Arlington Heights, IL – On April 22, 2025, I received a letter from the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Bureau, authored by Caleb L. Briscoe, Assistant Attorney General, supporting the Village of Arlington Heights’ decision to classify AH Town Square as a “recurrent requester” under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This designation significantly alters how our public records requests are handled, extending response deadlines from five business days to as many as 21.
I respectfully but firmly disagree with this decision, not only for how it impacts our ability to report in a timely manner, but because of what it signals about how independent and emerging news organizations are treated under current interpretations of transparency law.
What Prompted the Designation
The classification stems from a series of FOIA requests I submitted in March 2025 on behalf of AH Town Square. These requests focused on topics of clear public interest, including Village employee compensation, recent press releases, and local media distribution practices. Despite the journalistic intent and public relevance of these inquiries, the Village proceeded to classify AH Town Square as a “recurrent requester.”
The Village’s Argument—and Ours
According to the Village, the designation was appropriate because AH Town Square is operated through Northwest Central Pulse LLC, a company I own. They asserted that because I, the LLC, and AH Town Square are all connected, all requests should be counted as coming from a single “person” under FOIA. That reasoning forms the foundation for their classification.
We objected to that logic. We argued, and continue to argue, that AH Town Square is not a private citizen making personal requests. It is a functioning news media outlet operated through a formal business entity, established to carry out public-interest journalism in Arlington Heights. Its purpose is not to burden local governments with red tape, but to promote transparency, accountability, and civic awareness.
Four Types of Journalism:
News Curators:
Independent Journalism:
Legacy Media:
Established giants (e.g., NYT) with resources to investigate power.
Public-Funded Media:
Neutral, publicly supported outlets (e.g., NPR) providing fact-based reporting.
The AG’s Ruling
Despite our explanation, the Illinois Attorney General’s office upheld the Village’s decision. In a letter signed by Caleb L. Briscoe, Assistant Attorney General, Public Access Bureau, the office concluded that AH Town Square, Northwest Central Pulse LLC, and I are not distinguishable for FOIA purposes. They stated that requests submitted by any of these entities must be aggregated as if submitted by a single individual.
Even more concerning was their conclusion that AH Town Square does not qualify as a legitimate “news media” organization under FOIA. Their argument focused heavily on form over function: they cited the absence of a formally named editor-in-chief, the relatively small number of bylined articles, and what they deemed insufficient editorial oversight. What they failed to account for was the nature and impact of our actual work.
Read the full response from the Illinois PAC Office
Click Here to Download
What AH Town Square Does—and Why It Matters
Here is what AH Town Square is, and what we do, facts that were seemingly overlooked in this assessment:
- We publish original reporting based on interviews, verified documents, and public records.
- We operate on a consistent publishing schedule, producing content that includes civic news, local commentary, and community bulletins.
- We curate and contextualize information from reliable sources for the benefit of Arlington Heights residents.
- We follow editorial standards that guide our work, and we clearly note and timestamp any updates or corrections to ensure transparency.
- We invite reader engagement, cover issues underreported elsewhere, and hold local institutions to account.
Our work is grounded in the traditions of independent journalism. We may not operate like a legacy newsroom with a large staff, but neither do many of today’s credible, community-focused outlets. Across the country, local journalism is evolving, and we’re part of that shift. Grassroots, mission-driven reporting isn’t a loophole, it’s the future of civic media.
Our Intentions—and What’s Next
In my formal response to the Attorney General’s office, I reiterated that AH Town Square operates in good faith and with a journalistic purpose. The idea that our FOIA requests are part of a scheme to evade regulation is not just inaccurate, it’s insulting. Every record we’ve sought was pursued in the public interest, and our reporting reflects a deep respect for fact-based journalism and government transparency.
We are currently reviewing potential next steps, including whether to seek legal clarification or pursue remedies under the law. Regardless of what comes next, our mission remains unchanged.
We will continue to file FOIA requests.
We will continue to report what we learn.
We will continue to hold public officials accountable.
And we will continue to do what we set out to do from the beginning: provide reliable, independent coverage of local government and community issues that matter to the people of Arlington Heights.
We’re not going anywhere. We’re here to ask questions, follow up, publish stories, and keep shining light where it’s needed most. That’s not obstruction. That’s journalism.
