ACTION: UPDATE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE 2012-296

[Leanne King]

Update on City Ordinance 2012-296
Your attention to this matter is still needed.

On July 23rd, via an article in the Times-Union, it was learned that Council President Bill Bishop wants to clear the decks of two big issues before budget hearings begin. Ordinance 2012-296 is the issue that we have been actively involved in since May.

I have sent out previous communications reviewing this Ordinance and the implications it will have on our community if City Council allows this to pass. All of this information is available on the FCTP website. If you wish to read the previous communications, please go to the blog section of the FCTP website and look for related blogs on May 24th and 26th, June 5th, 12th and 26th.

The Anti-discrimination bill has generated thousands of emails, letters and phone calls to council members. Unfortunately, most of those correspondences have been in favor of this Ordinance. Mr. Bishop has told council members to vote it up or vote it down. They are wanting to get the budget issues settled, and getting this matter off the table is something that Mr. Bishop would like to do sooner than later.

We believe that the earliest the council could vote is August 15th as the August 14 date has been changed due to the primaries being on August 14th. Mr. Bishop could pull council members out of committee and onto the council floor for a vote at any time, as he has the power to do. We must not let up on the pressure for elected council members to DO THE RIGHT THING. We have some insight as to how the various council members are leaning with their vote. There are some that have already stated that they are voting for the ordinance and others have stated that they will vote NO. There are three that have stated they are undecided. We need 10 votes and to the best of our knowledge only have seven solid votes. I would encourage you to contact ALL council members and encourage them to vote NO on this ordinance. It would be extremely helpful if personal letters/emails were to be sent to the following three councilmen. Also, if you are a member of a church or synagogue, please contact your leaders and encourage them to ask their congregations to take an active role in contacting City Council members.

Bill Bishop ([e-mail])
Jim Love ([e-mail])
Greg Anderson ([e-mail])

The link below is provided as a very easy way to send a message to all city council officials.
http://www.votervoice.net/Core/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=457&Is...
City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday August 15th at 5:00 PM at City Hall. We need a strong showing and we need to have our voices heard via emails, personal letters, and phone calls. PLEASE do your part to ensure that our freedoms are protected.

Thank You

Leanne King

[Leanne King]

City Council is scheduled for WEDNESDAY. I believe that it is scheduled for 5PM. At this time my understanding is that the final vote on the ordinance is on the agenda. If I hear differently I will let you know. 

[Helen]

Leanne, do you know if the Council is scheduled to act tomorrow, 15 Aug ?

[William I Gulliford]

Ken,

Those are the rules. It is not about importance. We are a republkic not a democracy. If you don't like the law, change it.

[Maxine Jessica Roberts]

Ken, Its a three sided power structure. Legislation, Court and Executive. Courts can enforce or refuse to enforce laws as they see fit. And those proceedings will then affect future laws. 

[amanda choate]

There is so much energy being spent here against an ordinance that gives people more freedom.

Freedom, when provided to a minority, usually restricts the majority in their actions. That is why we have representative government, So they might appeal to the better angels of our nature. Were it so.

Failing a governing body that acts to protect the rights of it's citizens, then the courts step in to provide lawful orders to instruct behavior.

For years we heard that ending DADT would destroy the military. Didn't happen. One US Navy ship upon its return from deployment gave its honary first kiss to a gay officer on the boat. They seem to be doing fine. It is only the atrophied minds of those who seek to limit others freedoms and remedies that don't want this bill.

If you cite religous reasons, then what you are saying isthat your religion trumps the Constitution. It doesn't. Otherwise, we would be in danger of having Sharia law trump our Constitution., no one wnats that. My religion is the freedom of all men. My religion is that your freedom ends right at the point where it limits mine. And where there is a tossup, we go with the way that provides the most freedom to the individual.

[William I Gulliford]

PS I don't think I owuld come to a council meeting until you know that 296 has cleared the committees. I do not think Mr. Bishop will discharge it and go against three committee chairs. It still would have to clear a vote on the disharge too if he did.

[William I Gulliford]

Donna,

I am told we have received over 6000 emails on 296. I try to randomly select those that appear to be personally written to send a response and not those that appear to be "robo". I have probably repsonded to over 100 as I know some of my collegues have too. Youi don't have a "failure to communicate", we have an "overload".  Remember this is just a "part time" job according to many of our constituents. I would like them to spend a week with me.

Sincerely,

Bill Gulliford

City Council, District 13

PS I am currently on vacation with my three grandsons in Montana.

[Leanne King]

Lizzie, actually there are 3 of us that can. When we have a question about one we discuss it but that very seldom has to happen.

[Lizzie]

Leanne, are you the only person who approves a blog?  Or is there a committee?  Just curious about the process (sorry to ask a non-related to the blog topic - question).  ty

[Leanne King]

Steven, thank you for the note and the kind words. No problem and I was not offended in the least. If I am doing something wrong or something is misunderstood clarification is the key. Again, thank you.

Maxine, I very seldom decline a post, a picture, a video, etc. I believe I did decline on of your blogs as it contained language that I did not feel was appropriate for our site. But one and only one. I did remove a comment for the same reason.   I also sent you a personal email explaining why.

Carry on Patriots!!!!!!!!!!  We have a country to save.