"SHREDDER" OPHOFF REFUSES TO RELEASE GOVERNMENT RECORDS

"Shredder" Daniel Ophoff, the City's document disposal technician who also moonlights as the FOIA officer for the City of Grand Rapids (plus he is -- as pictured to the left -- a member of the River Rats), has sent us notice today that he refuses to release the public records LAW's office manager Mary Hines requested regarding statements the Boardwalk developers made to the City about the value of that property.

In the past Ophoff has destroyed government records to prevent them from being released to the public under the state's Freedom of Information Act.  Now he has resorted to accusing our Ms. Hines of deception and other trickery to obtain documents that she had plainly and openly requested a week ago, as is her right under FOIA.

Ophoff justified his refusal to disclose the documents to Ms. Hines for one reason only:  Her association with me, her boss, your executive director.  It has apparently eluded Ophoff that in doing so he has violated her First Amendment right of freedom of association.  The City government simply cannot deprive someone of his or her FOIA rights because of whom they may associate with.

Apparently Ophoff is concerned that Ms. Hines will share the requested documents with me, which he does not want to happen.  No doubt Ms. Hines will, but then Michigan's FOIA statute does not have anything to say about why a citizen may want records from the government.  Whatever reason Ms. Hines may have, she has the right to see the documents Ophoff is concealing from her.

Fear not, folks, Ms. Hines is appealing Ophoff's despicable decision to the Grand Rapids City Commission.  Ophoff's obstruction of open government will be overcome one way or another.  In the meantime, maybe we need to once again press the issue with the City Commission as to why they tolerate Ophoff and his colleagues in the City Attorney's office flacking for the Boardwalk developers.  Click here to e-mail your commissioners about this.