Ore. mayor's office tries to charge $1.5 million to pull records

When KATU in Portland, Ore., initially asked for Mayor Sam Adams' phone, calendar and e-mail records, the mayor said other media outlets had requested them so "they're around already." Soon after, KATU received estimates of more than $1.5 million to receive the public records. ("According to the Office of Management and Finance, it would take a single employee 10 years to get the records.") A new estimate of $194.03 was later provided, but KATU has yet to get the records.

In Oregon, public records are open to everyone and in many cases are free.

So when KATU received a quote of $1.5 million from the city to pull public records from Mayor Sam Adams' office, you can imagine the sticker shock.

It all started weeks ago when the mayor issued a public apology over the scandal involving his relationship with a young intern. During the press conference, KATU requested Adams' phone, calendar and e-mail records from the spring of 2005, when the then city commissioner was developing a relationship with 17-year-old Beau Breedlove.

More here.