Tuesday, July 13, 2021

New Public Records Request on Magistrate Hearing of City Council Vice President Knight

10:11 pm 176 views in 131 minutes 

9:51 pm 141 views in 111 minutes

9:42 pm  126 views in 102 minutes 

Sent to police around 9:36 pm

 

Joseph W. Casey, 

Medford Police Dept


Dear custodian of records and/or Lt. Casey:


Under the Massachusetts Public Records Act § 66-10 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records that involve the vice president of the city council, Adam Knight:

1)On or about April 1, 2021 there was an incident involving the council vp and a door at the Bank of America on Mystic Ave.  Rumors are floating that Mr. Knight had a hearing on or about July 12, 2021 at Somerville District Court.   If there was a magistrate hearing, I respectfully request the document showing the hearing and the documents that are the result of the alleged hearing.

2)On or about June 1, 2021 as I was in the front row of the Alden Chambers at Medford City Hall, I and others witnessed the council vice president heckling the Director of Public Health, twice. As citizens are reprimanded, even when doing nothing wrong (council president recently had me move three seats down just to be a bully. I was quiet, of course.) Does the Medford Police Department have any documents from the council president reprimanding Adam Knight for the flagrant violation of council rules?  Is there a police report on an incident of an elected official behaving with very low standards and exposing his famous temper?

3)If the magistrate hearing has been held, may I have the photographs/video discussed in previous public records requests, including one still yet to be determined?

4)If there is an upcoming magistrate hearing, the public is entitled to at least the documents that there is a hearing, may I have them?

5)If possible, any Medford Police Department filing that there is a hearing, not requesting any other documents attached to those documents at this time, unless you are willing to provide them.

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $5.00.  However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of how government works.  As you know I am a film and music critic, my current review of The Black Widow (biggest film since February of 2020) on a number of publications at this time, as well as re-publishing of my past articles on Captain America films (which tie in with the Black Widow, of course) all to say that the public has great interest in what I've asked for in this request and general articles that I write. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.
 
As the Medford Police Department knows, and as ex solicitor Mark E. Rumley has stated "You do this for the public, no one would do this work for themselves"  Paraphrased.  This information is even more valuable that we are 112 days from an election, Nov 2, and the information you hold directly refutes what the council vice president is saying on the campaign trail.  As you also know, that is my argument as to why the photographs/videos and now the magistrate hearing is so vital for democracy in Medford.

The Massachusetts Public Records Act requires a response to this request within 10 days.  If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than this amount of time, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

I respectfully request that you can just send the material on any magistrate hearing, past or future, regarding the council vice president as time is of the essence.
 

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.


Thank you for considering my request.

I prefer e mail rather than the P.O. box.


Sincerely,



Joe Viglione  

P.O. Box 2392

Woburn MA 01888

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