RESPECT THE RIGHT TO OPPOSE

A letter to the editor published in the Davis Enterprise 2/21/2012 tells the story on how the YES on C does not believe in democracy.  Their supporters have attempted to silence and and now they are stealing and chopping our signs.

Respect the right to oppose

I thought we lived in the liberal city of Davis, the place where all ideas are welcome and everyone respects each other’s thinking. That illusion holds only until you disagree publicly with the establishment such as the school board and oppose its Measure C, the new, more expensive, tax, that it is trying to impose on all homeowners and apartment residents.

Last month we saw Yolo County Clerk Freddie Oakley go to court and fail in her attempt to suppress and silence all arguments against the all-mail-ballot process of Measure C. It took a court of law to tell her that she was wrong.

Next, while people are still voting, the superintendent and his two assistants (paid salaries over half a million dollars, the equivalent of eight teachers) set up a forum without the “no” side present. How liberal and democratic is that?

The school board is terrorizing the city with its scare tactics to pressure the voters into passing Measure C, but has to be done with no debate, suppressing any dialogue or discussion with the opposition.

Now there is a new twist. We went door to door asking permission from homeowners to place our red and white signs that say “VOTE NO ON C, A NEW TAX.” We had an excellent reception, placed dozens of signs on people’s yards all over the city, who were very happy that we are opposing Measure C. It took only two days until thieves started to steal and chop our signs. It’s another attempt to silence us and impose the new tax.

I call on Richard Harris, Sheila Allen and Gina Daleiden, school board members and officers of the “Yes for Our Students“ committee, to tell their supporters that if they get caught stealing and chopping our signs they will be prosecuted for trespassing and stealing. We are reporting this to the Davis Police Department. I hope they still believe in respecting the law and respecting others’ right to oppose their new, more expensive, tax.

Imelda Granda

Davis.