We have obtained a copy of a letter from the Illinois Attorney General which indicates that the City of Urbana is in violation of public records laws. The letter, addressed to Urbana Human Resources Director Todd Edmund Rent, says that Rent improperly withheld records in a recent Freedom of Information Act request. The letter orders Rent to deliver the documents that he was hiding from the public, as required by Illinois State law.
CU-Underground has received numerous similar complaints concerning transparency in Urbana, and at least half of the complaints mention Todd Rent by name. The Illinois Attorney General rarely takes any action regarding public records complaints, so this recent letter serves as a noticeable litmus test to the condition of government in Urbana. With numerous Urbana records requests currently under appeal at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, expectations are that more such revelations of illegal behavior will follow.
Todd Rent is the Human Resources Director for Urbana, and he handles a large portion of the City’s FOIA requests. The nature of the records violations is what makes Todd Rent’s actions particularly pernicious. Rent unilaterally denies nearly all records requests which might expose wrongdoing on behalf of city staff. This appears to stem from Rent’s entrenched interests with Urbana City staff. Rent is operating precisely contrary to the purpose of his position as Human Resources Director. Instead of exposing and correct misconduct by city staff, Rent serves only to cover things up. It seems Urbana needs a new Human Resources Director, someone less interested in serving his friends, and more interested in serving the people.