In regard to Jason C. Stone's comments regarding free speech in public hearings of the MPRB, the ordinance section (from Chap. 2) that I cited (and Scott Vreeland as well I see in reading back on this topic) would be irrelevant; that chapter addresses activities in the parks. Open meetings of various committees and/or/of MPRB would be governed by state law and Chapter 11 of the Park Board ordinances. It is pretty well routine for any government body hearing public testimony to schedule it in any appropriate place in a given agenda; Stone can call it limiting public input, but as a too frequent attendee of these sorts of hearings, I am glad there are limits--possibly the worst thing here is not getting anything done rather than limiting public comment. Though I haven't read all the park board chapters, I don't see anything regarding political campaigning anywhere else; I think political buttons or displayed identification would be okay anywhere on public property in Minnesota (or the USA) outside of election polls. If Gurban or MPRB have policies that are inconsistent with their own ordinance, state law, or the US Constitution, I think they have quite a rewrite project on their hands.
As far as any defense of Gurban or the Park Board commissioners involved in unlawfully restricting Mr. Stone's right to freedom of expression, I don't think there is one. Like Stone, I'm not a legal expert either, but this seems like a clear case of prejudicial abuse of authority (not because I've personally outlined the clear case, but because I like saying and writing "prejudicial abuse of authority."). Gurban should just resign and the public can vote out the offending commissioners and start from scratch using folks with a modicum of knowledge of how MPRB fits into our federal system. MPRB's supposed independence is well defined by state and federal law; Gurban and more than a few commissioners have abused that independence through deliberate bone headed ignorance of the law--they should go now with thanks for their service in whatever actual good they have accomplished outside the shaky lucidity of testosterone funks like they exhibited in the Stone incident. Bill Kahn Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
