Attorney General to City Clerk Charlie Smyth: Urbana is Violating Public Records Laws

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 City Clerk Charlie Smyth, says that records were improperly withheld by the Smyth’s office in a recent Freedom of Information Act request. The letter orders Smyth to deliver the documents as required by Illinois State law.

Charlie Smyth spent 16 years on the Urbana City Council from 2001 to 2017. Champaign County voters decided he was unfit to be County Clerk during his 2012 run for the position. Near the end of 2016, Alderman Smyth pushed to have the salary of Urbana City Clerk increased. Then, just months later, Smyth seized the opportunity to steal the Urbana City Clerk chair uncontested. Unfortunately for Urbana citizens, Smyth has established a posture of denial and impropriety when it comes to public records. Reports from citizens indicate constant records denials, with Smyth ignoring virtually all pleas for explanation.

CU-Underground has received numerous similar complaints concerning transparency in Urbana. 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. As Charlie Smyth is the “Lead FOIA Officer” for the City of Urbana, the responsibility falls squarely on his shoulders.

The nature of the records violations appears to stem from Charlie Smyth’s entrenched interests with Urbana City staff. Smyth’s office unilaterally denies nearly all records requests which might expose wrongdoing on behalf of city staff. Smyth is operating his office precisely contrary to the purpose of public records laws. It seems Urbana needs a new City Clerk, someone less interested in serving his friends, and more interested in serving the people.