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Home My WebLink About03/07/2000, 8 - v MEETIN' AGENDA DATEa4�I T UA # �i►i I III 111111 I��I�I 1111111 C1 Of SM WIS I S- PO glaze990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 March 7, 2000 Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council: The Human Relations Commission's purpose, as stated in Article 1 of its bylaws, "is to advise the Council in its actions to create an environment within the city in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race,religion, sex, sexual orientation,national origin, age, physical, mental or economic status." In accordance with this responsibility, the Human Relations Commission(HRC)recommends that the City no longer support the Gazette Newspaper. A motion to this effect was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved by the HRC at its March 1,2000 meeting. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, —y" ��04— Mike Multari, Chair Human Relations Commission aft DIR Q'�a` 13 FIN DIR RECEIVED CK60 ❑FIRE CHIEF QA7TORNEY ❑PW DIR QZEERKIORIO ❑POLICE CHF MAR 0 7 2000 ❑M ❑REC DIR ❑PERS DIR SLO CITY COUNCIL /O The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs and activities. V� Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805) 781-7410. *( Ivt v °�* N tfING AGENDA 8 444 0 cityS� W9 OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL F7E- ❑FI;I U' 4 is O 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 805EY ❑P1� Mr. David Weyrich, CEO ORIG ❑PCI; TEA ❑REG DI" San Luis Obispo Gazette, Inc. L)J ❑PERS DIR Ib 3211 South Broad Street, Suite 109 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 March 6,L 0 0 0 Dear Mr. Weyrich: I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Gazette's Paha Street Perspective, series during the past several months. The response I have received from the articles I have written as well as those of my City Council colleagues suggests that your readers have enjoyed our perspectives of San Luis Obispo. I think that you may be learning that San Luis Obispo is a very diverse city. Happily,it is a city of weIl-educated,highly intelligent people whose diversity of experiences,breadth of viewpoints, and willingness to accept customs and viewpoints different from their own —and to do so peaceably- make it a truly wonderfid place in which to live. As a member ofthe San Luis Obispo City Council I celebrate that diversity and those differences of opinion amongst our citizenry. Each time I sit at the Council Table I realize the unequivocal obligation I have to insure to the highest degree possible that all c ltizens receive equal voice and equal treatment regardless of race, color, creed,national origin, sexual persuasion or economic standing. I regret that you have chosen to delimit fair and equal access to your publications to all members of our society. You have given me no choice but to stop writing Perspective from Palm Street articles. I shall also seek the support of my fellow Council Members to withdraw all San Luis Obispo City advertising from all Gazette publications until such time as you may choose to understand and to value the multi-faceted nature of our City's citizenry. ery yours, K eth E. Schwartz, Vice Mayor c: City Council;media distribution RECEIVED MAR 6 - 1000 SLO Ci i' �;LFRK Al and Tanya Streder ML_ANG AGENDA $ 1244 Vista del Lago DATE -3--l- "C' ITEM0. San Luis Obispo,CA rycouNcll ❑CDD DIR 93405 fRtAO ❑H4 0,i C AO ❑FIRS CI.: EY ❑P4',I DIR Mar RIG ❑POLICE CH7 ❑MGMT TEAM ❑REC DIR L�f K 1 N UtJ ❑UTIL DIR Dear City Council: O` ❑PEAS DIR I am writing to urge you to continue supplying-community-information to the Gazette. The extreme reaction to the position the Gazette has taken troubles.me, because it would appear that there are forces in our community who seek to suppress views that differ from their own. This is accomplished through implicit and sometimes explicit pressure from those who disagree with the views of the Weyrich family; and is directed at local business and city hall. A three-pronged effort appears to be in place to marginalize the Gazette. First, pressure business to not advertise; second, to shut the Gazette off from important local information sources; and third, to portray the Weyrich family and their paper as intolerant bigots because of their position. Whether-one agrees with their position or not, they should have the freedom to express their views freely. If a similar effort were under way to stifle free speech but directed in the opposite direction, there would be an outcry from the gay community or Planned Parenthood, or any number of other groups. Just as a newspaper like the New Times advocates and promotes certain values and positions, the Gazette should be free to advocate and promote the values it is committed to. What is ironic is that the Weyrichs seek to promote their values in a positive way, and they have stated their positions graciously and positively. -I have yet to hear them or the Gazette denigrate or lash out at those who oppose them'. On the other hand, I perceive a concerted effort to harm them financially and slander them personally. I hear and.read much heated rhetoric about intolerance and hate coming from those who promote a (for lack of a better term)"liberal" social agenda. But so far, they are the very people who are exhibiting those attitudes. There is no reason why the city, the Chamber of Commerce, or the BIA should be involved, whether knowingly or unwittingly, in injuring the Gazette. There is no reason community news and information should not be supplied to them. You can always include a disclaimer to the effect that your contribution of material in no way means you agree with the editorial positions of the paper. Finally, this is in the best interest of the community, because it is those of us who use the Gazette as a source of community news who are also are harmed by this unnecessary and uncivil action.. Please do not be a willing participant in an effort to silence the Gazette, simply because they promote ideas that differ from those of an influential political or economic block of people. Tolerance does not require that we all agree with one another or accept everyone's ideas as correct. We can disagree with one another and still treat one another with respect, dignity and civility. Respectfully, aA� AlStreder RECEIVED MAR 0 b 2000 SLO CITY COUNCIL MEETING��/� AGENDA DATE, i` I i E`A 9_L, I�IIIIIINIIilllll I��IIIII�IIII III I� I I s- po Clt O S�1 �,11S OBI � • 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 March 7, 2000 Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council: The Human Relations Commission's purpose, as stated in Article 1 of its bylaws, "is to advise the Council in its actions to create an environment within the city in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race,religion, sex, sexual orientation,national origin, age,physical,mental or economic status." In accordance with this responsibility, the Human Relations Commission(HRC)recommends that the City no longer support the Gazette Newspaper. A motion to this effect was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved by the HRC at its March 1, 2000 meeting. -_ - Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, ' Mike Multari, Chair Human Relations Commission �WIL DD DIR �C 0 E3 FIN DIR RECEIVED QAIAO ❑FIRE CHIEF DWORNEY ❑PW DIR yfim I KIORIO ❑REC D RCHF MAR O ❑UTIL DIR SLO CITY COUNCIL ❑ ❑PERS DIR The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs and activities. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805) 781-7410. Get y °� ING AGENDA N tt tz o c) %y of sAn 8 O OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUO ❑ l41 s O� 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805 8PEERKIORIG NEY ❑P'�i • Mr. David ❑PL_: Weynch, CEO ❑MGMTTE 11RcO M7,San Luis Obispo Gazette, Inc. G O UTIL DIR b 3211 South Broad Street, Suite 109 ❑ ❑PERS DIR I San Luis Obispo,CA 93401 March 6, 2,000 Dear Mr.. Weyrich: I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Gazette's Palm Street Perspective series during the past several months. The response I have received from the articles I have written as well as those of my City Council colleagues suggests that your readers have enjoyed our perspectives of San Luis Obispo. I think that you may be learning that San Luis Obispo is a very diverse city. Happily, it is a city ofwell-educated,highly intelligent people whose diversity of experiences,breadth ofviewpoints, and willingness to accept customs and viewpoints different from their own —and to do so peaceably- make it a truly wonderfid place in which to live. As a member of the San Luis Obispo City Council I celebrate that diversity and those differences of opinion amongst our citizenry. Each time I sit at the Council Table.I realize the unequivocal obligation I have to insure to the highest degree possible that all citizens receive equal voice and equal treatment regardless of race, color, creed,national origin, sexual persuasion or economic standing. I regret that you have chosen to delimit fair and equal access to your publications to all members of our society. You have given me no choice but to stop writing Perspective from Palm Street articles. I shall also seek the support of my fellow Council Members to withdraw all San Luis Obispo City advertising from all Gazette publications until such time as you may choose to understand and to value the multi-faceted nature of our City's citizenry. V yours,th E. Schwartz,Vice Mayor c: City Council;media distribution =6 — Al and Tanya Streder t TING AGENDA 1244 Vista del Lago DALE --1- c'� ITEM # S San Luis Obispo,CA INOUNca ❑coo ria 93405 p,.,/tA.� ❑P;;, E • L]ACAO ❑P! : �Y ❑PO I Mar RIG ❑POLICE C.•ir ,. ❑MGMT TEAM ❑REC DIR F_ ;IZit�Jnl�� ❑UTILDIR Dear City Council: ❑ ❑PERS DIR I am writing to urge you to continue supplying community information to the Gazette. The extreme reaction to the position the Gazette has taken troubles me, because it would appear that there are forces in our community who seek to suppress views that differ from their own. This is accomplished through implicit and sometimes explicit pressure from those who disagree with the views of the Weyrich family, and is directed at local business and city hall. A three-pronged effort appears to be in place to marginalize the Gazette. First, pressure business to not advertise; second, to shut the Gazette off from important local information sources; and third, to portray the Weyrich family and their paper as intolerant bigots because of their position. Whether one agrees with their position or not, they should have the freedom to express their views freely. If a similar effort were under way to stifle free speech but directed in the opposite direction, there would be an outcry from the gay community or Planned Parenthood, or any number of other groups. Just as a newspaper like the New TYm.es advocates and promotes certain values and positions, the Gazette should be free to advocate and promote the values it is committed to. - What is ironic is that the Weyrichs seek to promote their values in a positive way, and they have stated their positions graciously and positively. I have yet to hear them or the Gazette denigrate or lash out at those who oppose them. On the other hand, I perceive a concerted effort to harm them financially and slander them personally. I hear and read much heated rhetoric about intolerance and hate coming from those who promote a (for lack of a better term) "liberal" social agenda. But so far, they are the very people who are exhibiting those attitudes. There is no reason why the city, the Chamber of Commerce, or the BIA should be involved, whether knowingly or unwittingly, in injuring the Gazette. There is no reason community news and information should not be supplied to them. You can always include a disclaimer to the effect that your contribution of material in no way means you agree with the editorial positions of the paper. Finally, this is in the best interest of the community, because it is those of us who use the Gazette as a source of community news who are also are harmed by this unnecessary and uncivil action. Please do not be a willing participant in an effort to silence the Gazette, simply because they promote ideas that differ-from those of an influential political or economic block of people. Tolerance does not require that we all agree with one another or accept everyone's ideas as correct. We can disagree with one another and still treat one another with respect, dignity and civility. Respectfully, Al Streder RECEIVED MAR 0 6 2000 SLO CITY COUNCIL