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You don't want to hear what follows, but you need to know it:
Most State agencies learned about the FOIA years ago. When a State person receives a FOIA request, unless it involves a very sensitive matter, he/she asks the Fundamental Question:
What is the easiest way I can provide the information to this requesting person so I can get back to doing my job?
After a while this gets to be second nature: They will call you up, find out what you want, and get it to you.
Unfortunately, there is a reservoir of City officials who don't know and/or don't care about the Act. These folks are not dumb (for the most part), and they know the First Law of Richmond City Government:
If you ignore the citizen long enough and hard enough, he will go away and leave you alone.
Sooner or later, probably sooner, one of them will do this to you. When it happens, you will be in the unpleasant position where you must
- Forget about your request
- Sue the City
- Figure out a way around the problem
You will be better off to plan for the way around from the start. The best one I know is John Rupp, the City Attorney.
The City Attorney and his Assistants understand the Act. They try hard to get their clients to obey the laws, including the Act. In a curious way, they are on your side in this, even though they represent the City.
So be sure to copy the City Attorney on your request. If you know that one of the Assistants is involved with the area of your request, copy him or her. If you already have had trouble and are refining a request, send your new request through the lawyer.