SUPERVISOR. CRYE. GOOD MORNING.
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
TODAY IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IT IS OCTOBER 14TH AND THE TIME IS 9 A.M.WE WILL. WE HAVE ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT ALONG WITH CEO DAVE RICKERT COUNTY COUNCIL JOE LARMER FROM THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, STEPHANIE BLANKENSHIP, MIRANDA ANGEL, AND MARCY WINSTEAD. WE ENCOURAGE THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
FILL OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CLERK IN THE FOYER. SPEAKER REQUEST CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK BEFORE.
EXCUSE ME. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH REGULAR ITEM BEGINS.
WITH THAT. I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO MISS ANGEL. THANK YOU.
THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY OF THE BOARD ROOM. RULES OF ORDER AS OUTLINED IN ADMIN POLICY ONE DASH 101, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ONLINE THROUGH THE CLERK OF THE BOARD WEBSITE.
THIS POLICY INCLUDES SIGNAGE RESTRICTIONS, ATTENDEE SEATING, AND OVERALL CONDUCT TO ENSURE BUSINESS IS DONE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION AND THAT ALL HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE UNLESS ADDRESSING THE BOARD.
ALL THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE SHALL REMAIN SEATED IN THE CHAIRS PROVIDED.
STANDING ALONG THE BACK WALL OF THE BOARDROOM IS ACCEPTABLE, SO LONG AS NO PERSON BLOCKS THE INGRESS OR EGRESS.
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WHO WANT TO OBSERVE, RECORD OR OTHERWISE DOCUMENT A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO SET UP EQUIPMENT FROM THE DESIGNATED AREA ALONG THE SOUTH WINDOWS. SHASTA COUNTY REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT. FOR ANYONE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE, ATTEND OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE WITH THE SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE KINDLY ASK THAT ALL ATTENDEES ADHERE TO THESE RULES.
WITH THAT CHAIR, I'LL TURN THINGS BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ANGEL. WITH THAT, I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MYSELF.
SALUTE. PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AS THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING, THERE IS NO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, NOR WAS THERE AN INVOCATION.
JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE, WE WERE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR ONE MISS ANGEL. HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE EIGHT SPEAKERS.
CHAIR. COULD YOU PLEASE GET THEM LINED UP IN QUEUE? EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. FIRST WE HAVE CHRISTIAN GARDNER, FOLLOWED BY JEFF GORDON, LISA JENSEN, JENNY, AND BEV. IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF ISSUES I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP.
NUMBER ONE, I STILL HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN A RESPONSE.
A FULL RESPONSE ON A CPRA REQUEST 25.
OKAY. SO ONE IS THE ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, IS THAT CORRECT? AND SO IF THAT IS THE CASE.
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LITIGATION THAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
IF WE HAVE AN OUT OF CONTROL PROCESS GOING ON HERE IN SHASTA COUNTY.
AND I CAN INFORM YOU, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS VERY AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION IS CONCERNING BECAUSE.
IT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE ROV, TO BE FAIR, TO BE NON-BIASED.
NON-PARTIAL. EVERY INDICATION IS THAT MR. TURNER AND MR. CURTIS ARE HARDLY EITHER ONE OF THOSE.
OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IS IN DANGER HERE IN SHASTA COUNTY.
AND THE DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS THE DOCUMENTATION IN THE EMAILS, SEEK TO ADDRESS THAT.
WE CANNOT HAVE, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LITIGATED AGAINST THE COUNTY IN THE ROV OFFICE.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
SO THE ONE SITUATION, LEGAL ACTION MAY UNFOLD TO A MASSIVE DEGREE IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE TO REMEDY THE RIDICULOUS OUT OF CONTROL POLICY THAT THE ROV IS IMPLEMENTING UPON THE MEDIA,
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WE CAN INFORM MR. CURTIS.FASCISM IS NOT GOING TO EXIST HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOT IF CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO RISE UP AGAINST IT AND FIGHT AGAINST IT.
THIS MEDIA IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.
JEFF GORDON, FOLLOWED BY LISA JENSEN, JENNY, BEV AND THEN DOLORES. IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ITEM IS THAT IT RELATES TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION'S LETTER TO THE BOARD AND THE ROV REGARDING POTENTIAL FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS PERPETRATED BY THE ROV AGAINST SHASTA SCOUT.
AND YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS OF THIS CASE ARE THAT SHASTA SCOUT REPORTED ON MR. CURTIS'S CLAIMS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD APPROVED HIS PROTOCOL AND WAS AWARE OF ALL THE METHODS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE USING IN THIS ELECTION.
AND THE SHASTA SCOUT CALLS THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS, WE'VE NEVER TALKED TO MR. CURTIS. WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MR. CURTIS'S PROTOCOL. SO BASED ON THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MR. CURTIS DECIDES THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO SEND ANY PRESS RELEASES TO SHASTA SCOUT BECAUSE, IN HIS VIEW, THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT A LEGITIMATE PRESS ORGANIZATION.
THEY'RE MEDDLING IN THE ELECTION IN SOME WAY.
TAKE A TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOW ABSURD THAT IS.
YOU KNOW AND THEN FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, ACCORDING TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION'S ATTORNEY, MR. CURTIS, THEN SENDS AN EMAIL SAYING, WELL, WE JUST AREN'T GOING TO PROVIDE PRESS RELEASES TO ANY MEDIA ORGANIZATION.
YOU KNOW, IS THAT ANY WAY TO RUN AN ROV OFFICE? IS THAT THE TRANSPARENCY THAT, THAT WE'RE EXPECTING? WHEN YOU HAVE A MEDIA ORGANIZATION, APPARENTLY JUST FOLLOWING UP ON MR. CURTIS'S CLAIMS THAT THE SOS WAS AWARE OF HIS PROTOCOL.
THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST TO REVERSE COURSE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I MADE A MISTAKE.
I AM GOING TO SEND PRESS RELEASES TO SHASTA SCOUT RATHER THAN HE JUST DOUBLES DOWN AND SAID, OKAY, I'M NOT GOING TO SEND OUT ANY PRESS RELEASES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS BOARD HAS NOT CALLED MR. CURTIS BEFORE IT TO QUESTION HIM ABOUT WHAT, SPECIFICALLY THE SOS KNOWS ABOUT HIS PROTOCOL. YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S GET THE FACTS ON THIS.
IF CATHY DARLING ALLEN WAS THE ROV, THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE CALLED HER ON THE CARPET AND YOU KNOW, RAKED OVER THE COALS ESSENTIALLY OVER THIS WITH MR. CURTIS. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO CONCERN.
WE'LL JUST LET MR. CURTIS DO WHAT HE WANTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY REQUEST IS BOARD DIRECT MR. CURTIS FOR WHATEVER AUTHORITY THAT HAS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SEND PRESS RELEASES OUT TO EVERYBODY.
DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SHASTA SCOUT.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT LITIGATION.
AND LET'S CALL MR. CURTIS IN TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE SOS KNOWS AND WHAT IT DOESN'T KNOW.
THANK YOU. LISA JENSEN FOLLOWED BY JENNY, BEV, DOLORES, THEN STEVE KHAN.
IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE. GOOD MORNING.
HERE'S WHAT A FEW JUDGES HAVE SAID ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT GIVING MEDIA PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT BASED ON CONTENT.
THE DANGER IN GRANTING FAVORABLE TREATMENT TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA IS OBVIOUS.
IT ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO INFLUENCE THE TYPE OF SUBSTANTIVE MEDIA COVERAGE THAT THE PUBLIC EVENTS WILL RECEIVE.
SUCH A PRACTICE IS UNQUESTIONABLY AT ODDS WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
NEITHER THE COURTS NOR ANY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT CAN BE ALLOWED TO AFFECT THE CONTENT OR TENOR OF NEWS BY CHOREOGRAPHING WHICH NEWS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO RELEVANT INFORMATION. THAT'S ANDERSON V CRYOVAC, INC. AND THAT'S A FEDERAL CASE.
AND THEN CONTENT BASED RESTRICTION OF SPEECH IMPOSES AN ESPECIALLY HEAVY BURDEN ON THE GOVERNMENT. TO EXPLAIN WHY A LESS RESTRICTIVE PROVISION WOULD BE WOULD NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE.
THAT'S RENO. RENO VERSUS ACLU, AND THAT WAS THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. WHILE CLINT CURTIS CAN SAY THAT HE'LL NO LONGER PROVIDE ANY PRESS RELEASES TO ANY MEDIA ENTITY. THIS IS YOUR SAME APPOINTED ROV WHOSE CAMPAIGN PROMISES CENTER AROUND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS.
HE ASKED FOR AN EXTRA 2.6 MILLION OVER HIS $4.4 MILLION BUDGET TO INCREASE TRUST BY MOVING THE ELECTIONS OFFICE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE OBSERVERS AND MORE CAMERAS.
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GOING RADIO SILENT TO AVOID NEGATIVE PRESS IS NOT TRANSPARENCY.A PUBLIC SPEAKER SUPPORTING MR. CURTIS'S 136 K BUDGET INCREASE STATED THAT HONEST PEOPLE ARE NOT AFRAID OF CAMERAS RECORDING OR RECORDING.
THE PRUDENT DECISION WOULD BE FOR THE ROV TO REINSTATE PRESS RELEASES AND INCLUDE SHASTA SCOUT. WHETHER OR NOT THEY FIND THE STORIES ABOUT THEM FLATTERING.
EVEN A BLANKET MORATORIUM ON ANY PRESS RELEASES CANNOT UNDO MR. PIERCE. MR. CURTIS'S PAST COMMENTS REFLECTING CONTENT BASED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE FREE PRESS. THIS COUNTY COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON UNNECESSARY LAWSUITS IF SOME OF OUR BARGAIN BASEMENT.
PETE HEGSETH WOULD THINK BEFORE THEY SPEAK.
THANK YOU. JENNY FOLLOWED BY BEV, DOLORES, STEVE KHAN, THEN BENJAMIN NGUYEN. IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE. THE PRESS WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, HENCE WHY A MAJORITY OF THEM HAD A LEGAL PRESS.
THE REASON WHY THEY PUT PRESS IN TO HOLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE IS BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY HOW THEY CAUSED THE REVOLUTION.
THAT IS HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO GAIN SUPPORT BY SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THE CONSTITUTION.
IT'S IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT FOR A REASON.
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS MENTIONED BECAUSE PRESS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HOLDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. CLINT CURTIS IS NOT A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
CLINT CURTIS IS NOT A PRIVATE ENTITY.
HE IS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE PRESS.
THANK YOU. BEV. FOLLOWED BY DOLORES.
STEVE KHAN AND BENJAMIN NGUYEN.
WHAT LAW SAYS A MEDIA MUST BE GIVEN PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION.
YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE MONEY AND SEE WHY SOME OF THESE ARTICLES ARE BEING WRITTEN.
LIKE THEY ARE. FAKE. FAKE NEWS HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE TO OUR NATION THAN ANY OTHER.
ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. IF SHE WOULD, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE BASED ON, ON WHAT SHE WRITES.
ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY, YOU DON'T INVITE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO LIE TO YOUR PARTIES, TO YOUR KID'S PARTY.
THANK YOU. DOLORES. FOLLOWED BY STEVE KHAN, THEN BENJAMIN NGUYEN.
WELL, WHAT SHE JUST SAID DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.
YOU DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYBODY.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
YOU CHOSE HIM BECAUSE YOU SAID HE WILL.
WE WILL HAVE A BETTER, BETTER ELECTION, BETTER RESULT, BETTER TRANSPARENCY. HE'S THE BEST.
YOU GAVE HIM EVERYTHING HE WANTED, INCLUDING $135,000 MORE.
BOY, WHAT ARE WE? ARE WE REALLY THAT STUPID? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK WE ARE.
THEY THINK THAT IT'S OKAY TO RETALIATE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EXPOSE PEOPLE.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING BECAUSE OF THE ROLE MODELS THAT YOU YOU GUYS ARE THE ROLE MODELS OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU ARE THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS GUY IS DOING.
HE HE FIGURES HE CAN DO IT BECAUSE KEVIN CRYE IS A LIAR JUST LIKE HIM.
BOTTOM LINE, FOR HIM TO BE LYING TO THE CITIZENS.
WHEN I GOT THIS INFORMATION, I ACTUALLY FILED A COMPLAINT.
AND I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT AGENCY, BUT I ACTUALLY FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT REQUESTING FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO FALSE STATEMENTS.
AND POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA LAW.
ABIDES BY THE SHASTA COUNTY CLERK, REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, CLINT CURTIS. SO I DID REQUEST FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BECAUSE IT IS CRIMINAL WHAT HE DID. HE MADE FALSE ALLEGATIONS, FALSE STATEMENTS.
IT'S ACTUALLY ELECTION CODE 18203 FALSE STATEMENTS BY THE ELECTION OFFICIAL OFFICER.
SO ABSOLUTELY, HE MADE FALSE STATEMENTS AND HE USED THE PUBLIC, THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS, THE TAXPAYERS FUNDS TO MAKE THESE FALSE ALLEGATIONS. AND IT'S ALSO PERJURY BECAUSE HE WAS HE SIGNED A DECLARATION AND TOOK AN OATH.
HE MIGHT NOT HAVE TAKEN IT HERE, BUT HE TOOK IT OVER THERE IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT. SO IT IS PERJURY.
HE PERJURED HIMSELF. AND ON TOP OF THAT, HE MISUSED THE FUNDS.
AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW LAWS THAT HE ACTUALLY BROKE.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM RETALIATING AGAINST THOSE WHO SPEAK,
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BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW KEVIN CRYE TREATS PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.HE ACTUALLY RETALIATES AND ATTACKS THEM TO SILENCE THEM.
AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING A LONG TIME.
SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT WHEN MR. CLINT CURTIS, IS HE GOING TO STAY IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT WHEN HE PLANS TO RUN? IS HE GOING TO BE FLIPPING THE VOTES? ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRUST HIM? I DON'T TRUST HIM AS FAR AS I CAN SPIT, AND THAT MEANS I CAN SPIT THAT FAR.
SO I'M SAYING THAT YOU, KEVIN CRYE, ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
YOU ARE CORRUPT AND SO IS THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU BROUGHT IN.
AND NOW WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
SO THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU.
DRIVE SAFE. STEVE KHAN, FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN NGUYEN AND CHAIR.
THAT WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. BOARD STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.
I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING DRAWN INTO ANOTHER SITUATION OF A LAWSUIT.
AND I THINK THERE MAY BE MANY MORE BY THE INEPT ACTIONS OF OUR ROV.
I THINK THIS IS TRYING TO SILENCE THE MEDIA.
I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS IN RUSSIA OR CHINA, NOT IN THE UNITED STATES, NOT IN SHASTA COUNTY.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BETTER ELECTIONS. AND THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS ONLY MOVED US TOWARDS A WORSE AND WORSE SITUATION.
I THINK THIS BOARD NEEDS TO STAND UP AND CALL HIM TO TASK AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I MEAN, HE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE IN THE OFFICE EXCEPT FOR CRYE AND HIS MAJORITY PUTTING HIM IN THAT POSITION. CRYE CONTINUALLY REFERS TO HIM AS AN ELECTED IN AN ELECTED INDIVIDUAL.
HE IS NOT. HE IS AN APPOINTED INDIVIDUAL TO AN ELECTED OFFICE, WHICH YOU HAVE STATED INCORRECTLY SEVERAL TIMES AT THESE MEETINGS.
CRYE. SO GO AHEAD, CORRECT YOURSELF NOW IF YOU WISH, BUT. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF.
AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, DISENFRANCHIZING THE PEOPLE OF SHASTA COUNTY, REMOVING NINE BALLOT BOXES FROM IN SHINGLETOWN AND BERNIE WHERE PEOPLE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE PEOPLE.
AND NOW WITH A BALLOT THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW PEOPLE VOTED.
HAVING A MAIL CARRIER BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT AND POSSIBLY DISPOSE OF YOUR BALLOT.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT DROP IN.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO IT DOES RELATE TO LAWSUITS.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL IN POWER.
SO I'M QUIRKY. YOU WERE KIND OF SUCKED INTO THIS THING.
I WOULD LIKE THREE OF YOU AT LEAST, TO DO SOMETHING SERIOUS ABOUT THIS CLEARLY INEPT AND ILLEGAL ACTING ROV.
HE SUPPOSEDLY IS AN ATTORNEY, BUT I THINK IT DOES EXPLAIN WHY HE HAS NEVER WON A LAWSUIT. YOU KNOW, HIS ACTIONS, HIS VIDEOS ARE THAT OF A CHILD.
I MEAN, HE'S CLEARLY INEPT, AND IT'S TIME FOR THIS BOARD TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING. THIS GUY IS MAKING VERY SERIOUS MISTAKES, ALONG WITH TRYING TO SILENCE THE MEDIA, WHICH IS UNIMAGINABLE.
HIS ASSISTANT ROV THREATENED TO SUE IF THEY DIDN'T COME AROUND MORE TO HIS WAY OF THINKING AND BE POSITIVE TO THE ROV.
THIS IS INSANE. THIS IS SOMETHING OF CHINA AND RUSSIA, NOT SHASTA COUNTY. AND YOU THREE APPOINTED HIM.
IT'S TIME TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BENJAMIN.
BENJAMIN. THAT'S OUR LAST SPEAKER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO GOOD MORNING.
BOARD. AS SOMEONE WHO'S ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WHAT IT TRULY MEANS IN PRACTICE.
IT'S OUR RIGHT AS THE PUBLIC, AND IT'S A RIGHT THAT WE HAVE TO DEFEND, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC SPEECH. SO NOW I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT STRIKES ME AS A BIT IRONIC.
SO RECENTLY OUR CHAIR, CRYE WENT ON AN INTERVIEW, I THINK IT WAS WITH ACTION NEWS, WHERE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS BELIEF IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. YET HERE WE ARE.
MY WIFE WAS ARRESTED IN THIS VERY ROOM FOR EXERCISING A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING A SITUATION WHERE MR. CURTIS AND MR. TURNER ARE EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING OUT A NEWS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF NEWS COVERAGE. I MIGHT ADD ACCURATE NEWS COVERAGE.
NOW, THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
WHEN THIS BOARD CHOSE SOMEONE LIKE CLINT CURTIS, WHO CLEARLY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF UPHOLDING THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, YOU'RE MAKING A CHOICE THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK A MORE EXPERIENCED, IMPARTIAL INDIVIDUAL, AND INSTEAD WE'RE FACING LEGAL THREATS BECAUSE OF A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.
SO I URGE YOU TAKE A STAND FOR REAL TRANSPARENCY AND EQUAL TREATMENT OF THE
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PRESS. THIS ISN'T ONE NEWS OUTLET.IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE TRUST OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE DISENFRANCHIZING OUR COMMUNITY.
THE PUBLIC DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU. IS THAT OUR LAST SPEAKER, MISS ANGEL? THAT'S CORRECT. CHAIR. ESTIMATED TIME WILL BE 15 TO 30 MINUTES.
REMEMBER, THE BOARD CHAMBERS ARE CLOSED WHILE WE ARE AT RECESS SO YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE AND THEY WILL BE OPEN BACK UP WHEN WE REPORT BACK OUT.
[CLOSED SESSION]
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK.COUNSEL LARMER IS THERE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION?
[REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION]
MR. CHAIRMAN? ONE WAS HEARD IN CLOSED SESSION AND DISCUSSION WAS HELD.THE BOARD VOTED FIVE ZERO THAT THAT VOTE INCLUDED A STATEMENT TO BE REPORTED OUT BY THE CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT.
BY A VOTE OF FIVE ZERO, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF THE PRESS TO HAVE FREE AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.
WE CONDEMN MR. CURTIS'S ACTIONS IN EXCLUDING A MEMBER OF THE PRESS, AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
IF IT OCCURS AGAIN, THE BOARD WILL MOVE TO CENSURE.
WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE,
MIRANDA? NO, CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT,
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.