Sarah Welsh
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has restarted its toll-free hotline with a promise to be both a “helping hand” and a “hammer” in its quest to shine light on government.
The hotline — 888.843.9121 – is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Messages left after hours will be returned the following day, according to a news release.
The hotline aims to help people who have been denied access to public records or meetings.
“Ordinary citizens who try to access public information often run up against a wall of legal and administrative jargon,” FOG Executive Director Sarah Welsh said. “Since they can’t afford to hire a lawyer, they might be inclined to just give up. But we can help.”
“Sometimes it’s just a matter of translating the jargon and resolving the issue,” she said. “Sometimes it involves cutting through red tape and getting to the person in charge. And in some instances, calls to our hotline have resulted in lawsuits against secretive government entities.”
The service is free and available to the public.