San Luis Obispo newspapers won a
lawsuit against the city..and
the courts affirmed that the
freedom to distribute
information is as essential as
the freedom to publish it.
There are many reasons to repeal
this ordinance ..here are eight
1. FREE publications do not need
metal boxes. .
2. Again Plastic Boxes do not
rust..
3. All boxes can be weighted
down inside the box , a cement
base is a trip hazard for
citizens.
4. The economic losses to the
small businesses that rely on
the low cost ad space offered by
smaller publications will be at
risk.
5. Small publications depend on
the newsracks for over 80% of
their distribution.
6.FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS AT
STAKE with this newsrack
ordinance..
7. I have never had a complaint
in the 22 years in
business regarding my newspaper
box being blown into the air and
hurting someone. I have made
sure my outdoor box was clean,
and secured down with a chain
and a lock...but that can be
easily changed to add sand or a
cement block inside to stablize
the box.
8. I would like to say that you
as the Mayor and City Council
Members each have implemented.
wonderful decisions for the city
but if this newsrack ordinance
stays ...You will be known for
the demise of smaller
publications during your terms
of office.
The California appellate court
found the newspaper and
publisher's suit met all three
requirements. First , the ruling
"preserved an important rights
for the public, which is
embedded in the First Amendment
of the United States
Constitution: the right of free
expression of new ideas" Second,
the ruling grants a significant
benefit to the general public by
"preserving their right to be
informed of different points of
view through desirable,
inexpensive forums at all times
of the day" and finally the
court ruled that the public
benefits outweigh the benefits
for the publications because a
large percent of the
distribution was in the
newsracks.
(If there are any questions, I
hope to get some last minute
points in)
On Sept. 11th when I spoke
against the newsrack ordinance,
Mayor White said Pam Holm was
the one to talk to, Council
Member Toni Lawrence said she
would set up a meeting with Pam
Holm and apologized that I was
not invited to the pre-planning
meetings.
Over 65 days later Pam Holm said
she was not going to meet with
me and referred all questions to
the legal department.
I have heard that the attorney
that pre-pared the newsrack
ordinance has left his position
leaving this ordinance
unattended by the preparer.
. .
Sharon Lauder, Publisher
Houston Tribune
Heights Tribune
373 1/2 W. 19th St.
Houston Texas 77008
cell: 713-206-0953
ph.713-862-9603
