LOCKPORT, N.Y. — On December 14 at approximately 4:11 p.m., Act Now Media and Auditing Erie County conducted a transparency audit at the Town of Lockport municipal building, filming public areas, informational boards, and posted notices — a standard practice to assess compliance with open-government principles.
The audit follows multiple complaints from community members alleging corruption, malfeasance, and repeated breaches of the Town’s Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy by members of the Town Board. The visit was part of an ongoing effort to document transparency and accountability within local government offices.
During filming, Town Supervisor Mark Crocker approached the auditors and questioned their purpose on site. While objecting to being recorded, Crocker simultaneously recorded the auditors himself, stating, “Get away from me… they’re threatening me… I want to walk through this door without hitting you guys in the door.” He then told the team the building was closing and warned he would call police if they did not leave.
Video evidence shows the auditors remained calm and nonintrusive throughout the encounter, filming only publicly accessible spaces and complying with posted restrictions. Crocker’s own footage confirmed that both parties were recording the exchange.
New York’s Right to Record Act (Civil Rights Law § 79-p) protects the public’s right to document government activity in public areas, provided it does not interfere with operations. Although Town Halls are not law-enforcement facilities, the same transparency standards apply.
Act Now Media will continue to investigate and report on the handling of public access and transparency issues in Lockport and across New York State to ensure officials uphold accountability to the citizens they serve.
