Layla the Mighty Minter
| Tracking # |
2022-MINT-00094 |
| Submitted | Sept. 27, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear U.S. Mint:
This is a request for records under the Freedom of Information Act. I am requesting records related to the U.S. Mint's mascot, Layla the Mighty Minter.
RECORDS REQUESTED:
(A) All records related to the conception of and process of designing the Layla mascot (emails and other correspondence, memoranda, contracts, sketches, etc.)
(B) Records sufficient to answer the following questions:
(1) Whose idea was it to create an U.S. Mint mascot in the first place, and why?
(2) Who designed the Layla mascot, and what was the design process like? (e.g. were there multiple design concepts submitted? Was the design of the character contracted out? (If so, kindly produce the contract).
(3) Were any Layla-related promotional items or tchotchkes created (e.g. trading cards, CDs, coloring books)? If so, please produce them.
(4) Were there any life-size Layla costumes created? If so, please produce records related to the design of the costume (contracts, sketches, etc.) and any guidelines regarding the use of or care for the costume.
(5) Did anyone in Congress ever object to the U.S. Mint's use of a mascot? I understand that there have been periodic attempts by lawmakers (e.g. former Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn, current Iowa senator Jodi Ernst) to rein in agency spending on mascots. If so, please produce all records related to that.
(6) What has the public's reaction been to the Layla mascot?
(7) Is the Mint still using Layla as part of its public outreach? If not, why not?
REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVER:
The requested documents will be made available to the general public online for free, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. I am working on a project examining the history, creation, evolution, and use of mascots across the federal government—because, like many others, I find them fascinating and weirdly delightful. Thus, I respectfully request that any fees related to this request be waived. If you do decide to charge me fees, please notify me in advance if you expect those fees to exceed $25.
FORM OF PRODUCTION:
I would prefer that this request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
CONCLUSION:
Thank you very much for your cooperation with this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Nicholas Marritz
From: U.S. Mint
Dear Nicholas Marritz,
Case Number 2022-MINT-00094 has been assigned to the request you submitted. In all future correspondence regarding this request please reference case number 2022-MINT-00094.
Regards,
Department of Treasury
From: U.S. Mint
Dear Nicholas Marritz,
The status of your MINT FOIA request #2022-MINT-00094 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To log into the Treasury FOIA Public Access Link click on the Application URL below.
Sincerely,
Department of Treasury
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Mint
[cid:image001.jpg@01D0A2E1.4C3000A0]
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has received the information you submitted to the FOIA@TREASURY.gov<mailto:FOIA@TREASURY.gov> mailbox.
If you are submitting a FOIA request, this courtesy reply does not replace the acknowledgement letter which will include a FOIA case number once your request has been entered into our FOIA Request Tracking System.
If you are seeking the status of a pending FOIA request for which you have a FOIA case number, please call (202) 622-0930 to obtain the status of your request.
Please visit our FOIA Library at http://www.treasury.gov/FOIA/Pages/reading_room.aspx.
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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image001
From: U.S. Mint
Good afternoon,
Your request was submitted and is in the custody of the U.S. Mint. I will forward you remail to them for direct response.
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~WRD0003
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Mint
[cid:image001.jpg@01D0A2E1.4C3000A0]
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has received the information you submitted to the FOIA@TREASURY.gov<mailto:FOIA@TREASURY.gov> mailbox.
If you are submitting a FOIA request, this courtesy reply does not replace the acknowledgement letter which will include a FOIA case number once your request has been entered into our FOIA Request Tracking System.
If you are seeking the status of a pending FOIA request for which you have a FOIA case number, please call (202) 622-0930 to obtain the status of your request.
Please visit our FOIA Library at http://www.treasury.gov/FOIA/Pages/reading_room.aspx.
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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image001
From: U.S. Mint
Good afternoon,
I hope this email finds you well. Your email has been sent to the U.S. Mint for appropriate action.
Thank you,
Cawana
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~WRD0004
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Mint
[cid:image001.jpg@01D0A2E1.4C3000A0]
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has received the information you submitted to the FOIA@TREASURY.gov<mailto:FOIA@TREASURY.gov> mailbox.
If you are submitting a FOIA request, this courtesy reply does not replace the acknowledgement letter which will include a FOIA case number once your request has been entered into our FOIA Request Tracking System.
If you are seeking the status of a pending FOIA request for which you have a FOIA case number, please call (202) 622-0930 to obtain the status of your request.
Please visit our FOIA Library at http://www.treasury.gov/FOIA/Pages/reading_room.aspx.
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
-
image001
From: U.S. Mint
Good morning,
I hope this email finds. As previously indicted, your request was routed to the U.S. Mint. We kindly ask that you reach out to Mint directly at:
U.S. Mint
801 9th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20220
FOIA Requester Service Center: 202-354-7600
Thank you!
Cawana
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~WRD0003
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear U.S. Mint:
I submitted a FOIA request in October 2022, seeking records related to the Mint's mascot, Layla the Mighty Minter. The request was assigned the tracking number 2022-MINT-00094, but I have had no response from the Mint since. Could you please give me a status update?
Thank you very much,
Nicholas Marritz
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear U.S. Mint:
I submitted a FOIA request in October 2022, seeking records related to the Mint's mascot, Layla the Mighty Minter. The request was assigned the tracking number 2022-MINT-00094, but I have had no response from the Mint since. Could you please give me a status update? It has been over a year since I filed this request and I have not heard from you.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Marritz
From: Nicholas Marritz
Att: Mark Bittner, Director
FOIA/PA Request
FOIA & Transparency
Department of the Treasury
Washington, D.C. 20220
Dear Mr. Bittner:
I submitted a FOIA request in October 2022, seeking records related to the Mint's mascot, Layla the Mighty Minter. The request was assigned the tracking number 2022-MINT-00094, but I have had no response from the Mint since. Could you please give me a status update? It has been over a year since I filed this request and I have not heard from you.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Marritz
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear OGIS:
In September 2022, nearly two years ago, I submitted a FOIA request to the U.S. Mint. It was assigned the tracking number 2022-MINT-00094, but I have otherwise had no response to the request. I have reached out to the Mint several times over the last year and a half but have never received a response. I would appreciate FOIA mediation services. Thank you very much.
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear OGIS:
In September 2022, nearly two years ago, I submitted a FOIA request to the U.S. Mint. It was assigned the tracking number 2022-MINT-00094, but I have otherwise had no response to the request. I have reached out to the Mint several times over the last year and a half but have never received a response. I would appreciate FOIA mediation services. Thank you very much.
From:
Thank you for contacting the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). This is an auto reply message.
As the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ombudsman, OGIS assists FOIA requesters and federal agencies by helping them resolve their FOIA disputes, and by addressing their questions and concerns about the FOIA process. Please note, we are experiencing an increase in our inquiries received and are working to respond as soon as possible. We apologize for any delays in our response and assure you that all emails are tracked. We look forward to assisting you.
If you seek OGIS’s assistance with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) dispute and have not done so already, please email us:
- A brief description of your dispute
- A copy of your FOIA request
- The agency’s response to your request
- Your appeal letter (if you filed an appeal)
- The agency's response to your appeal (if you received a response)
We encourage you to transmit documents as PDF attachments via email, rather than through postal mail, which may cause delays in our response.
Sincerely,
The OGIS Staff
From:
Thank you for contacting the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). This is an auto reply message.
As the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ombudsman, OGIS assists FOIA requesters and federal agencies by helping them resolve their FOIA disputes, and by addressing their questions and concerns about the FOIA process. Please note, we are experiencing an increase in our inquiries received and are working to respond as soon as possible. We apologize for any delays in our response and assure you that all emails are tracked. We look forward to assisting you.
If you seek OGIS’s assistance with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) dispute and have not done so already, please email us:
- A brief description of your dispute
- A copy of your FOIA request
- The agency’s response to your request
- Your appeal letter (if you filed an appeal)
- The agency's response to your appeal (if you received a response)
We encourage you to transmit documents as PDF attachments via email, rather than through postal mail, which may cause delays in our response.
Sincerely,
The OGIS Staff
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear OGIS: my FOIA correspondence with the Mint is attached. It’s also available online here: https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/layla-the-mighty-minter-134412/.
From: U.S. Mint
Good morning Mr. Marritz,
This email is in response to your Freedom of Information Act request submitted to the United States Mint on October 3, 2022 requesting records on Layla, the peahen a member of the Mighty Minters.
Please see attached FOIA response along with responsive records. If you have any questions, I can be reached on 202-354-7600 or by email lateau.jones@usmint.treas.gov<mailto:lateau.jones@usmint.treas.gov>.
Best regards,
Ms. Jones
Lateau Jones
FOIA Analyst
Office of Chief Counsel
United States Mint
Telephone: (202)354-7600
Fax: (202)756-6110
Mailto: lateau.jones@usmint.treas.gov<mailto:lateau.jones@usmint.treas.gov>
From: Nicholas Marritz
Dear Ms. Jones:
Thank you so much for these records! I was delighted to get them.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Marritz
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