Zoo staff/executives related to the TPC 30.06/30.07 signage. 3) Policy documents regarding the City of Fort Wroth's stance as to the validity of the posted signage at the Zoo.

We shall see. Have a feeling that COFW may not release some records so I will be prepared to escalate it to the AG.

[Abraham]

So, the FWZ is being openly defiant?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Someone needs to see and photograph the signs, serve the 3-day notice, then file the AG complaint. I'll file the complaint, if someone will fill out the affidavit and send it to me with a photo.

Chas.

[rtschl]

I just went to the Fort Worth Zoo as this was the fourth business day from my complaint to the city of Fort Worth. The signs are still up.

I just stopped and faxed my affidavit and documents to the attorney general's office. When I get home in a few minutes I will upload those for Charles.

[rtschl]

So everyone knows, as I said from my last post I have faxed the complaint, affidavit, evidence etc. to the Texas AG and just now uploaded that to TFC for Charles.

I was going to include the contract between the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Zoo, but since it is 35 pages, I just included the Tarrant Appraisal District document showing that the Zoo property is owned by the City of Fort Worth.

Lets see how quickly this plays out. I'll keep everyone apprised if I'm contacted by anyone regarding my complaint and affidavit.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I just went to the Fort Worth Zoo as this was the fourth business day from my complaint to the city of Fort Worth. The signs are still up.

I just stopped and faxed my affidavit and documents to the attorney general's office. When I get home in a few minutes I will upload those for Charles.

Thanks you! Fort Worth Zoo is especially important in view of former Rep. Lon Burnam's lie he told in a hearing in 2013. No elected official should get away with what he did.

Chas.