2026-02-10T15:10:30-06:00 2025-09-30 141442607 BST & CO CPAS LLP 10 BRITISH AMERICAN BLVD LATHAM NY 12110 990 2024-10-01 813942898 GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER INC GOVE 5184343125 PO BOX 7113 ALBANY NY 12224 ZILVINAS SILENAS PRESIDENT 5184343125 2026-02-09 1 0 NICHOLAS MURABITO P02354743 5184596700 2026-02-09 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z CAMERON J MACDONALD PO BOX 7113 ALBANY NY 12224 101021 0 X GOVJUSTICE.ORG X 2016 NY TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM GOVERNMENT WASTE, NEGLIGENCE, MISAPPROPRIATION, AND OTHER IMPROPER ACTIONS. 4 4 0 4 0 0 82174 94493 0 0 0 0 0 6528 82174 101021 0 0 0 0 65000 70000 0 0 241 19973 11015 84973 81015 -2799 20006 267 19658 5727 5112 -5460 14546 TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM GOVERNMENT WASTE, NEGLIGENCE, MISAPPROPRIATION, AND OTHER IMPROPER ACTIONS. 0 0 78227 LEGAL SERVICES THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER, INC. PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE SEEKING TO ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RULE OF LAW AND PROMOTE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CASES LITIGATED AND THE RATIONALE FOR THE DETERMINATION THAT THE LITIGATION BENEFITS THE PUBLIC GENERALLY. 78227 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 NY X CAMERON J MACDONALD 5184343125 PO BOX 7113 ALBANY NY 12224 JULIE KILLIAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PETER HEIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANITA MACDOUGALL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LUKE JACOBS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK WALSH SECRETARY 5.00 X X 0 69142 17996 CAMERON J MACDONALD TREASURER 30.00 X X 0 115350 3460 ZILVINAS SILENAS PRESIDENT 5.00 X X 0 62071 15240 TIMOTHY P HOEFER FORMER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 33933 1018 0 280496 37714 0 1 0 0 0 94493 94493 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 900099 6528 6528 6528 101021 0 0 6528 70000 70000 2400 2400 619 619 768 576 77 115 210 210 223 223 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND PUBLI 5802 5802 FEES 993 797 70 126 81015 78227 2547 241 267 19658 267 19658 5727 5112 5727 5112 X -5460 14546 -5460 14546 267 19658 20006 0 X 0 1 X 0 0 X 186217 169534 240411 82174 94493 772829 186217 169534 240411 82174 94493 772829 772829 6528 6528 779357 22500 0.99160 1.00000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X PART X, LINE 2: GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (CODE) AND ARE EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS PUBLICLY SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS UNDER SECTION 509(A) OF THE CODE. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILE FORM 990 ANNUALLY WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TIMOTHY P HOEFER FORMER DIRECTOR 0 31600 0 2333 0 0 0 1018 0 0 0 34951 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS WHO REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C NEW BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVALUATED FOR ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND IF IDENTIFIED, ANY INTERESTED PARTIES RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM DELIBERATION OF SUCH RELATIONSHIPS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (PART 1 OF 2): THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER DETERMINES WHICH CASES TO ACCEPT BASED ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED AND THE IMPACT FOR THE LITIGANT AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND NOT BASED ON ANY EXPECTATION OF FINANCIAL AWARD OR BENEFIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER. IN ADDITION TO LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST PUBLIC BODIES, GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER SUBMITS PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS TO UNCOVER GOVERNMENT MISAPPROPRIATION, FRAUD, AND ABUSE. IT ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION TO TAXPAYERS REGARDING TRANSPARENCY RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND OPEN MEETINGS UNDER STATE LAWS. KATHERINE C. SULLIVAN ET AL V. NEW YORK STATE JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS ET AL GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER SUED TO STOP THE STATE'S ABUSE OF POLITICAL POWER THROUGH ITS JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS (JCOPE), WHICH IS TASKED WITH REGULATING LOBBYING IN NEW YORK. JCOPE INVESTIGATED KAT SULLIVAN, A RAPE SURVIVOR WHO WAS PUSHING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE CHILD VICTIMS ACT, FOR WHAT JCOPE DEEMED "UNREGISTERED LOBBYING" IN SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION. GIVEN THIS CLEAR ATTEMPT TO CHILL SULLIVAN'S RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER STEPPED IN AND FILED A CASE ON HER BEHALF. JCOPE EVENTUALLY DROPPED ITS INVESTIGATION INTO SULLIVAN THANKS TO GJC'S BACKING. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER IS CONTINUING TO PURSUE MS. SULLIVAN'S FIRST AMENDMENT CHALLENGE TO NEW YORK'S LOBBYING ACT ON APPEAL. THE LOBBYING ACT IS OVERBROAD AND VAGUE ON ITS FACE AND IT IS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED TO ADDRESS A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST. THE STATE DEEMED MS. SULLIVAN'S ACTIVITIES GRASSROOTS LOBBYING, BUT THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO INVOLVED FOR THE STATE TO HAVE ANY INTEREST. THE CASE REPRESENTS AN ABUSE OF POWER BY THE STATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER IS WORKING TO STOP. ELIZABETH CELLA ET AL V. SUFFOLK COUNTY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, LONG ISLAND'S SUFFOLK COUNTY AVOIDED RAISING GENERAL FUND TAXES BY IMPOSING NEW OR INCREASED FEES ON CERTAIN RESIDENTS. T HE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILED A LAWSUIT IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO PUT AN END TO THE ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF RAISING GENERAL REVENUE THROUGH SUCH FEES. SUFFOLK COUNTY SKIRTED THE LAW BY INCREASING FEES FAR BEYOND THEIR LEGAL LIMIT. UNDER STATE LAW, FEES CHARGED MUST NOT EXCEED THE COST OF SERVICE. EXCESS FEES USED FOR GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES ARE UNAUTHORIZED TAXES. WORSE, THESE FEES UNFAIRLY TARGET A SUBSET OF THE POPULATIONNEW HOMEBUYERS, FOR EXAMPLETO RAISE REVENUE FOR EVERYONE. THE MOST EGREGIOUS CATEGORY IS FEES FOR FILING REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS. THE TAX MAP VERIFICATION FEES IN QUESTION WERE PROJECTED TO BRING IN $65 MILLION IN 2017FROM AN AGENCY THAT COSTS JUST OVER $1 MILLION PER YEAR TO RUN. THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER EXISTS TO STAND UP FOR TAXPAYERS AND ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT PLAYS BY THE RULES. QUEENSRAIL CORPORATION V. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER SUED ON BEHALF OF QUEENSRAIL CORPORATION, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR REACTIVATING THE FORMER LONG ISLAND RAILROAD ROCKAWAY BEACH BRANCH THAT HAS BEEN IDLE IN NEW YORK CITY SINCE 1962. IT HAS DEVELOPED AND PROPOSED A PLAN FOR "QUEENSLINK" A DUAL RAIL AND PARK PROJECT TO PROVIDE A NEW NORTH-SOUTH TRANSIT LINK IN QUEENS FOR BOTH RAIL AND TRAIL USE. THE QUEENSLINK CORRIDOR CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN IMPROVING MOVEMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND EFFICIENCY OF TRAVEL WITHIN QUEENS, BY PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED INTEGRATION OF QUEENS COMMUNITIES, BY CONNECTING THE EXISTING EAST-WEST SUBWAY AND COMMUTER RAIL LINES TO PROVIDE ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY. IN 2018, A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (MTA) CONSULTANT PROVIDED AN ASSESSMENT, AT A SKETCH PLANNING LEVEL, OF THE PHYSICAL ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY AND ORDER-OF-MAGNITUDE COSTS OF REACTIVATING THE ROCKAWAY BEACH BRANCH FOR SUBWAY OR COMMUTER RAIL USE BETWEEN QUEENS AND MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. THE CONSULTANT ESTIMATED THE COST TO REACTIVATE THE ROCKAWAY BEACH BRANCH AS A SUBWAY LINE TO BE $8.1 BILLION. QUEENSRAIL CONTENDS THAT THE COST SHOULD BE CLOSER TO $3.4 TO $3.7 BILLION. QUEENSRAIL SUBMITTED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW REQUEST FOR THE CONSULTANT'S RECORDS TO SUPPORT THE HIGHER COST. MTA REFUSED TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN RECORDS AS NOT BELONGING TO MTA AND BEING THE CONSULTANT'S WORK PRODUCT EXCEPTED FROM DISCLOSURE. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER SUED ON BEHALF QUEENSRAIL BECAUSE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECORDS OUT OF THE PUBLIC'S REACH BY OUTSOURCING ITS WORK TO CONSULTANTS AND THE PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO KNOW THE DATA USED TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATION OR DETERMINATION ON A PUBLIC MATTER. THIS LAWSUIT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER'S MISSION TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY MAKING THE FACTS UNDERLYING DECISION-MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND NOT HIDDEN IN A CONSULTANT'S WORK PRODUCT. SIMON V. KINSELLA ET AL V. LONG ISLAND POWER AUTHORITY ET AL THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILED A COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF LONG ISLAND RATEPAYERS AGAINST THE LONG ISLAND POWER AUTHORITY AND SOUTH FORK WIND, FORMALLY KNOWN AS DEEPWATER WIND SOUTH FORK, FOR VIOLATING NEW YORK STATE'S PROCUREMENT LAWS. SPECIFICALLY, SOUTH FORK WIND DID NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THE SOUTH FORK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. SOUTH FORK WIND'S PROPOSED PROJECT FOR OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES WOULD COST THE LONG ISLAND POWER AUTHORITY (LIPA) CUSTOMERS AN ESTIMATED $1.6 BILLION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY OVER 20 YEARS, AT A SUBSTANTIAL PREMIUM PER KILOWATT HOUR TO OTHER POWER SOURCES AT THE TIME. LIPA REQUESTED PROPOSALS FOR LOCAL RESOURCES TO MEET PEAK ELECTRICAL DEMAND DURING SUMMER AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS WHEN RESIDENTIAL AIR CONDITIONING USE DRIVES ELECTRICITY DEMAND ON LONG ISLAND'S SOUTH FORK. ANY POWER PRODUCTION RESOURCE NEEDED TO BE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AND COULD NOT REQUIRE NEW TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. LIPA, HOWEVER, SIGNED A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH FORK WIND FOR AN OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT THAT WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO LIPA'S RFP. NOT ONLY IS THE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT NOT A LOCAL RESOURCEIT IS LOCATED 30 MILES OFF LONG ISLAND, BUT IT CAN PROVIDE POWER ONLY INTERMITTENTLY (ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS) AND REQUIRES A NEW 60-MILE-LONG ONSHORE/OFFSHORE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER SUED TO STOP LIPA'S WASTE AND ABUSE THAT WILL HURT ALL ITS CUSTOMERS ON LONG ISLAND WITH HIGHER ENERGY COSTS. EMPIRE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY ET AL V. LETITIA JAMES THE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILED A PETITION TO COMPEL THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DESTROY IRS FORM 990 DONOR SCHEDULES FILED WITH ITS CHARITIES BUREAU AND TO COMPEL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STOP COLLECTING REDACTED VERSIONS OF THE SCHEDULES. UNDER NEW YORK LAW, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING IN THE STATE MUST REGISTER AND FILE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS WITH THE CHARITIES BUREAU. FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REQUIRED REGISTERED ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBMIT COPIES OF THEIR COMPLETE IRS FORM 990S WITH SCHEDULES AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS. THOSE FORM 990 SCHEDULES INCLUDE SCHEDULE BS, WHICH GENERALLY CONTAIN DONOR NAMES AND ADDRESSES AS WELL AS DONATION AMOUNTS FOR DONORS CONTRIBUTING $5,000 OR MORE IN AGGREGATE. IN AFP V. BONTA, DECIDED ON JULY 1, 2021, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT CONCLUDED THAT THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REQUIREMENT THAT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS FILE THEIR IRS 990 SCHEDULE B IMPOSED "A WIDESPREAD BURDEN ON DONORS' ASSOCIATIONAL RIGHTS." THE COURT CONCLUDED THAT CALIFORNIA'S REQUIREMENT WAS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED TO ACHIEVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INTEREST IN INVESTIGATING FRAUD. THE COURT ALSO CONCLUDED THAT CALIFORNIA'S INTEREST IN ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE WAS NOT COMPELLING ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THE BURDEN ITS REQUIREMENT PLACED UPON DONORS' ASSOCIATIONAL RIGHTS. THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT "UP-FRONT COLLECTION OF SCHEDULE BS IS FACIALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL." THE SUPREME COURT NOTED THAT NEW YORK WAS ONE OF THREE STATES OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA THAT COLLECTED SCHEDULE BS UP-FRONT. THE CHARITIES BUREAU PURPORTED TO STOP COLLECTING SCHEDULE BS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN AFP V. BONTA. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FORMALLY AMENDED THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE MARCH 16, 2022. THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE DOES NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SECURITY OVER THE SCHEDULE BS THAT IT MAY STILL POSSESS. IN AUGUST 2022, AN UNREDACTED SCHEDULE B WITH A NEW YORK CHARITIES BUREAU STAMP WAS PUBLISHED IN A POLITICO NEWS MAGAZINE STORY, REVEALING CONFIDENTIAL DONOR INFORMATION FOR NIKKI HALEY'S NONPROFIT POLICY ADVOCACY GROUP, STAND FOR AMERICA, INC. THE LAWSUIT IS CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER'S MISSION TO ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RULE OF LAW AT THE STATE LEVEL. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (PART 2 OF 2): WONG, ET AL., V. NEW YORK CITY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, ET AL. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF IN LITIGATION BROUGH BY PLAINTIFFS WITH AN INTEREST IN ENSURING PENSION FUNDS ARE MANAGED TO MAXIMIZE THEIR RETURNS AND MINIMIZE THE BURDENS ON MUNICIPAL AND STATE BUDGETS AND, ULTIMATELY, THE TAXPAYERS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN NEW YORK. THE BRIEF FURTHERED GJC'S WORK BECAUSE OUR SOCIETY WORKS BEST WHEN EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO LIVE AND WORK UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, INCLUDING THE DEFENDANTS WHO ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CHOSEN POLICY PREFERENCES OVER MAXIMIZING THE RETURNS OF THE FUNDS THEY OVERSEE. PLAINTIFFS SUFFERED INJURIES-IN-FACT FROM THE PENSION TRUSTEES FAILING TO PERFORM THEIR MANDATORY DUTIES OF LOYALTY AND CARE AND TO ACT WITH A SINGULAR PURPOSE TO MAXIMIZE RETURNS FOR THE PLANS THEY ADMINISTER. GJC ARGUED AGAINST NEW YORK STATE COURTS INJECTING FEDERAL STANDING RULES THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH NEW YORK'S STANDING PRINCIPLES. ANY DOUBT ABOUT PLAINTIFFS' STANDING, THE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS OF NEW YORK STANDING LAW, BASED UPON HISTORICAL AND EXISTING PRECEDENT, WEIGH IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFFS AND AGAINST DISMISSING THE ACTION TO INSULATE THE GOVERNMENT FROM SCRUTINY. GLEN OAKS VILLAGE OWNERS, INC., ET AL., V. CITY OF NEW YORK, ET AL. GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER REPRESENTED AMICUS WHO FILED A BRIEF IN LITIGATION CHALLENGING A NEW YORK CITY LOCAL LAW PLACING EMISSIONS RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN LARGE BUILDINGS IN THE CITY. AMICI PRESENTED INFORMATION AT THE HEART OF THE IRRECONCILABILITY OF THE STATE'S CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT (CLIMATE ACT) AND NEW YORK CITY'S CLIMATE MOBILIZATION ACT (LOCAL LAW 97). THE IRRECONCILABILITY DEMONSTRATES THAT THE STATE CLIMATE ACT PREEMPTS THE FIELD. SIMULTANEOUS MANDATES IN LOCAL LAW 97 AND THE CLIMATE ACT CREATED THE CONFLICT BECAUSE LOCAL LAW 97 MANDATES THAT LARGE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK CITY CONVERT TO ELECTRIC HEAT BY 2030. BUT THE CLIMATE ACT REQUIRES 70 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S ELECTRICITY COME FROM "RENEWABLES," ALSO BY 2030. THE STATE'S MANDATE REQUIRES REPLACING ALWAYS-AVAILABLE FOSSIL FUEL ELECTRICAL GENERATION CAPACITY WITH INTERMITTENT WIND AND SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION. AND THE CLIMATE ACT, AND A "SCOPING PLAN" DEVELOPED UNDER IT, CONTAIN NO CREDIBLE PLAN TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT RELIABLE ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO HEAT ALL LARGE NEW YORK CITY BUILDINGS, AS LOCAL LAW 97 MANDATES. EMPIRE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY V. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER FILED TWO LAWSUITS AGAINST THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH WAS UNNECESSARILY DELAYING DISCLOSING RECORDS EMPIRE CENTER REQUESTED UNDER THE STATE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW. THE LAWSUITS WERE CONSISTENT WITH GJC'S MISSION TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE CASES ADDRESSED A COMMON ISSUE IN NEW YORK WHERE STATE AGENCIES WILL DELAY TO THE POINT WHERE PUBLIC RECORDS ARE NO LONGER USEFUL OR TIMELY FOR FOIL REQUESTERS. AGENCIES CAN DO SO KNOWING THAT RECOURSE FOR FOIL REQUESTERS IS ONLY THROUGH THE COURTS, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE FOR AVERAGE NEW YORKERS. GJC EXISTS IN PART TO STOP BAD ACTS BY GOVERNMENTS AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE COURTS FOR THOSE WHO MAY CHOOSE NOT TO PURSUE THEIR REMEDIES BASED ON EXPENSE. NON-LITIGATION RESULTS GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER GETS RESULTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITHOUT FILING LAWSUITS. FOR EXAMPLE, GJC ADVOCATED FOR A DISTRICT TAXPAYER WHO NOTED THAT HER SCHOOL BOARD WAS NOT PROVIDING RECORDS TO BE DISCUSSED AT MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS CONSISTENT WITH NEW YORK'S OPEN MEETINGS LAW. AFTER GJC INTERVENED WITH A WRITTEN LETTER, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGED ITS POLICY. STATEMENTS MADE BY THE TAXPAYER IN PUBLIC COMMENTS DID NOT HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS A LETTER FROM GJC. THIS CASE SHOWS THE VALUE OF HAVING A PRO BONO PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER DEDICATED TO PROMOTING GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PUBLIC'S CORNER WHEN JUST A CREDIBLE THREAT OF FUTURE LITIGATION CAN OBTAIN RESULTS. EMPIRE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY INC PO BOX 7113 ALBANY NY 12224 461987418 PROMOTING PUBLIC POLICY NY 501(C)(3) LINE 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 EMPIRE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY INC O 70000 CASH