Top Story Number 10
I was delighted to see the "Disorderly Events
Ordinance" story included in the ER's recap of 2007's top
stories. I was much less enthused with the dismissive
tone of the write up in the ER.
This is an excellent example of why many consider the ER
little more than a mouthpiece for the
Chamber of Commerce and other conservative interests.
What bothers me more is the absence of journalistic
balance in the article.
Although the number of valid signatures fell short,
the efforts of two individuals in particular were
herculean. Jessica Allen and Justin Vodden sacrificed
hundreds of hours in the trenches doing Democracy's
hard work because they see the ordinance as the sham
attack on our freedom that it is.
The fact that they and their cohorts were able to
gather nearly 5,000 signatures and register over 1,000
new voters makes them a couple of Chico's finest
citizens in my book.
Many of our personal freedoms have taken a beating under the current regime in Washington. I am hopeful that when the City Council resolves to take another look at the Disorderly Events Ordinance that they can see it in the broader context it deserves, regardless of the convenience it provides for law enforcement.