Don't Limit Our Speech

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Citizens for Limited Taxation

Don't Limit Our Speech Monday, August 2, 2004

Jeffrey W. T. Buck Metrowest Daily News

I cannot fathom how there can be any debate in this town and especially with the selectmen about whether the law must be upheld. Any person who cannot grasp that most elementary of concepts is unqualified for public office.
We, the members of CC:FIILE, have asked repeatedly for a public hearing to discuss and an ad hoc committee to study the issue of illegal aliens in our town to no avail. To make matters worse, Mr. Sisitsky fumed that he wants to change town policy to keep Joe Rizoli from taking part in citizen participation. He even wants to limit the number of times it occurs each month and how often citizens can speak on a monthly basis. Imagine, we care enough about our town to try to engage in dialogue with them on a regular basis, and not only are we either maligned or ignored altogether, but now they want to bar us from talking!
When Ms. Esty and I reminded the board of our freedom of speech, Mr. Ross retorted, "You have free speech outside of this building. We have a right to run the meeting the way we want to here." How much will the new "Free Speech Prohibited" signs for Town Hall cost?
Have Mr. Ross and Mr. Sisitsky not read the selectmen's handbook, which stipulates they must "Uphold the Constitutions of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, federal and state laws, and town by-laws"?
Have they not read the U.S. Constitution, which begins, "We the people," not "We the selectmen"?
Have they not read the First Amendment, which not only guarantees "freedom of speech," but also the right "to petition the government for a redress of grievances"?
Have they not read our commonwealth's constitution? Part 1, Article V reads:
"All Power residing originally in the people...the officers of government...are their substitutes and agents, and are at all times accountable to them."
Public officials who would abridge free speech simply because they do not agree with it or because it threatens them in some way are guilty of malfeasance.
Jeffrey W.T. Buck, TMM, Pr. 13, CC:FIILE co-director, Framingham

Don't Limit Our Speech	Monday, August 2, 2004
Jeffrey W. T. Buck	Metrowest Daily News
I cannot fathom how there can be any debate in this town and especially with the selectmen about whether the law must be upheld. Any person who cannot grasp that most elementary of concepts is unqualified for public office. We, the members of CC:FIILE, have asked repeatedly for a public hearing to discuss and an ad hoc committee to study the issue of illegal aliens in our town to no avail. To make matters worse, Mr. Sisitsky fumed that he wants to change town policy to keep Joe Rizoli from taking part in citizen participation. He even wants to limit the number of times it occurs each month and how often citizens can speak on a monthly basis. Imagine, we care enough about our town to try to engage in dialogue with them on a regular basis, and not only are we either maligned or ignored altogether, but now they want to bar us from talking! When Ms. Esty and I reminded the board of our freedom of speech, Mr. Ross retorted, "You have free speech outside of this building. We have a right to run the meeting the way we want to here." How much will the new "Free Speech Prohibited" signs for Town Hall cost? Have Mr. Ross and Mr. Sisitsky not read the selectmen's handbook, which stipulates they must "Uphold the Constitutions of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, federal and state laws, and town by-laws"? Have they not read the U.S. Constitution, which begins, "We the people," not "We the selectmen"? Have they not read the First Amendment, which not only guarantees "freedom of speech," but also the right "to petition the government for a redress of grievances"? Have they not read our commonwealth's constitution? Part 1, Article V reads: "All Power residing originally in the people...the officers of government...are their substitutes and agents, and are at all times accountable to them." Public officials who would abridge free speech simply because they do not agree with it or because it threatens them in some way are guilty of malfeasance. Jeffrey W.T. Buck, TMM, Pr. 13, CC:FIILE co-director, Framingham

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