creates frenzy among work force
By DEBORAH A. MILES
It’s a gray area, indeed. On one hand, New Yorkers want more government transparency. On the other, many taxpayers who are also state workers are up in arms over the public posting of 263,000 salaries of state employees saying it violates their privacy.
The Web site run by the Empire Center of the Manhattan Institute put up the state’s payroll information July 31, resulting in thousands of visitors to the SeeThroughNY site.
There is also a link to public employees’ salaries on the Albany Times Union Web site. And since it’s been out there, PEF has been flooded with calls by members who want their names and salaries removed from the list.
“Unfortunately, state employees’ payroll information is a matter of public record,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
The payroll information was provided to the Empire Center through the Office of the state Comptroller as a result of a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.
Under FOIL, as a general matter, all records of a state agency are available, unless a certain exception applies. One exception is under the Public Officers Law where disclosure would result in an “unwarranted invasion of privacy.” However, salaries and work locations of state employees have been found by the courts to be available to the public.
“The disclosure of this information and the ease of access to the information has ramifications regarding the personal safety of the individuals in the database,” Brynien said. “At least one instance was brought to our attention where a co-worker of a member was living in a shelter for battered women and her estranged husband was able to identify her work location through the Web site and is now stalking her at her work site.
“We continue to explore options regarding this and if our members have a legitimate concern regarding this invasion of their personal privacy.”
Members can explain their concerns to the Empire Center by calling (518) 434-3100 or the Manhattan Institute at (212) 599-7000.
