Posted on 12/18/2005 9:48:04 AM PST by Yancey
We live in Vienna, Virginia, and are currently suing the Town of Vienna to be removed from a "Historic District" that is a farce and abusive. We have now been in litigation for about 2 years now, and it is clear the town has no case, but they have attempted to prolong the case to see if we will just give up. Since our suit we have begun filming Town meetings. This is the only objective record that is available, because the Town is guilty of over-editing their minutes and they are not honest in their records. There is a free cable access channel-the Town has refused to use the equipment that was purchased to do so, because they do not want there meetings broadcasted on the cable access in the same way the other cities do around us: Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, etc. We now have posted a website, that has exposed many layers of lies from Town officials. Needless to say this has caused the Town some angst. In a recent work session the Mayor suggested that we not be allowed to film. When the Town attorney told her that was not possible they suggested having police at the meetings on what appears to intimidate us from filming. I am asking if there are any suggestions. We have been so demonized, that it is sometimes hard to feel validated. This has become truly a Liberal vs Conservative issue, and many of the plays have been right out of the DUmmmies playbook. I sincerely hope that this type of post was all right. We will gladly post our site if requested.
I am a bit famliar with your town. In the late 90's I commuted from Old Town to Fair Oaks. I walked for 20 min to the Metro and rode for 30 to Vienna where I got a bus. Metro has no rest rooms so I peed in the Vienna woods. I hope that makes you feel better.
How about a URL for your web site.
When you get to the website, reload the page, the quotes change each time you reload:
"Our worst enemies here are not the ignorant and the simple, however cruel; our worst enemies are the intelligent and corrupt."
- Graham Greene, The Human Factor, 1878
http//:www.historicvienna.com
First and foremost HOLD YOUR LINE. When you see the police, smile at them. They are powerless to stop you.
Make sure you have a second camera of you filming the filming. If anyone or anything tries to interfere with you, get it on tape.
Have a zero tolerance rule. If anyone interferes with your exercising your freedom, get to the courthouse and seek injunctive relief.
Hopefully someone can come along and direct you to an organization that will help. There are several, but I can't think of any right at this second.
A bit.. Thanks:)
Excellent advice on the second camera-Thank you. This is becoming a little surreal to me. But we do have a zero tolerance attitude!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
