{"id":1627,"date":"2014-04-02T23:29:00","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T23:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/?p=1627"},"modified":"2014-04-03T23:30:26","modified_gmt":"2014-04-03T23:30:26","slug":"arrest-of-journalist-on-april-1st-unwarranted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/arrest-of-journalist-on-april-1st-unwarranted\/","title":{"rendered":"Arrest of journalist on April 1st unwarranted"},"content":{"rendered":"
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To: Mayor Lynn Robinson<\/span><\/p>\n
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City of Santa Cruz, Ca.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
re: arrest of Robert Norse for recording the\u00a0meeting<\/span><\/div>\n
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April 2 2014,<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Dear Mayor Robinson,<\/span><\/div>\n
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On April 1, 2014, HUFF member & radio journalist, Robert Norse<\/span><\/div>\n
attended the Santa Cruz City Council. He had e-mailed you in advance<\/span><\/div>\n
informing you that he would be speaking on behalf of our organization,<\/span><\/div>\n
Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom (HUFF), & was seeking the<\/span><\/div>\n
customary 5-minutes traditionally\u00a0afforded organizations on relevant agenda<\/span><\/div>\n
items.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As your follow-up e-mail confirmed, you were aware he intended to speak<\/span><\/div>\n
on the item\u00a0re: new permits\u00a0required for large events.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He placed his tape recorder upon the wooden\u00a0banister to record portions<\/span><\/div>\n
of the meeting for his radio show as he has\u00a0done hundreds of times\u00a0since 1995,<\/span><\/div>\n
when the Sgt. of Arms interfered with his ability to record and\u00a0informed<\/span><\/div>\n
him that it was upon your orders.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Robert Norse’ use of a portable tape recorder in no way disrupts<\/span><\/div>\n
council meetings and is protected by the 1st amendments prohibitions<\/span><\/div>\n
on preventing the press from performing their work.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
While I am aware you appear to have specifically tailored a policy to ban<\/span><\/div>\n
Mr. Norse and only Mr. Norse from recording upcoming meetings, it appears<\/span><\/div>\n
you also\u00a0intended to shut down HUFF’s timely concerns, intimidate our members, and<\/span><\/div>\n
pass a chill on the freedom of members of the press to cover council meetings<\/span><\/div>\n
under your rule.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In addition, since you had Mr. Norse arrested, charged with misdemeanor<\/span><\/div>\n
charge of disrupting a meeting, and excluded from the rest of the meeting,<\/span><\/div>\n
you prevented our organization’s ability to weigh in on the item on which<\/span><\/div>\n
Mr. Norse was there to present. As such, this constitutes a Brown Act violation<\/span><\/div>\n
so that\u00a0we seek the entire item be redone with appropriate public comment<\/span><\/div>\n
allowed and an unfettered\u00a0press to cover the item as well.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
You are the first Mayor in 18 years to go to the draconian extreme of arresting a <\/span><\/div>\n
member of the press for using a recording device at a\u00a0City Council\u00a0meeting.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
At the very least, this is petty, personal,\u00a0disturbing, and beneath you.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
We urge that no charges be filed against Mr. Norse since no actual disruption<\/span><\/div>\n
of the meeting occurred, that the policy forbidding<\/span><\/div>\n
tape recorders placed\u00a0on the banister be rescinded, and that an apology from<\/span><\/div>\n
yourself be forth-coming.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Please settle this small matter before it becomes a large matter.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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Sincerely,<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Becky Johnson, on behalf of HUFF<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
309 Cedar St. PMB 14B — Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060<\/span><\/div>\n