FOIA Request to Town of Cicero regarding expense reimbursement records on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Town of Cicero by West Cook News, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request, sent on February 1, 2026, seeks access to the town’s expense reimbursement records for the immediately preceding calendar month.
The specific information requested includes the name and title of individuals reimbursed, dates and amounts of reimbursements, descriptions of the expenses reimbursed, and the associated department or office. The request emphasizes that it seeks existing records only and does not require the creation of new documents.
West Cook News has expressed its intention to use this information for public interest reporting. They have also requested a fee waiver as they are a member of the media involved in gathering and disseminating news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency.
In case any part of this request is denied or withheld, West Cook News has asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records. The organization prefers receiving these records in electronic format if available.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
