We shared a few examples of folks who took to ratting out their neighbors—residents outing businesses or individuals for failing to follow this or that protocol adequately. Then there are these people who had didn’t realize that their communications were public records.
Related: NH EC Candidate Mindi Messmer is trying to be the “Mask Police.”
Under Missouri’s Sunshine Law, members of the public can access records and meetings. Jared Totsch decided to file a Sunshine Law request. When he received the information, he shared the information on Facebook.
“Here ya go. The gallery of snitches, busybodies, and employees who rat out their own neighbors and employers over the Panic-demic,” the Facebook post stated.
It looks like there was some fine print at the bottom of the online form.
“I have been advised that this form and any other communication may be considered an open record pursuant to the Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. St. Louis County may be required to release this form as well as other communications as a matter of law upon request by any member of the public, including the media.”
Some 900 complaints had to be released upon request, unredacted, per state law.
According to the report, 29 businesses were cited for violations based on the snitch form. That list probably includes some employees of those businesses. Awkward.
And you have to think there’s probably a few folks who are less than happy with their neighbors about now.
Not, “you should expect to shanked by the rose bushes,” unhappy, but nothing sets the burb or the building on edge like a known snitch.
| AoSHQ
