N.Y. Public Officers Law § 100: Legislative declaration

§ 100. Legislative declaration. It is essential to the maintenance of

a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open

and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of

and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and

listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of

public policy. The people must be able to remain informed if they are to

retain control over those who are their public servants. It is the only

climate under which the commonweal will prosper and enable the

governmental process to operate for the benefit of those who created it.