Sidewalk law petition coming

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Sidewalk law petition coming

Submitted by Poor Peoples Union on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 5:30pm.

Sidewalk law petition coming.

Matt Batcheldor/The Olympian

Voters could decide whether Olympia's controversial pedestrian interference ordinance remains law if an Olympia group gets its way.
A new organization calling itself the Poor Peoples Union will launch a petition drive next week to get a referendum placed on the ballot, said Rob Richards, an organizer of the group and coordinator of the Bread and Roses Advocacy Center. "At this point we're just writing the language of the referendum and preparing packets to start gathering signatures," he said.
But it was unclear Tuesday how many signatures petitioners would need to be successful - 2,767 or 4,087 - because the city's code contradicts itself. On one hand, the code says to follow a state law that says 15 percent of registered city voters at the time of the last city election have to sign a petition for a referendum. There were 27,248 registered voters on the last city general election in 2005, said Keith Mullen, assistant manager of elections for Thurston County. So, 15 percent of that would be 4,087 signatures. That's the law for "code" cities, the classification Olympia falls under.
But Olympia's code also says to follow a state law that requires signatures from 25 percent of the people who cast a vote for mayor in the last mayoral election. The last election in 2003 saw 11,071 vote for mayor, and and 25 percent of that would mean 2,767 signatures. Those are the rules for a "commission" city, which Olympia no longer is.
City Attorney Bob Sterbank said he didn't know which requirement applied. He's not aware Olympia has ever had a referendum. "I've not been presented with this question before," he said.

We can gather signatures at stores and downtown..

Submitted by bubbaz (not verified) on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 5:38pm.

As well as in the neighborhoods and at different events..

I will be willing to gather signatures..

Good article

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 5:53pm.

I've created teams to start gathering signatures. One team, headed by Marco Rosaire Rossi will be tasked with going door to door in neighborhoods, a second team, which as of yet does not have a coordinator, will hit the public spaces that bubbaz mentioned, a third team will do outreach to downtown businesses, who will be unfairly impacted by these ordinances as well.

If anyone has questions or wants to help, either call me at 359.3293 or come to the Poor Peoples Union meetings every Saturday at 3pm, at 1009 E. 4th Ave. Bring food, it's a potluck!

"Only a fool lets somebody else tell him who his enemy is. -Assata Shakur

Sweet! So does this mean

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 6:15pm.

Sweet! So does this mean that the PPU is setting a precedent for the city with this referrendum?

That's what it looks like.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 6:26pm.

As far as I know, and from what Bob Sterbank says, it's never been done in Olympia. I think whether we win or lose, we have the opportunity to educate and empower people as to how they can participate in democracy.

"Only a fool lets somebody else tell him who his enemy is. -Assata Shakur

Referendum

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 6:46pm.

That's a lot of signatures, either way. I am sure that it's do-able either way also.

I would argue that the lower number should apply in this case where there is a conflict. It seems that, do to the confusion, the benefit of the doubt should go to the petitioners. There must be some legal precedent to that effect.

Alright for citizen activated democracy.

signutares

Submitted by chuminator on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 8:31pm.

well if we want 25% of the poulation than we should hit like evergreen state college and SPSCC, the mall and many other public places.

NO - that is a misconception

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 11:45am.

This petition needs OLYMPIA registered voters, not just anyone from Lewis County, Tumwater, etc. Public crowd signature gathering is a POOR way to do that. What we need are walking lists and a door to door campaign aimed at actual known voters who vote more often than not.

We have that data. It's less work to do it this way than it is to work on verifying petitions that each have only three or four valid signatures out of 20.

I'd say go slow on the public petition gathering or just do it for educational outreach and fundraising, not for getting valid signatures. Out of Oly sigs can be used for direct appeals, but who wants to sign up for "political spam?" Not many, and we would be hard pressed to use the data anyway - mail costs money.

"The greatest hoax played on the masses is that their individual voice is nothing amidst the cacophany of world events." - enpen, an Olyblogger (2006)

this is awesome

Submitted by enpen on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:00pm.

I'm signing. Unfortunately I wasn't here to vote in the last City election, but I'm still a registered voter. 1 out of 2 is better than 0.

"Anybody who doesn't know that politics is crime has got a few screws loose."

good on ya

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:04pm.

What this city needs is 3 or 5 thousand more people like you, sir.

Clarification: read the actual laws

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 11:39am.

Clarification: The journalist seems to think that because Olympia is not a "Commission" style city, but a "Code" city, the requirements for a referendum are in doubt. He forgot the prinicple in law that the most recent or most specific law controls.

The reference to using Commission style rules (25% of the votes for Mayor at the most recent election) was made the year AFTER the city was made a "code city." SO it is clear that the Council intended to use the lower standard (25% of Mayoral votes versus 15% of all Olympia Voters) when they specified that the rules to be used were those of the old style of government that the City had been.

See laws cited below with LEGAL REFERENCES to the actual laws. So you can read them for yourself!

We're going to get the signatures, and they are going to be obtained much more quickly than anyone predicts. When we turn them in, we will only file the petition sheets we ALREADY know are registered voters. We have our own databases of that stuff and we'll be checking them as we get them.

We'll collect signatures in late Winter, all of Spring. We'll have the correct number long before the deadline, and we'll turn in the signatures before they expire (they can only last 6 months) but long after we've gotten "enough." (We'll have the extra signatures if the decision is made that a higher number is needed.) Then we'll see the City back down because they know that if this many people want it on the ballot, they intend to vote AGAINST the sidewalk ordnances. They'll know that because they can read the Olympian Comments section to see exactly that sentiment expressed. Y'know? I never thought that comments section would be useful - guess I was wrong!

The laws:
01.16.010 - Retention of powers--Statutory provisions
A. The city commission elects to retain the powers of initiative and referendum for the qualified electors of the city for purposes of RCW 35A.11.080.
B. The powers of initiative and referendum shall, when exercised, be done so in the manner set forth for the commission form of government in RCW 35.17.240 through 35.17.360.
(Ord. 4092 §§1, 2, 1978.

01.08.010 - Classification adopted
There is adopted for the city of Olympia, Washington, the classification of noncharter code city, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 35A.02.030.
(Ord. 4056 §1, 1977).
NOTE THE DATES - the most recent law wins! Drew Hendricks | 12.21.06 - 10:28 am | #

"The greatest hoax played on the masses is that their individual voice is nothing amidst the cacophany of world events." - enpen, an Olyblogger (2006)

hat tip: drew hendricks

Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 12:17pm.

Thanks for clarifying this drew

"Only a fool lets somebody else tell him who his enemy is. -Assata Shakur

got my vote also

Submitted by chuminator on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 1:55pm.

count me on it also I am willing to sign also

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