They chose to duck it, probably wisely.
At the request of Council member Ken Kraft, NorCo Council voted 6-1 night to table an ordinance that would make it illegal to "[p]lace, discard or abandon leaflets, or paper materials of any kind, upon any vehicle parked on County Real Estate." Kraft was joined by Council members Kelly Keegan, Jeff Warren, Jeff Corpora, Lori Vargo Heffner and Tom Giovanni. Council member John Brown voted against tabling. Council members John Goffredo and Ron Heckman were absent.
Kraft was concerned that this ban on leafleting windshields on county property runs afoul of the first amendment. He said his experience as a union representative who picketed public and even private property made him concerned. Addressing Ass't Solicitor Dave Ceraul, Kraft said, " So you're trying to restrict people's first amendment rights to leaflet whether [they] like it or not - Don't shake your head, that's what you're doing - and it's on public property.
County Council Solicitor had no advice because he said he was just made aware of Kraft's concern.
He and Assistant Solicitor Ceraul will meet and discuss the ordinance and report back.
In other business, County Council voted 6-1 to purchase 43.36 acres in Stockertown for $1.43 million. This is based on fair market value. This property is known as part of the Bushkill Creek Greenway and is vital to any eventual connection of the Tatamy and Plainfield Tp trails. If that connection is ever made, it will be possible to cycle from Pen Argyl to the D&L trail which leads to Bristol, Trenton, Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Northampton, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe and White Haven.
It will also be used as a nature preserve and environmentally sensitive area into the County's real estate holdings in the County parks and conservation area system. It will provide agriculture, conservation, passive recreation, trails, afloodplain and will be a site for ecological restoration and environmental education.
The only No vote, and without explanation, came from John Brown.
19 comments:
The ability of cops to mark tires with chalk to monitor parking violations has been challenged.
I’ve given no campaign the right to over my windshield wipers.
Somebody was leaving flyers on cara at my wife’s church in the last election. The pastor was not happy, it exposes the church to criticism and perhaps worse.
"County property" is public property and the leafletting ban would have been unconstitutional. Why was this not reviewed beforehand by the solicitor(s), don't they read the meeting agenda?
John Brown votes 'no' on a lot of things, I've noticed. Who votes 'no' on preserving open space? Besides warehouse developers, obviously.
This blog had been on a hot streak with meaningful content and intelligent banter on local issues and information pertinent to the primary election and then Bernie rolls out this clunker right before the weekend. Our only hope to salvage this blog entry is that since Kelly Keegan was mentioned in this post, the comments section devolves into a bash Keegan fest.
As for the comment at 6:34 AM - board, council, et al, solicitors are only there to collect a paycheck and know nothing about the First Amendment and don't care. They get always get paid and when they f--- up in spectacular fashion, the entity they represent [sic] picks up the tab. (well, the taxpayer does). Remember the "I heart boobies" case in Easton 10-15 years ago?
Ken Kraft a union man. Lol. He's a man that just goes where the money is. Lamont got him another pension
My vehicle is not public property and nobody has the right to touch it, manipulate the wiper blades or place litter on it.
The line comes when they touch someone’s vehicle without permission to put the flyers on cars.
I’ve seen them out under wipers, stuffed into door jambs, or in the door handles. This prices can damage wipers and wiper blades and scratch paint. In urban areas where on-street parking is the norm, placement of advertising flyers on cars is often used as a cover for those looking for unlocked vehicles.
This should be a no brainer - people’s cars aren’t there for others to touch and use as paper receptacles without the owners’ permission. Period.
It’s also unsafe for those placing the flyers, as they typically walk in the street or driving areas of parking lots (instead of sidewalks) while placing their litter on our cars.
Speaking of litter, what people place on vehicles often blows away or ends up on the ground as litter. Perhaps those placing the objects should be held accountable (with heavy fines) for that.
Yes, anyone can and should be able to pass out leaflets. But recipients should also have the opportunity to refuse them.
Northampton Council needs to get their act together and get this practice banned.
First amendment rights fine, but keep your hands off MY car. And yeah, Keegan is a joke and her husband should not be elected to the EASD Board. He lost the last time he ran and for a good reason, he sucks too. Also, BIG conflict of interest with his wife as the school nurse. Plenty of complaints against her and nothing done. Pathetic.
On hand washes the other- ask Scott Parsons
How refreshing- a day without your fascination with the Bullhorn or bashing Trump.
He's terrible
Keegan & Warren are the worst
As long as we can steer this blog to bashing Keegan I'm all in! Who cares about County News? Let's talk about important things like Keegan!
That was a Kevin dellicker tactic. Leaflet the catholic churches. No one liked it.
I hate when people put those leaflets on my car. I also have found some in my mailbox at times and sometimes on my front door also. The nerve of people who do that! I wish all those organizations whose leaflets I have suffered be fined for littering and if in my mail box fined for unauthorized use of my mailbox. I suspect they hire a few innocent kids, give them a little money and a stack of flyers and send them out to do the deed. Like the old comic strip title "There Oughta Be a Law!
He's sharp. He knows how the county runs. He has all the right deranged enemies. I can't wait to vote for him again. Your vote will be neutralized by mine. Think about that and enjoy democracy.
Democrats are bad news right Bernie?
John Brown is getting a pretty good pension after being elected to Council. Talk about a waste of tax payer money
Republicans no longer exist to serve their purpose, they are not the party of law and order as they were at one time. The label MAGA is very fitting.
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