Posted on 07/08/2005 3:10:55 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
Town Council's Ban on Talk of Wal-Mart Draws Protest From ACLU
Published: Jul 8, 2005 YELM, Wash. (AP) - The town council barred residents from mentioning Wal-Mart at meetings, prompting a challenge by civil libertarians who said a "free and accountable" government depends on a citizen's ability to voice concerns openly.
The retailing giant has an application pending to build a superstore, spurring controversy in the small town about 15 miles southeast of Olympia.
In a letter to the council, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Aaron H. Caplan said his group believes it is unconstitutional to ban any mention of Wal-Mart at council meetings. The term "big-box stores" also is banned, as is "moratorium."
The ban began because council members were fed up with complaints about the proposed superstore and related demands for a moratorium on big-box stores, municipal attorney Brent Dille said. He said officials also didn't want to appear biased if the council ever hears appeals in the matter.
"It's the council's meeting. They can decide what they want to hear and what they're tired of hearing," Dille said. "You can understand if you're barraged for two months at meetings - the same people saying the same thing."
The policy has been increasingly restrictive over the past five months. No one who signs up to speak at a council meeting about big-box stores, much less Wal-Mart, is allowed to talk, and anyone who mentions either is told to sit down.
"They just stop you short in your tracks," said Kellie Petersen, who owns a gardening store in town. Petersen is one of several people who have spoken up despite the restrictions.
"My issue was about traffic concerns. I knew enough to use the word 'Wal-Mart' at the very end, so I wouldn't be told to sit down," she said.
The letter from Caplan, who is based in Seattle, said, "The ability of citizens to state their views about matters of public concern is one of the cornerstones of a free and accountable government."
Mayor Adam Rivas said he does not expect the ACLU protest to spark any policy changes and doesn't plan to respond to the letter.
"We don't answer to the ACLU," Rivas said.
The ACLU does not plan to sue over the issue, spokesman Doug Honig said.
A call to national Wal-Mart headquarters seeking comment was referred to local store officials, who didn't immediately return a call.
Shares of Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. rose 39 cents to close at $49.90 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
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On the Net:
http://www.ci.yelm.wa.us
http://www.aclu-wa.org
http://www.walmart.com
AP-ES-07-08-05 1719EDT
I know the town council is not Congress. But the right to complain to government in a civil manner is a cornerstone of our country.
I grew up near Chicago and remember the first Mayor Daley ordering that combative Aldermen have their mikes turned off. ;>)
i really can see the otherside. would you really like hearing from the same people over and over and over again saying the same thing???
nevermind, i thought we were talking about the democrats again.(oops)
The citizens need to vote in a new town council that will listen to them. Along with the right to petition government for grievances, that vote is also a cornerstone.
I've seen many council meetings, I know how they go (long and boring). But, during the time for citizen comments, I don't care if it is the same people at every meeting. If it is open to citizens, then the council should not ban certain words or topics topics. That is trying to control speach and prevent dissent. They can have time limits and other measures.
Heck, years ago when I and my first wife were young and broke and living in Berkeley (yeah, we did) we used to attend the City Council Meetings on Friday eveings because they were the best (and free) entertainment in town. I recall one particularly lively session wherein the topic was dog poop, complete with color slides showing various examples of pouch dumps around town. Everybody in attendance clapped and cheered and booed regardless of which 'side' of the issue was being presented. Great time. Wish life was this simple today...
By supporting a new bill recently introduced, you can help cut off taxpayer support of the ACLU:
Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005
Information here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1413875/posts
There you will find information about the bill, links to contact your congressmen and state representatives, and links to Stop the ACLU, among others.
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