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Q&A

Brewer asks whether press conference material on Signal must be moved

New York City Council · Sep 22, 2026 · starts 0:41:48 · 1 min 19 sec

Brewer gives the example of a message about a mayor's press conference on DoorDash and asks whether that would be substantive and require moving off Signal; Smith-Cruz says records management focuses on the function of the record and it is ultimately up to the agency and user to determine.

Gale A. Brewer

I don't quite understand what, in other words, when somebody sends out material regarding some of the topics that I mentioned or getting out information today about a wonderful 11 a.m.

Gale A. Brewer

Press conference that the mayor's having about DoorDash and gain lots of money for the city and blah, blah, blah.

Gale A. Brewer

That would be substantive to me.

Gale A. Brewer

So that would mean that it would have to be, as I understand your guidance, would have to be taken off of Signal and put onto a different platform.

Gale A. Brewer

Or that's not correct.

Gale A. Brewer

I'm trying to understand what we're talking about today.

Gale A. Brewer

What does it fit into?

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

Thank you for the question.

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

I would say the way to approach it is that

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

Records management focuses on the function of the record or the function that we operate in as business, as city business.

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

And so it's not focused on, say,

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

Let me say it differently.

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

It's up to the agencies to determine what, to help support their staff in understanding what is substantive and transitory ultimately.

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

So it's really up to the user.

Member of the Public - Shanta Smith-Cruz

One should, in their utterance of the words, have a sense of whether something is transitory or not, or substantive or not, before they decide what platform it should exist in.

Gale A. Brewer

In my world of 40 years, that means it needs some help.

Gale A. Brewer

In terms of defining what it is.