Oftentimes, individual gatherings disappear into the larger totals.
Even when reimbursement mechanisms exist, such as NYPD paid detail arrangements for private sites, federal funding for major security operations, or other government-to-government reimbursements tied to large events, the public record rarely shows a clear, event-by-event breakdown of who paid what.
Additionally, I filed an open records request with the NYPD, seeking documents that would show how staffing decisions are made, when overtime qualifies for reimbursement, how those reimbursements are tracked, and whether officials had prepared any overtime estimates for the July 2 through July 4 period around Madison Square Garden.
Quick Journalism Lesson: What FOIL Is
FOIL, the Freedom of Information Law, is New York State’s public records law.
It gives anyone the right to request records from state and city agencies, including emails, reports, contracts, staffing plans, invoices, and other documents created or maintained in the course of government work.