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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Karina, everyone,<br>
<br>
I am in favor of making both changes. Let's make the ordinance as
strong as possible, and eliminate possible risks.<br>
A fast turnaround is essential since our time is limited.<br>
<br>
Patricia<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:F091B7EF-D447-465F-9CE4-CACEF14A98EE@gmail.com"
type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;
">Sisters and Brothers,</span>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; ">A small but crucially significant
problem regarding our Ordinance has arisen. It can be solved if
we act now. It will cause some delay, but it is better we fix
the problem now than ignore it and regret it later.</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; ">It has to do with the ENFORCEMENT
of the Ordinance. In other words, we need to give our Ordinance
the proper teeth with which a judge MUST (not just MAY) enforce
the Ordinance and thus dissuade those who would break the law.</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; ">Barry Vogel pointed this problem
out before, but then Norman de Vall raised the concern again.
And Charles Wood responded with <span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: medium; ">“I don't think that simple use of
the word "offense" makes it unenforceable, it just </span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>gives
the judge too much latitude</b> to set the fine at whatever
level he or she pleases.<b> It could be $1/day. </b></span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; "><span
style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 15px; " size="3">The jury decides the
facts (guilty or not-guilty), </font></span>Judges
interpret the law (amount for the fine).</span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>"</b></span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> They
all agree, we</span> need to be more specific and strong in
the enforcement clause. </div>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 15px; ">So this is Barry's suggestion, as
best I recall : </div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; ">Sec. 4(a). </div>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px;
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;
font-size: 15px; "><font class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 17px; " size="3"><span
style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Any corporation, government or
natural person that violates any prohibition of this
Ordinance shall be guilty of a</span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial,
sans-serif; "> most serious misdemeanor offense </span><span
style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be sentenced to </span></font><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">go to
prison for one year and shall </span><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">pay a fine
of $10,000 for each violation. Each time the pump is turned
on, and each stroke of the pump down and up shall be a
separate violation, and violation of each section of this
Ordinance shall count as a separate violation. Courts shall
grant no probation.</span></p>
<div style="font-size: 16px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; ">Is there any strong opposition to
this change in sec.4(a)? The lawyers at CELDF (or you) may
fiddle with the language or the fine, but we need agreement by
tomorrow, so we can re-submit asap.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>On a second issue:</div>
<div>Sec. 4 (b) shall we strike out "or any resident of the County<b><i> "
and later "or the resident..." ?????</i></b></div>
<div><b><i>Bus and Prof Code 17200 recently took away the
citizen's right to take enforcement action. Ben felt we
should claim this right anyway, since it's just another slow
erosion of our rights. But Barry thinks we shouldn't risk
the ordinance over this. So, should we leave it in or take
it out?</i></b></div>
<div><b><i><br>
</i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; ">There will be a cost. We'll have to
pay the $200 fee again (which is refunded when we qualify for
the ballot). But we'll forfeit the first $200. And there will be
some delay. But since I doubt it will change the title or
summary, it could be a fast turnaround. </div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; ">Let's do this right. A little
additional cost, a little delay. The hurry isn't as great as the
need to get it right and have a strong ordinance.</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; ">So shall we make the change to 4a?
and keep or delete citizen enforcement in 4b?</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; ">Karina</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; "><br>
</div>
<br>
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