Announcements & Upcoming Events
Tuesday, September 16, 2008: Get Involved, Help Defend Measure T!
There are a number of ways you can help:
- Sign our petition to the court.
- Attend the Measure T Community Meeting Wednesday, September
24th at 6:30pm at the Labor Temple in Eureka (840 E Street). Call
for further details: 269-0984.
- T Tuesdays at Democracy Unlimited. Every Tuesday night we’ll
have an open time for volunteers to come by who want to get involved.
There’s lots to do so come by from 4:30-8pm
every Tuesday. Call for location and additional info: 269-0984
- Write a letter to the editor. Find tips for letter writing here.
- Put your Measure T yard sign back up. Let your neighbors know that
you're defending democracy! Contact us if you need a sign: 269-0984.
Monday, September 15, 2008: Judge Refuses to Suspend Measure T for
November Elections
Click here for more information...
Friday, August 29, 2008: National Press Release
Click here to read the press release we sent out nationally...
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008: People of Humboldt
County Sued Over Measure T!
We received news today that Measure T has been challenged
in federal court.
The suit against the law has been filed by the Pacific
Legal Foundation,
an anti-government legal organization that works to promote
property
rights and the rights of big businesses. It is brought on behalf of Mercer-Fraser,
Co., a construction company, and O & M Industries, a steel fabricator
and manufacturer of heating systems.
Pacific Legal Foundation is seeking an immediate injunction against
Measure T to halt the law for our November 2008 local elections.
We understood that such a legal challenge could occur when we worked
on the Measure T campaign, and we are working to create a plan
of action. Constitutional law expert John Bonifaz, who pledged during
the campaign to serve pro bono as special legal counsel to Humboldt's
county counsel, has already confirmed his ability to do so.
We sent out this statement to local inquiries earlier today:
"The people of Humboldt County have the right and duty to protect
our electoral process. Voters enacted Measure T based on a legitimate
concern that corporate influence in elections is undermining the integrity
of our elections. It is our community's right to protect itself from
threats to our democracy. The idea that a corporation's so called "rights" are
more important than those of our community is unjust and illegitimate.
Measure T ensures that owners of corporations will operate as individuals
in the political process, just like every other citizen, rather than
gaining undue influence through their corporations.
We are not surprised by this action, but we are certainly disappointed
that Pacific Legal Foundation has so little regard for the will of
the people of Humboldt County."
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap
Spokesperson, Humboldt Coalition for Community Rights
We'll be keeping this site updated as we find out more information and
further develop a strategic response.
Links to more information:
Thursday, July 6th, 2006: Measure T Takes Effect
Today!
As of today, Measure T is the law of the land in Humboldt County. Today
is also exactly one year from when we first turned in the language
for Measure T to the Elections Department. What an anniversary!
We are
currently working to draft up guidelines for candidates so they can
easily follow the law when they run for office. Everyone is asking
about lawsuits - as of today there is no sign of a legal challenge to
the people's will.
Wednesday, June 7th, 2006: VICTORY!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard
over the last year to help us pass Measure T with 55% of the vote.
We have received emails and phone calls from across the country with
wishes of congratulations and thanks to Humboldt County for leading
the fight to reclaim people's rights from corporations.
Now we're going to rest a little and take down the office. If you have
a yard sign and would like us to pick it up, please contact
us.
Tuesday, June 6th: ELECTION DAY!
Help us Get Out the Vote (GOTV) all day long. Stop by our office to help
call supporters to make sure they vote - Hold a sign at busy intersections
during rush hour - Help us check precincts during the day!
Call our
office at 444-0407 to get involved with GOTV. After polls close (8pm)
join
us for a party at the Lost Coast Brewery as we await the election
results and celebrate!
Monday, June 5th: All Day Work Party at T Headquarters
11:00am-9:00pm. Help us contact voters!
Sunday, June 4th: All Day Work Party at T Headquarters
11:00am-7:00pm. Help us contact voters!
Saturday, June 3rd: Arts Alive in Eureka
Help us hand out tea bags and other information. We'll meet at our office
at 7:00pm. To help out, contact us at 444-0407.
Saturday, June 3rd: Farmer's Market in
Arcata
Help us hand out tea bags and other information. To help out, contact Ryan at
825-0905.
Saturday, June 3rd: Work Party at T Headquarters
11:00am-7:00pm. Help us contact voters!
Wednesday, May 31st: Yes on T Campaign on KMUD
7:00-8:00pm. This will
be a call-in show - ask your questions: 923-3911 or 1-800-KMUD-RAD
KMUD is 91.1 (SoHum) / 88.3 (No Hum) / 90.3 (Mendo) or www.kmud.org
Wednesday, May 31st: Debate Hosted by the Times-Standard
The debate will be webcast -- broadcast online -- at www.times-standard.com at
a date to be announced. To submit a question e-mail editor@times-standard.com and
put “Measure
T question” in the subject line. Only e-mailed questions will
be considered.
Tuesday, May 30th: Debate Hosted by the Arcata Committee on Democracy
and Corporations
7:00pm. Senior Room at the Arcata Community Center
Saturday, May 27th - Monday, May 30th: Kinetic
Sculpture Race
Help us hand out tea bags and other information. To help out, contact
our office at 444-0407.
Thursday, May 25th: Houseparty to Support
Measure T
Hosted by Ron
and Melanie Kuhnel and their historic Magdalena Zanone
House. 6:30pm-8:30pm. 1604 G Street, Eureka. Help raise funds for Measure
T and find out how you can get involved in this groundbreaking campaign!
Please contact us with questions: 444-0407 or nicole@VoteLocalControl.org.
Thursday, May 11th: Tabling at League of
Women Voters Candidate Debate
7:00pm. Vet's Hall in Garberville.
(CANCELLED!) Wednesday, May 10th: Forum
on Measure T
Both sides of the Measure T debate will speak and discuss the Measure.
6:30-8:30pm. HSU Goodwin Forum (Nelson Hall East). Facilitated by
the HSU Institute for Study of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Thursday, May 4th: Measure T Debate on KHSU's Thursday
Night Talk
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap (Yes on T) and Chris Crawford (NOT campaign)
will debate on Thursday Night Talk. 7:30pm. This is a call-in show -
ask your questions: 826-4805 or 1-800-640-5911. KHSU is 90.1 (Arcata) / 91.9
(Crescent City) or www.khsu.org
Wednesday, May 3rd: Civil Liberties Monitoring
Project Radio Debate on KMUD
7:00-8:00pm on KMUD. This will be a call-in show - ask your questions: 923-3911
or 1-800-KMUD-RAD
KMUD is 91.1 (SoHum) / 88.3 (No Hum) /90.3 (Mendo) or www.kmud.org
Wednesday, May 3rd: Work Party for Measure T
Help us prepare door-hangers and other campaign materials. Listen to
the KMUD debate in the company of other T supporters while helping
the campaign. 6:30pm. Measure T campaign headquarters: 350 E Street,
Eureka.
Tuesday, April 25th: Community Forum on
Measure T
7:00-9:00pm at the Labor Temple, 840 E St., Eureka (cross street
is 9th). This event is free and open to the public.
SPEAKERS:
John Bonifaz, Attorney and Founder of the National Voting Rights Institute
Paul Gallegos, Humboldt County District Attorney
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Campaign Co-Manager for Measure T
John Bonifaz founded the National Voting Rights Institute (NVRI) in 1994,
and after directing and organizing for a decade, he now serves as its
general counsel. NVRI today is a prominent legal and public education
center committed to preserving the right of all citizens to vote and
to participate in the electoral process on an equal and meaningful basis.
Bonifaz and NVRI are pressing for a US Supreme Court review of a 1976
ruling which equated money with speech and sanctioned today’s system
of unlimited campaign spending. In 1999, in recognition of his
path-breaking work with the National Voting Rights Institute he was awarded
with a prestigious MacArthur Foundations Fellowship, otherwise known
as the “genius” award. Currently, Bonifaz is running
for Secretary of State in Massachusetts.
Other speakers will include Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos
and campaign Co-Manager Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap. The forum will provide
background information about Measure T and offer an opportunity for the
public to ask questions of the proponents.
Saturday, April 22nd: Tabling at SLAM
Fest at HSU
Tabling at the Sustainable
Living Arts and Music Festival at HSU
campus. 12:00-8:00pm.
Thursday, April 20th: "All Things Reconsidered" with
Eric Kirk on KMUD
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap from Measure T at 7pm and Chris Crawford from
the NOT campaign and Humboldt Business Council at 7:30pm. This will
be a call-in show - ask your questions: 923-3911 or 1-800-KMUD-RAD
KMUD is 91.1 (SoHum) / 88.3 (No Hum) /90.3 (Mendo) or www.kmud.org
Sunday,
April 9th:
Letters to the Editor Tea Party
4pm at Sacred Grounds Café - 686 F Street in Arcata. Get together with other supporters to write letters to the editor and enjoy a complimentary cup of tea! Questions? Call Shannon (Letters to the Editor Coordinator) at 822-5832. Or write one on your own - check out our letter writing tips and newspaper contact information.
Sunday, April 2nd: Join us for a Measure T Fundraiser!
Join us for a Mediterranean Dinner at the Labor Temple (840 E Street, Eureka). Doors open at 6:30pm, dinner will be served at 7pm. Advance tickets are $20 per person and $24 at the door.
To purchase advance tickets make checks to HCCR, PO Box 1334, Eureka CA 95502-1334. Include the following information: Full name, phone number, number of tickets, number of vegetarians and/or non-vegetarians in your party. Checks over $99 must also include occupation and employer. Please let us know - 444-0407 or info@VoteLocalControl.org - if you would like to volunteer for this event.
Wednesday, March 29th: Letter to the Editor Writing Party
Join us Wednesday, March 29th at 7:00pm for a team effort to write letters and get to know other Measure T supporters at the campaign office, 350 E Street #102 in Eureka. Snacks and supplies provided - bring a friend!
Tuesday, March 14th: Measure T Phonebanking Begins
The campaign kicks into high gear by beginning our phonebank of registered voters in Humboldt County. For the month of March we will be phonebanking Tuesday and Thursday nights. In April we will work up to 5 nights a week. This is one of the most crucial parts of the campaign. Can you help?! Please sign up to take a shift and help us make the difference on June 6th by educating your fellow voters.
Tuesday, February 21st: Legal Experts Back Measure T
Measure T has the backing of numerous attorneys and legal experts, including Humboldt District Attorney Paul Gallegos, John Bonifaz of the National Voting Rights Institute, Robert Benson, a Constitutional scholar and attorney at Loyola University and Peter Gabel, President of the New College School of Law.
See our February 21 press release and this McKinleyville Press article by Daniel Mintz for more information.
Monday, February 13th: Elections Department Assigns Measure Letter
We've been assigned Measure Letter T, as in IT IS TIME FOR T! Be on the lookout for a new brochure and other materials to highlight Measure T.
Monday, January 30th: Petition Verification Complete
In what must be record time (six days!), the Humboldt County Elections Office has finished verifying our petitions. We received word today that we definitely submitted enough signatures to qualify for the June ballot.
The ballot initiative will now be brought before the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors at 9AM on Tuesday, February 7 at the Eureka Courthouse. The supervisors have the option to place our measure before voters on the June 2006 ballot or pass the ordinance immediately. We expect and hope that they will decide to put the measure before the voters. Your attendance at this meeting is encouraged. The item is part of the Consent Calendar, so we won't know until the meeting whether or not it will be discussed.
See our January 31 press release for more information.
Thursday, January 19th: Signature Gathering is Done
BIG THANKS go to all the volunteers who help collect signatures, do petition verification, gave donations and provided other support to help us collect 7,668 signatures! This is the largest amount of signatures collected for a ballot measure in Humboldt history!
We had a fabulous turn-out at our press conference on January 19th, as we turned in the signatures.
Saturday, September 17th: Signature Gathering Begins
This weekend we began petitioning at the North Country Fair. By the
end of the day on Sunday we had already collected over 1000 signatures!
We're well on our way to our goal of 6000.
Click here to download a PDF document
of the official petition we circulated to qualify the Fair Elections
and Local Democracy Ordinance for the ballot.
Wednesday, July 6th: Notice of Intent Filed With Elections
Today we went
to the Elections Department of Humboldt County to turn in a notice
of intent to circulate a petition to qualify the Humboldt
County Ordinance to Protect Our Right to Fair Elections and Local Democracy for
the June 2006 ballot.
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