Chicago City Wire

The city of Chicago is fulfilling Freedom of Information requests by the public as normal - for now.

Last week, the city reportedly began automatically rejecting FOIA requests, citing reductions caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that have stretched the city's ability to deliver services.

Shortly after, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot reversed that course, saying she would follow guidance from the state's attorney general about FOIA, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Chicago is reducing non-essential services and requiring staff to work from home where possible to protect their health and safety—all while working to ensure operational continuity for our critical city services," Lightfoot's administration said, the Chicago Tribune reported. "That said, FOIA remains an important public service, which is why Mayor Lightfoot has directed her administration to ensure that all FOIA requests are reviewed and considered in the coming days, with each response evaluated on a case-by-case basis."

The course reversal coincided with an Illinois attorney general’s opinion to local governments that "public bodies should continue to comply with FOIA and respond to each request promptly, to the extent they are able to, given the limitation on staff and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic."

While FOIA apparently requests are going forward as usual, Lightfoot is eyeing other restrictions on personal liberty in the face of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Lightfoot announced on March 25 she would shut down city parks and the lakefront if people continue to ignore recommended social distancing guidelines and Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order.

"If we see gatherings, we will shut them down, period," Lightfoot said during a news briefing. "Folks, this situation is deadly serious and we have to take it seriously. All of us."