CJ Griffin Quoted in Asbury Park Press, “Despite District Policy to be Transparent, Lakewood Schools Leader Says She Will Not Keep Public Informed”

CJ Griffin, Partner and Director of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., was recently quoted in an Asbury Park Press article titled, “Despite District Policy to be Transparent, Lakewood Schools Leader Says She Will Not Keep Public Informed.” The article discusses how, despite its own policy mandating it to keep the public and press informed about matters affecting the district, the Lakewood School District has declared in a public meeting that it will not do so. The announcement from the superintendent of schools herself came after weeks of attempts by email and telephone calls to gather information on three key developments in the district affecting tens of millions of dollars in district funding and key programs and policies.

“This is a growing problem. Once upon a time, government officials spoke with reporters, and residents, and answered basic questions or provided basic documents. Now they refuse to talk to anyone and say go file an OPRA request. Then they complain to the Legislature that they get too many OPRA requests, a problem they created. They’re public servants, spending taxpayer money. They need to serve the public and keep them informed,” said CJ Griffin.

To read the full article in the Asbury Park Press, click here.