Download the Letter Here
Longview Initiative #2
STOP LONGVIEW FROM SUING CITIZENS FOR DOING INITIATIVES
Longview’s Mayor and City Council refused to listen to you with Longview Initiative #1,
so we ask you to sign Longview Initiative #2 to show them that you refuse to give up!
July 13th, 2011
City of Longview: Mayor Kurt Anagnostou and City Council members Chuck Wallace, Ken Botero, Don Jensen, Mary Jane Melink, Chet Makinster, & Dennis Weber
Dear Mr. Mayor and City Council members:
Rather than listen to your constituents, you sued them. How dare you use city revenue to sue your own citizens. Shame on you. This letter provides you with official notification that, starting today, we will work very hard over the coming weeks and months to collect enough signatures – 2830 – for Longview Initiative #2. Our initiative provides the people of Longview with the chance to express their disgust with the Mayor and City Council and prohibit them from ever again violating their oath of office and abusing the public’s trust by suing citizens for doing initiatives. We’re aiming for the Nov. ballot.
Since nearly half of active voters in Longview signed petitions for Longview Initiative #1, we are even more convinced that Longview’s citizens oppose your obnoxious profit-making policy regarding automatic ticketing cameras and viscerally oppose the obstruction that the Mayor and City Council have employed to maintain it. Our signature drive for Longview Initiative #2 will give us the opportunity to educate the voters about the Mayor and City Council’s arrogance and waste of city revenue. I-2:
- Shows city officials that their decision to sue the voters backfired
- Prohibits Longview politicians from using city revenue to sue citizens for doing initiatives
- Gives the people the chance to tell city officials to not use the people’s money to fight the people.
The language of the petition is clear: We, the undersigned voters of Longview, require that, unless passed by the City Council, this ordinance — Longview Initiative No. 2 — be submitted to a vote of the registered voters of the city of Longview, subject to the requirements of Longview Municipal Code Chapter 1.35 and RCW 35A.11.080.
You made a huge mistake suing your own citizens rather than listening to them. You are elected to represent the people, not rule over them. We will continue to fight for the rights of Longview’s citizens who did everything required of them to qualify the first initiative in city history for the ballot. We’re going to make sure the Mayor and City Council’s abuse of power, waste of city revenue, and disrespect for the people never happens again.
With great passion, conviction, and sincerity,
Josh Sutinen Nick Sherwood Alex Rion Tim Eyman
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin
Josh Sutinen, PO Box 1253, Longview, WA 98632, ph: 360-270-0599
joshsutinen@gmail.com, www.BanCams.com/Longview2