Politics on the Hudson

The Empire Center for New York State Policy said it will seek a ruling from the state’s highest court after an appellate court today rejected its Freedom of Information request to obtain the names of members of New York City Police Pension Fund.

In a three-sentence ruling today, the Court of Appeals found that the Public Officers Law exempts from public disclosure the names and addresses of retirees of the New York City Police Department receiving pensions.

It cited a 1983 Court of Appeals opinion in which a request for names and addresses of retired city police officers was denied. The Empire Center, a conservative think tank based in Albany, said it wasn’t seeking addresses just the names and pension amounts.

“If allowed to stand, this decision will be a massive blow to open government and transparency in New York,” said Timothy Hoefer, Empire Center director, in a statement. “Given mounting public concern over public pensions, this couldn’t come at a worse time.”

The group keeps a searchable database of public pension recipients and public workers salaries on its website, www.SeeThroughNY.net.