By Donna Westfall – April 13, 2017 – Denying 1st Amendment rights came back to the April 11, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting for discussion in a number of ways: Linda Sutter managed to offer up public comment referring to Sup. Hemmingsen and Chair Howard in unflattering terms of “Neanderthal” and “misogynist behavior” when they turned her microphone off during public comment on March 28th. I simply asked for an apology for doing the same to me, while thanking and complimenting County Counsel, Elizabeth Cable, for correcting herself. And Sup. Gitlin asked for a public apology to both Linda Sutter and myself. You can view the video.
An attack on the performance of an individual supervisor is not a personal attack. In the future, if attacks against an individual supervisor in their performance as a supervisor are misconstrued and mischaracterized as personal attacks, and otherwise free speech is accordingly obstructed, this could form the basis of a law suit. This is the turning point in this controversy and no one quite addressed it. Nonetheless, Roger and Bob made it clear they will always err on the side of freedom of speech. Thank you, Roger and Bob. Thank you Gerry for your apology and willingness to hear out the public in future meetings.
Yes I thank Supervisor Gitlin and Supervisor Berkowitz not for coming to my aid, but for standing up for the Freedom of Speech for everyone who decides to brave the microphone at the Board of Supervisor meetings. For standing up for our men and women in uniform who place their lives in jeopardy and who offer their lives in sacrifice to protect our freedoms.
I don’t think Chair Howard learned his lesson because towards the end of the tape he still talks about how he has the right to cut the microphone if there are attacks on the supervisors. Not understanding Constitutional law 101 is an atrocity and embarrassment to the very people he serves in this county, and the representation of ignorance that he, Sup. Lori Cowan, and Sup. Hemmingsen.
Del Norte County is away from any large city where media would have been all over this. We are truly in an area where there is no law north of the Klamath River. Where some elected officials do not understand any concept of what they are saying and the power they have as an elected official is the “LAW”.
Until changes are made, we all lose.
Linda’s right, Supervisor Howard doesn’t get it. He comes off as arrogant. Also seems to have selective hearing as to Ms. Cable’s legal opinion, which I thought was pretty sound.
It takes a lot of strength to stand up for freedom and to listen to things one disagrees with. Thank you to everyone for your hard work!
WOW! Thank you Mr. Gitlin!
Acknowledgement of public apologies is noted for County Counsel Cable and supervisors Howard and Hemmingsen. I hope real lessons were learned here: Free Speech is greater than the inconsistencies of the Del Norte County manual…AND in the case of public speakers Sutter and Westfall, Free Speech is not hate speech. The Constitution guarantees your right to express yourself, unimpeded by politicians who do not agree with your message.
Roger Gitlin
Supervisor,District 1
County of Del Norte