MATTER OF CAPITAL NEWSPAPERS DIVISION OF THE HEARST CORPORATION v. City of Albany

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be modified, without costs, in accordance with this memorandum and, as so modified, affirmed.

Respondent City of Albany failed to meet its burden of demonstrating that the gun tags are “personnel records” under Civil Rights Law § 50-a. The Police Chiefs conclusory affidavit did not establish that the documents were “used to evaluate performance toward continued employment or promotion,” as required by that statute (Civil Rights Law § 50-a [1]). Consequently, the unredacted gun tags do not fall squarely within a statutory…