LandWatch Action Alert:
ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY

Late last Tuesday evening, February 28th, the Board of Supervisors did the unthinkable. They have voted to not, I repeat, NOT adopt nor place on the June ballot the Community General Plan Initiative. This is in violation of the Election Code of the State of California. As you will remember, we were able to circulate petitions and collect 16,000 signatures to place the Community General Plan Initiative before the Board. The Board, by law, had only two choices: adopt the Initiative as-is or put the Initiative on the ballot as-is.

The very next day, we took immediate action and filed a lawsuit to force the County Board of Supervisors to do what the law requires. The courts have uniformly condemned local governments when those legislative bodies have refused to place duly qualified initiatives on the ballot. Monterey Superior Court Judge Fields set a hearing for March 16, 2006, but yesterday the County changed the venue of the case to the Federal Court.

First, the Board of Supervisors violated the due process of the nearly 16,000 signers of the petition to put the initiative on the ballot. Now, they are trying to hijack the California Constitution. They broke state law, and because they have no valid arguments to keep our initiative off the ballot, they have removed the case from the State Court in an attempt to keep the initiative off the June ballot.

We will seek an immediate hearing to remand the case back to the State Court and get our initiative on the June ballot. Our case is very strong. And we will prevail. If we are unable to get the initiative on the June ballot, we will get it on the ballot as soon as possible.

We need your financial support to make our case in the courts. We have come to you so many times asking for your support. And you have been generous because we share the same values and because we are so close to victory. LandWatch needs to raise $40,000 quickly to make sure our victory is quick.

The law is crystal clear on this. The Board’s action is unconscionable, beyond belief! We can’t let them frustrate the will of the people once again.

Please respond to this appeal as generously and as quickly as you can. Checks should be made payable to LandWatch* and sent to Box 1876, Salinas CA 93902.

I am very grateful for your support. Together, we will prevail!

Very truly yours,

Chris Fitz
Executive Director
LandWatch Monterey County

* LandWatch Monterey County is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization (Tax Identification Number: 911 862145), and donations are fully deductible for income tax purposes.

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Posted 03.09.06