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City Attorney by bminick0lbobminick.com
We are on the verge of war with Iraq. We are told by the San Bernardino City Attorney
that this most ominous event is unsuitable "agendized" discussion material for official city
council meetings.
This seems a bit arbitrary. No one can tlnd a single city, county, state, or federal law that
says, "City Councils shalt not "agendize" resolutions addressing the nation going to war." On the
contrary every tenant of a free society suggests that City Councils may officially discuss what
ever they danm well please. While City Councils may not declare war--only Congress can do
thatnthey can spend as much time as they want supporting or opposing the nation going to war.
This is particularly true before war is declared.
Nor is there any law anywhere that prohibits political or divisive issues from being
placed on the agenda for discussion at city council meetings. Nothing could be sillier, more
laughable, or more threatening to a free society, than to make such an argument. This sounds
more like Nazi Germany than a Democratic People!
Revenue diverted, and the public servants such as policemen, firemen, teachers and
health workers taken away to fight this war affects us greatly. Every neglected pothole, every
delayed highway, flood control projects and environmental clean-up efforts slowed down by
diversion of public revenues are casualties of this war. To say we should not discuss all this in
City Council meetings is ridiculous.
For the City Attorney to rule or argue that this war is not an appropriate agenda item is
pure demagoguery. It sounds an awful lot like something John Ashcroft would say or do.
San Bernardino is the county seat. People outside the city are forced to come to the city
for any number of reasons. Thus they have a legitimate concern about what the city doesnfor
safety reasons if no other. So far as I know no city has laws prohibiting people outside the city
from speaking on public issues.
Not since Huey Long have I seen a public figure stand up and take bows and play the
crowd as the city attorney does. What is that all about? Who is to rule him out of order? Where is
it written that he may interrupt speakers with impunity?
Finally, who is supposed to run the city council meeJ,ings--the Mayor or the City
Attorney? If Mr. Penman is supposed to run the meetings shouldn't he be given a gavel and sit
facing the audience.
Entered into Record It I I
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City Clerk/COC Secy
City of San Bernardino