549,704@3:41 pm
Council President Dello Russo:
You appear to be quick with the gavel.
There are numerous lawsuits against such censorship policies that you, Adam Knight and Paul Camuso embrace with impunity.
It will not be tolerated this year. The citizens have a First Amendment right to the People's Forum.
You
know, Mr. Dello Russo, when a city council cloaks itself in secrecy and
doesn't do the people's business (see the City Hall men's room and what
a shambles it is, one case in point) and when you fail to stop Adam
Knight from leaving council chambers, or harassing a Dr. Storella, you,
Mr. Dello Russo, are out of line.
There are many such complaints on the internet and the people have prevailed.
Shushed N.Y. council critic can pursue speech claim
First Amendment Scholar
Thursday, July 26, 2012
A man removed from a Niagara Falls, N.Y., City Council meeting for
criticizing the council chairman can continue with his free-speech
lawsuit, a federal judge has ruled.
The decision gives credence to the argument that government officials
cannot remove people from a public meeting simply because during the
public-comment section, the person engages in speech critical of council
members.
Niagara Falls has a resolution that allows people to speak “on any
topic of public concern for a time not to exceed five (5) minutes.”
Matteo Anello spoke during the public comments at a council meeting
in October 2007. He titled his speech “Guineas and Grease Balls” with
the subtitle, “Where There is Smoke There is Fire.” He calmly said that
several people had told him that Council Chairman Robert Anderson
treated Italians poorly. For example, he said:
I expect that you and Adam Knight will behave yourselves on December 8th.
You are public servants who refuse to serve the public; you serve Darth Vader McGlynn.
Maybe we can impeach both you and Knight.
You know I'm looking into that.
Joe Viglione
