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State Department of Corrections officials don’t give a damn about what Virginians – that’s you and me – want to learn about a man who’s charged in a second case of child abuse. This time, a 2-year-old girl died after suffering horrific burns in Norfolk. The department routinely withholds records about probationers like 33-year-old John Tucker Hardee Sr. And oh, what a craven stance that is. Let me be clear: My point isn’t that probation officers necessarily did anything wrong in keeping tabs on the guy. It’s simply that citizens have too little to evaluate whether officials did everything right. Which suits the department just fine. As I’ve said before, the hurdles to getting information arise due to Virginia’s utterly feckless provisions on public transparency. The state’s Freedom of Information Act has way too many exemptions. Public agencies often can choose to release more than what they’re required to do, of course. Yet they nearly always withhold information when given the option. In fact, let’s just rename our state’s FOIA to what it’s actually become: The Freedom to Conceal Act.
Roger Chesley, The Virginian-Pilot
When the campaign to switch to an elected school board was mounted, “transparency” and “connection” between city residents and public school policies and practices were the main themes stressed by those in favor of electing members. But the low turnout of May 1 does not demonstrate any greater desire for connection. Another interpretation is, of course, that Norfolk residents are so pleased with our public schools that they saw no need to differentiate between different candidates. Did the 2014 move to a more direct democracy model improve the quality of public education?
Jim Oliver, The Virginian-Pilot
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