July 21, 2010
Sylvia Robles
City Council Candidate, Sylvia Robles, has announced today, that she will be at "Taco Village" this Sunday, July 25, 2010 from 10:00 to 12:00 Noon to receive potential voters and collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Mrs. Robles is seeking the un-expired terms of Jim Miller.
Due to election codes, Mrs. Robles is unable to host any refreshments or food as she has not raised money nor established a campaign account. The purpose of this "Meet Up" is to provide a convenient location for citizens to drop in, share their viewpoints and consider helping her qualify for the ballot.
ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghg
Council Corner - Walt Stanckiewitz Says:
I would like to explain what happened at the July 13, 2010 City Council Meeting regarding the Political Sign ordinance. As usual, I am not speaking for the other members of the City Council. During the recently completed California Primary Election a candidate participating in the primary questioned the legality of Grand Terrace's Political Sign Ordinance. The challenge was forwarded to our City Attorney for review and comment. Mr. Harper researched recent court decisions relating to political sign ordinances in other cities within California. In every case he found that political speech is protected by stat and federal statutes and most importantly the Constitution of the United States. It was very clear to me that our only alternative was to correct our Political Sign Ordinance to be in compliance. I was not happy with the prospect of political signs proliferating out City for an excessive period of time before an election, but I believe it is my obligation to protect the City from unnecessary litigation and the associated court costs.
Our former City Manager Tom Schwab, seems to believe that a neat and uncluttered community during election cycles is more important than Free Speech. This opinion seems to be also shared by Doug Wilson, Chairman of the Planning Commission. As a veteran of the United States Army and the son of a WWII combat veteran I have a problem with that type of thinking. There are too many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have given their lives to protect our freedom of speech. I am not willing to ignore their sacrifices for the sake of neatness. I am also not willing to jeopardize our City finances to make a point. You, as property owners, should not be willing to give up your free speech rights either. The current ordinance prohibits you from displaying any political sign on your property.
If you agree with me, or disagree with me, please let the members of the City Council know how you feel about this issue. You can email us directly. Our address are on the official Grand Terrace web site (www.cityofgrandterrace.org) .
JFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJ
Gramps Adds:
Meg Whitman's Signs were designed so there was no date just the name Meg Whitman. Her campaign office hoped to leave the signs up to the final election date. She has sufficient funds to take the little city of Grand Terrace to court and she would not lose many votes making a show of protecting Freedom of Speech for "ALL". Steve Berry who works on the Whitman Campaign knows about the GT Code and no doubt will aid in pushing a lawsuit against the city if it serves her goal and his.
In addition in local politics, the name of Schwab, Cortes and Stanckiewits are known and don't need much exposure. (OK that Stanckiewits name may be a problem to market.) So the shorter time that signs are up, Schawb, Cortes, and in the past Ferre, and Garcia had the advantage under the current code. It is rumored that Schwab is going to run for City Council or Mayor... his name being may be enough to get him elected. There are still a great number of Citizens who are ill informed, and who will just vote for a name they think they have heard before.
