A cautionary tale: when the story includes the coverup.

"For nine months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration did not release public data that was sought on the deaths of nursing home and long-term care facility residents.

"For six months, Freedom of Information Law requests languished, a lawsuit was working its way through the courts and letters from officials elected by the people of New York were left unanswered."

The result of that lawsuit?

"A state court order required the state release more information on the deaths of residents as part of a lawsuit filed by the Empire Center, a conservative think tank that sued to force the disclosure of the data after a Freedom of Information Law request was never fulfilled.

"Losing the lawsuit means the taxpayers of New York will be left to pay for the organization's legal fees."

Public agency obfuscation. Public agency delay. Taxpayers foot the bill for the subsequent defeat in the courts. Everybody loses.