New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Dear Speaker Quinn:
As you know, I recently announced my office’s Open Government NYC website. Open Government NYC aims to bring more transparency to government decision-making processes for a wide range of issues impacting New Yorkers, including providing more access to information about how local government offices spend discretionary funds.
Having proudly served on the City Council, I understand that discretionary funding supports many community-based organizations that provide vital services for New Yorkers. I believe that the future of these funds depends on the government’s ability to show its commitment to providing an open, public process about how these funding decisions are made. Specifically, my office’s website will enable users to search information regarding requests for funding and the funding allocations that are ultimately made by all New York City elected officials including the Mayor, Borough Presidents, and the City Council.
I am writing to request that your office participate in Open Government NYC by providing applications for expense funding by all members of the City Council by Friday, April 30, 2010. My office would data-enter information from these complete and notarized Organization Qualification forms for the FY 2011 budget. Open Government NYC builds on important reforms that the Council and others have made in the discretionary funding process, and it will be critical tool in giving New Yorkers a window into how their government works.
I appreciate your consideration of my request and I will make myself available to discuss this proposal in greater detail at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Bill de Blasio
Public Advocate for the City of New York
