Tuesday, September 23, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Redwood ACLU To Hold Civil Liberties Debate
For Eureka City Council Candidates
The Redwood Chapter, ACLU is returning to its tradition of hosting well-fought and open debates between candidates for local office, as it has in the past for candidates contesting seats on the Arcata City Council and the Northern Humboldt Union High School District.
For the first time, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will include the Eureka City Council contests in a debate on local civil liberties issues as well as on other community concerns. The event will be held on Monday, September 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Humboldt Bay Water Building, located at 7th and J St. In Eureka.
A “meet and greet” with the invited candidates (Polly Endert, Linda Atkins, Frank Jager, George Clark) will be held just beforehand at 6:00 p.m., where the candidates and other community groups are invited to table with their literature and other materials of civic interest.
“As an organization that always refrains from supporting or opposing candidates for public office, we are in a unique position to provide common ground for dialogue and discussion,” said Redwood ACLU chair Christina Allbright in a letter to the candidates.
The debate format is to start off with a few questions concerning the issues the Redwood Chapter advocates for in the community, followed by questions solicited via notecard from members of the public in the audience. There will be time for rebuttals between candidates in order to foster a vigorous debate, although we also ensure equal time for all the candidates to speak their peace.
The debate is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so community members with questions are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
For more information, call the new ACLU Hotline at 707-442-4419 or visit redwoodaclu.blogspot.com.
-- 40 --
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
PRESS RELEASE: Redwood ACLU Calls For Support Of Lawsuit Against Measure T
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Redwood ACLU Calls For Support
Of Lawsuit Against Measure T
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, local civil rights leaders made a formal request for legal aid in support of the lawsuit filed by local businesses seeking to overturn the unconstitutional Measure T. The Redwood ACLU had already taken a position against Measure T on First Amendment grounds of freedom of speech in their Local Election Reform policy approved some time ago.
The case against Humboldt County’s enforcement of Measure T is currently in front of the Federal District Court of Northern California in San Francisco, and although an attempted Temporary Restraining Order against Measure T was not granted today, a preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22.
“This judicial review is already engendering some bizarre and intemperate reactions from the proponents of Measure T, who have sent out letters to every candidate in local elections this fall seeking to compel them to conform to Measure T whether it meets constitutional muster or not,” stated Redwood ACLU chair Christina Allbright in a letter to the Chair of the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Northern California. “The silence of our local legal community and civil activists on this matter thus far has been deafening, despite the clear and obvious constitutional flaws contained in the measure...We cannot overstate the grave peril we perceive our free speech rights in local elections to be in.”
The letters in question, sent out by the pro-Measure T political committee initiated by Democracy Unlimited and known as the “Humboldt Coalition for Community Rights,” was signed by Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap and sent to local candidates, even including her opponent in Eureka’s race for Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The letter likened opponents of their campaign finance-related ballot measure to those who supported slavery and oppose women’s suffrage and the labor movement.
“The proponents of Measure T and especially the Humboldt Coalition for Community Rights by their Co-Chair Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, are renewing the same tactics used in the 2006 election to stifle any dissent regarding the constitutionality of Measure T,” said Redwood ACLU vice chair Greg Allen. “An examination of statements made by Sopoci-Belknap at the Democracy Unlimited website again attacks those with differing legal opinions. This policy has been continued by the HCCR in a letter signed by Sopoci-Belknap, herself a candidate for public office, to direct all candidates for public office in Humboldt County, including her own opponent, to support Measure T even if it is held unconstitutional by the district court.”
In the interests of disclosure, Sopoci-Belknap’s opponent in her Water Board race is Stephen Davies, a local attorney who is on the Board of the local Redwood Chapter ACLU as well as on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Davies abstained from voting on the stance taken today due to his current status as a candidate for public office, and the ACLU remains neutral in regards to his campaign (in accordance with standing ACLU policy against supporting or opposing candidates for public office).
A response from the ACLU-NC on the question of an amicus brief is expected later this week. The Redwood Chapter of the ACLU is also considering the co-sponsorship of a forum on local election reform, both concerning the failure of Measure T and hopes for more constructive reform efforts, to be held after the upcoming general election in November.
For more information, call the new ACLU Hotline at 707-442-4419 or visit redwoodaclu.blogspot.com.
-- 40 --
Relevant links:
http://redwoodaclu.blogspot.com
http://community.pacificlegal.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=685&srcid=685
http://duhc.org/PLF-Measure%20TComplaint.pdf
http://duhc.org/MeasureTlawsuitPR8-29-08.html
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Redwood ACLU Calls For Support
Of Lawsuit Against Measure T
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, local civil rights leaders made a formal request for legal aid in support of the lawsuit filed by local businesses seeking to overturn the unconstitutional Measure T. The Redwood ACLU had already taken a position against Measure T on First Amendment grounds of freedom of speech in their Local Election Reform policy approved some time ago.
The case against Humboldt County’s enforcement of Measure T is currently in front of the Federal District Court of Northern California in San Francisco, and although an attempted Temporary Restraining Order against Measure T was not granted today, a preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22.
“This judicial review is already engendering some bizarre and intemperate reactions from the proponents of Measure T, who have sent out letters to every candidate in local elections this fall seeking to compel them to conform to Measure T whether it meets constitutional muster or not,” stated Redwood ACLU chair Christina Allbright in a letter to the Chair of the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Northern California. “The silence of our local legal community and civil activists on this matter thus far has been deafening, despite the clear and obvious constitutional flaws contained in the measure...We cannot overstate the grave peril we perceive our free speech rights in local elections to be in.”
The letters in question, sent out by the pro-Measure T political committee initiated by Democracy Unlimited and known as the “Humboldt Coalition for Community Rights,” was signed by Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap and sent to local candidates, even including her opponent in Eureka’s race for Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The letter likened opponents of their campaign finance-related ballot measure to those who supported slavery and oppose women’s suffrage and the labor movement.
“The proponents of Measure T and especially the Humboldt Coalition for Community Rights by their Co-Chair Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, are renewing the same tactics used in the 2006 election to stifle any dissent regarding the constitutionality of Measure T,” said Redwood ACLU vice chair Greg Allen. “An examination of statements made by Sopoci-Belknap at the Democracy Unlimited website again attacks those with differing legal opinions. This policy has been continued by the HCCR in a letter signed by Sopoci-Belknap, herself a candidate for public office, to direct all candidates for public office in Humboldt County, including her own opponent, to support Measure T even if it is held unconstitutional by the district court.”
In the interests of disclosure, Sopoci-Belknap’s opponent in her Water Board race is Stephen Davies, a local attorney who is on the Board of the local Redwood Chapter ACLU as well as on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Davies abstained from voting on the stance taken today due to his current status as a candidate for public office, and the ACLU remains neutral in regards to his campaign (in accordance with standing ACLU policy against supporting or opposing candidates for public office).
A response from the ACLU-NC on the question of an amicus brief is expected later this week. The Redwood Chapter of the ACLU is also considering the co-sponsorship of a forum on local election reform, both concerning the failure of Measure T and hopes for more constructive reform efforts, to be held after the upcoming general election in November.
For more information, call the new ACLU Hotline at 707-442-4419 or visit redwoodaclu.blogspot.com.
-- 40 --
Relevant links:
http://redwoodaclu.blogspot.com
http://community.pacificlegal.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=685&srcid=685
http://duhc.org/PLF-Measure%20TComplaint.pdf
http://duhc.org/MeasureTlawsuitPR8-29-08.html
Monday, September 15, 2008
Redwood ACLU Board Meeting Tuesday Sept 16th Noon
The Board of Directors of the Redwood Chapter, ACLU will meet Tuesday, September 16th at 12:00 p.m. at the ACLU office at 917 Third Street, Suite Q (between J & K Streets) in Eureka.
The agenda will include an update on the status of the proposal to create a multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team for Arcata, Eureka, HSU, Fortuna and Trinidad; labeling and distribution of the next Chapter Newsletter; an update on the Arcata police review campaign and efforts on behalf of civilian review for other local law enforcement agencies; review of election reform efforts including the lawsuit against Measure T; reports from Chapter officers and committees; and consideration of other items which Boardmembers or at-large members may bring up.
Board meetings are open to all ACLU members in good standing. Please call 442-4419 or drop by our office for more information or to request the inclusion of a new item on the meeting agenda.
The agenda will include an update on the status of the proposal to create a multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team for Arcata, Eureka, HSU, Fortuna and Trinidad; labeling and distribution of the next Chapter Newsletter; an update on the Arcata police review campaign and efforts on behalf of civilian review for other local law enforcement agencies; review of election reform efforts including the lawsuit against Measure T; reports from Chapter officers and committees; and consideration of other items which Boardmembers or at-large members may bring up.
Board meetings are open to all ACLU members in good standing. Please call 442-4419 or drop by our office for more information or to request the inclusion of a new item on the meeting agenda.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)