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Bureaucratic blockade: SLDC charges steep fines to show public records, concealing conflicts of interest


Published on 2024-11-29 20:30:31 - Brian Stokes, N@N
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  • In a stark display of governmental opacity, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has systematically obstructed media efforts to access routine conflict of interest documents, directly contradicting its chairman's repeated public pledges of transparency.

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has been criticized for charging high fees to access public records, which has led to accusations of concealing conflicts of interest. According to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, SLDC has charged fees as high as $1,000 for documents that should be freely available under Missouri's Sunshine Law. These fees have been used to obscure dealings, particularly those involving the city's economic development projects. Critics argue that this practice not only limits transparency but also potentially hides conflicts of interest among city officials and developers. The issue came to light after requests for information on projects like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's new facility were met with steep charges, prompting concerns about accountability and the public's right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.

Read the Full KSDK Article at:
[ https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/sldc-charges-steep-fines-to-show-public-records-concealing-conflicts-of-interest/63-1117d4bd-dc45-4b5c-a784-d2fa1dfd97e6 ]
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