Syracuse.com - Outdoor writers from across the state criticize DEC gag order

[HuntingNY-News]

"Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration have made a point of highlighting tourism and recreation in the Adirondacks, but their tight control of state worker communications is getting in the way of such promotion," writes one outdoors writer.

"Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration have made a point of highlighting tourism and recreation in the Adirondacks, but their tight control of state worker communications is getting in the way of such promotion," according to a story Saturday in the Adirondack Press Enterprise.

Reporter Mike Lynch interviewed outdoor writers from across the state for this story and I feel it hits the nail right on the head.

The press policy restricts DEC staff from talking to reporters directly. More often than not, all questions and followup questions have to be submitted in writing. DEC commissioner Joe Martens insists it's his policy, but reporters across the state are indicating it's all coming from the governor's office -- and that applies to all state departments.

Recently a DOT worker was forced to resign for stepping out of line in regard to this.

One reporter recently in another story that the governor's office insists on being informed of every single press inquiry submitted, no matter how small or insignificant. And that a daily report has to be submitted to the governor's office of all queries.

Saving taxpayers money isn't the priority, particularly when routine questions have to be submitted in writing and responded to in writing -- but only after going through several sets of eyes and scrubbed up for the best slant possible on the governor and this administration. I wrote about this issue back in January.

I was told recently that my story seeking a response about a carcass that washed up the shore of Oneida Lake took about four hours of the DEC staff's valuable time -- in a situation that could been handled with a 5-minute phone call.

Stay tuned. I will continue to write about this issue.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog