Is filing an RTI appropriate when I want information about a civic issue or a government decision?

Quick answer: RTI is for getting information that a public authority holds — for example, status of a file, copies of orders, or data on a scheme. RTI is not for lodging a grievance (use grievance portals for that). So: if you need information (e.g. “what is the status of our road repair file?” or “how many complaints were received last month?”), RTI is appropriate. If you want to complain or get something done, use the grievance channel. See our A Simple Guide to Using RTI for Public Information.