The following story was just posted on one of Mission Viejo’s blogs. This is a very slippery slope for any person, especially a peer of councilman Lance MacLean who is currently facing a RECALL. Having taken the AB 1234 ethics training for CA elected officials I do not recall reading anywhere in that document about pressuring merchants to violate our First Amendment rights.
You can read the referenced post and other south county related stories on that blog at the following link: www.missionviejoca.org
That report reads: Councilwoman Interferes in Recall
“Councilwoman Trish Kelley has been working behind the scenes to thwart the recall of Councilman Lance MacLean. On March 27, recall supporters learned that Kelley had called a store manager near the area where residents were signing the recall petition. Kelley identified herself to the manager as the former mayor of Mission Viejo and directed him to tell signature gatherers to leave.
Signature gatherers are legally permitted to stand near a store and in most other public places and enjoy their Freedom of Speech, as protected by the First Amendment, as well as state and federal laws. They must obey certain guidelines, and they are to remain at least 10 feet away from entrances and exits to avoid blocking access.
Recall petitioners who were working near the store said they were complying in every way with legal guidelines. They additionally maintained a considerable distance from the store’s main entrance, and they said they had been courteous to everyone. The workers said they could tell the store manager was “stressed out” after receiving the call from Kelley. He didn’t ask the signature gatherers to leave, but he asked how long the signature drive would last. He later said it is the policy of the store to treat everyone equally and not get involved in politics.
Ms. Kelley is on the council’s economic development committee, which has failed to develop a program of attracting businesses to Mission Viejo. One of the city’s key economic development strategies has been to present a business with a certificate if it manages to survive for five years in Mission Viejo.
If city hall isn’t going to help businesses, perhaps it can at least stop harassing them. What Ms. Kelley asked the store manager to do – prevent citizens from exercising their First Amendment rights – was well out of line.”
So Ms. Kelley is flexing her muscle with businesses and pressing them to break the law for her – incredible. Isn’t Ms. Kelley the one who thinks the city should have a “character word” each month?
Observer.
Councilwoman Kelley did introduce the Character program into our city. There is a different word for every month of the year. They are as follows:
Responsibility
Respect
Thankfulness
Caring
Perseverance
Unity Integrity
Service
Moral Courage
Citizenship
Fairness
Self Control
The last word stands out as I think of councilman Lance MacLean who the court ordered to take a class in “anger management” after his confrontation at UCI.
The character words are for the little people who pay taxes. City officials, including the council majority, operate on phrases of the month:
Abuse of power, Corrupt priorities, Self-dealing, Ego stroking, Social engineering, No-bid contracts, Tax/Fee increases, Special interest, Self-enrichment, False promises, Wasteful spending, Dog and phony shows.
Wow! This is sick! I think we are starting to see their true colors!
Larry:
Expecting respect of the 1st Amendment—
How naive of you !!!
Joe H.
Be carefull that you do not get hit with a SLAPP suit!
Can you tell me why “The Foundation” thinks we need to spend $310,000 on signs and kiosks along Oso Creek trail? The entire length of the trail is, what? 2 miles long? Talk about another waste of taxpayer money…….
YES, I consider money from Washington DC to be MY taxpayer money.
How about doing something more constructive with thee money like improving traffic flow on Marguerite Parkway?
RT