Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
Last night's vote was 5-0 for Temecula to dive head-first into breaking up into voting districts, and abandoning their at-large system, because of a letter by Malibu based lawyer, Kevin Shenkman threatening that if the city does not abandon its at-large mode of voting for members of their city council, they are allegedly in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) of 2001 and will be sued. Temecula buckled under with weak knees and voted against their principles, and local control, just like Murrieta did the night before. At least in Murrieta, there was one person brave enough to vote against the madness.
As with the coalition of cowards in Murrieta, the five cowards in Temecula voted in fear of the possibility of monetary losses if they dared to fight for their principles. After all, Shenkman points out in his threatening letters to cities, no city or school board has ever successfully defended itself against his extortion. Only one city has actually tried, but after years of litigation and appeals, and money lost in attorney's fees, Palmdale finally settled, paying out $4.5 million. And, to add insult to injury, a judge also declared the elections held during the litigation as being illegal.
Patrice Lynes, a local advocate for local government control, was present with a few supporters, but their voice was not effective enough to convince the Temecula City Council to stand up to, and against, the criminal actions of Shenkman.
I talked to a couple of the Temecula councilmembers a couple weeks ago, and they assured me they were going to stand firm against Shenkman. Apparently, their words meant nothing. They are either liars, or were only brave until actually faced with the decision behind the dais.
Five cowards have sold Temecula out, and Shenkman is making a bundle destroying the last of the conservative refuge in Southern California.
As I wrote regarding Murrieta's collapse under fire, it is possible to fight against, and stop, Shenkman's extortion of California cities. The Supreme Court tossed part of the federal Voting Rights Act in 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder. In doing so, the Court emphasized the importance of firm evidence in determining whether there is racial discrimination in any particular jurisdiction. Shenkman cannot prove racism. His threats allege racism, but he has no way of successfully proving it in the court of law. He has no leg to stand on, yet, these cities are falling in line for him because of the forcefulness behind his threats.
These cities need to fight back, and take it to the U.S. Supreme Court, if possible. The confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch provides greater hope in fighting Shenkman's extortion.
And, these cities, as well as us, the citizens, need to send a flood of appeals to Sacramento. We can use the Shelby County v. Holder case as incentive for our State legislators to amend California's voting rights act, calling for higher standards of proof of racism, or at least to remove the monetary incentives that reward shysters like Shenkman for their exploits.
That said, there are grassroots efforts being created. In the next few months the legal cannons of responsible government and local control will be pointed squarely on Shenkman's criminal enterprise against cities. I would like to see the gutless turds on our city councils help us stand against Shenkman, as well. But, I am not going to hold my breath, on that one.
As I wrote regarding Murrieta's collapse under fire, it is possible to fight against, and stop, Shenkman's extortion of California cities. The Supreme Court tossed part of the federal Voting Rights Act in 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder. In doing so, the Court emphasized the importance of firm evidence in determining whether there is racial discrimination in any particular jurisdiction. Shenkman cannot prove racism. His threats allege racism, but he has no way of successfully proving it in the court of law. He has no leg to stand on, yet, these cities are falling in line for him because of the forcefulness behind his threats.
These cities need to fight back, and take it to the U.S. Supreme Court, if possible. The confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch provides greater hope in fighting Shenkman's extortion.
And, these cities, as well as us, the citizens, need to send a flood of appeals to Sacramento. We can use the Shelby County v. Holder case as incentive for our State legislators to amend California's voting rights act, calling for higher standards of proof of racism, or at least to remove the monetary incentives that reward shysters like Shenkman for their exploits.
That said, there are grassroots efforts being created. In the next few months the legal cannons of responsible government and local control will be pointed squarely on Shenkman's criminal enterprise against cities. I would like to see the gutless turds on our city councils help us stand against Shenkman, as well. But, I am not going to hold my breath, on that one.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
No comments:
Post a Comment