Kim Janey Strengthens Boston Public Archives Department Amid Criticism

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Acting mayor Kim Janey says she is strengthening the city’s public archives service, a move that comes after a trial by the attorney general and criticism from councilors over the city’s frequent disregard for registration applications .

Janey’s administration said in a statement that the city is adding two positions and filling one vacant.

“Too often it takes too long to review and respond to requests for public records,” Janey said.

That’s certainly true, as the city has consistently dragged its feet on requests for public recordings from the Herald and other outlets this year, blatantly ignoring state rules for requesting records.

“This investment in public archives staff will help the City’s responsibility to respond to requests more quickly,” Janey said in the release.

The city insists it responded to more than 80% of the more than 3,000 requests for public records that arrived during this calendar year.

It comes a week after City Councilor Kenzie Bok accused the administration of thwarting our democratic accountability and transparency mechanisms by withholding public records in the face of demands. She filed a legally binding request for council records regarding the city’s ability to handle incoming inquiries.

She cited twin Boston Globe and Attorney General Maura Healey lawsuits against the city over various unanswered claims. Earlier this summer, a federal judge lit up the city’s school district for withholding some damaging text messages from various registration applications.

The Herald has several outstanding requests for which the city is blatantly breaking the law by not responding for several months.

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