City Council decides not to move forward with ban on protests targeting homes
Council members had worried about protest stunts that targeted their homes with coffins and U-Haul trucks, but opponents of the law said it would chill vital free speech.
Council members had worried about protest stunts that targeted their homes with coffins and U-Haul trucks, but opponents of the law said it would chill vital free speech.
The Long Beach City Council will discuss on Tuesday a proposed law that would ban “targeted protests” from happening within 300 feet of a person’s home.
A routine year-end budget adjustment turned contentious Tuesday as Long Beach City Council members clashed over a proposal to add multiple new positions to Mayor Rex Richardson’s staff, a move that could add nearly $1 million for new politically appointed jobs.
A new state law, Senate Bill 1100, could be written into the city’s municipal code and would provide a clear procedure for removing disruptive people from public meetings.
Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie is running for Long Beach’s 9th City Council district and is currently the only candidate declared for the race.
Tuesday night’s City Council meeting went on as scheduled despite members of the public not being allowed inside the council chambers because of rising COVID-19 cases.
The vote failed 4-5 after a contentious discussion over what the vote really meant given that SB-9 and SB-10 are ready to sign.
The request by the Long Beach council came shortly after the Los Angeles City Council initiated a process to establish a 300-foot rule in LA. Council.
Los Angeles’ ordinance was prompted by protestors opposed to vaccine mandates being considered by the LA council showing up to the home of Council President Nury Martinez with bullhorns where they allegedly shouted obscenities into her daughter’s bedroom, Martinez said. The Long Beach council could direct the city attorney to draft a similar ordinance at its Sept. 14 meeting.
Council members Suzie Price, Mary Zendejas, Daryl Supernaw and Roberto Uranga are asking for the city manager to work with the City Clerk’s office to determine if telephone comment can be brought back just two weeks after the city announced it would go away.