Gotham Gazette

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In his first five months in office, Mayor Bill de Blasio has barred media access to 53 events and limited it to 30 more, according to the Associated Press. On some days his entire schedule has been off limits; more than 20 percent of his listed events have been closed to the news media. In response, de Blasio said his office should do more to accommodate the press, but defended limiting media access when there are space constraints or when event hosts make such requests. The administration often releases transcripts of speeches given at private events and does so for virtually all public ones. De Blasio committed to disclosing any "substantive conversation" with a lobbyist, but has yet to implement the voluntary practice, like he did as public advocate.

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