City agencies don't return phone calls. They cannot answer questions without clearing it with city hall. And as Giuliani takes credit for slumping crime rates across the city, reporters and photographers say they are less than welcome where crime does occur. Keeping crime out of the news may help sustain the image of a safer New York. In the face of obstacles, news organizations have scrambled, even sued for information about the doings of the city government.
Baseball metaphors abound.
The only way to deal with it is to play hardball back. Last September, the Daily News sued the administration over non-compliance with New York State's Freedom of Information Law. Although similar reports had been released before, the DOI now refused to do so and, after the Daily News appealed the denial in June 1995, sent heavily redacted material. They withheld names of agencies, officials, details of investigations. On April 23, more than two years after the initial request, a state judge ruled that the administration withheld more information than permissible.