Chicago FOI requests go online

CHICAGO, May 13 (UPI) -- Anyone filing Freedom of Information Act requests with the city of Chicago will now find their names on the city's Web site, Mayor Richard Daley said Thursday.

The mayor says he's just trying to be totally transparent, not get back at nosy news reporters, who now may find competitors privy to what story leads they are investigating.

Along with the filer's name and organization, the city Web site will show what documents are being sought, the date they were requested and when they are due to be released, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

While a new state law says city departments must keep a log of FOI requests, it doesn't mandate posting it on the Internet.

Daley said he's going "above and beyond what's required" to facilitate "transparency, openness and the free-flow of information."

"If you want transparency in government, you have to have this," he said. "I'm sorry. This has nothing to do with [getting even with] the Sun-Times, Tribune, media or anything. This is what you want."