-----Original
Message-----
From: Tip
Johnson [mailto:tip@skookum.us]
Sent:
To:
info@protectourcharter.com
Subject:
CITIZEN ALE
CITIZEN ALE
(You are
receiving this broadcast alert because of a demonstrated interest or activity
in local civic affairs. If you have
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reply to this message with "remove" in the subject field)
CITIZEN ALE
The City
just passed an ordinance that makes it substantially more difficult for
citizens to challenge (referendum) or propose (initative) laws. This fundamental right is reserved by the
people in both the State Constitution and the Bellingham City Charter.
This right
is the single most important provision in the Charter. It is the only guarantee that citizens will
have the final say in the direction of their government. It is how citizens can demand good government
and protect neighborhoods from poor planning.
Under both
the Constitution and the Charter, as well as State Law, any changes to these
Charter provisions must be approved by a vote of the people. The City initially intended to put their
recent changes to a vote, but later decided to skip this very important step.
A PATTE
Four of the
last five citizen-sponsored ballot measures have stalled against obstacles
erected by the City Administration. This
has included law suits, changed rules and police investigations. The City claims that vagaries of the charter
have created "significant confusion" that led to the failure of these
measures. However, citizen proponents
perceive that the so-called confusion has arisen from an administration hostile
to these citizen rights,
not from
the Charter.
P
Citizens
have until June 15th to produce 1,460 signatures of registered city
voters. Qualifying sufficient signatures
stops the law until it has been put before the voters for ratification or
rejection. The referendum asks for the
vote, already required by law, that the City has neglected to provide.
Please help
protect your rights. Download a petition
and get some signatures. Please forward
this message to your friends.
--------------------
Download
the petition: http://protectourcharter.com/both.pdf
Read an
informative flyer: http://protectourcharter.com/FINAL%20WHEREAS%20PAGE%20.pdf
Print a
handy handbill: http://protectourcharter.com/handbill.pdf
--------------------
"All
political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and
maintain individual rights."
"A
frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of
individual right and the perpetuity of free government."
(
We, the
citizens of the City of Bellingham, wishing to establish a government more
responsive to the people, more efficient in its operation and more open to that
essential ingredient, the concerned participation of citizens, do hereby adopt
the following Charter.
(