BY BARRY LEVINSON.
Fullerton resident Barry Levinson
UPDATE ON ORDINANCE NO. 3149 – WHIC PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL PREDATORS
WE STILL HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO (STARTING WITH THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 6TH) TO ENSURE OUR ORDINANCE REMAINS AN EFFECTIVE AND STRONG TOOL IN HELPING US KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE FROM SEXUAL PREDATORS
My wife Susan and I had been instrumental in getting Fullerton Ordinance No. 3149 (the Child Sex Offender Protection Law) passed in 2010. We also have been vigilant in protecting it since that time. We spoke out at the last council meeting to condemn the city for making the decision to not enforce the ordinance for the last year. And we are speaking out now to insist that the public has a role in ensuring that our ordinance does not get repealed but that it gets updated properly.
Please be assured that Susan and I will not rest until we know for sure that Ordinance No. 3149 remains strong and effective to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children! This is not a time to sit back and believe we have won! All of you must be present at our May 6th meeting to let the council, the city manager and the city attorney know that we strongly believe that a public study session must be held to allow for public comment and participation. This must take place before the council votes to accept the city manager’s and city attorney’s recommendations to direct the city attorney (with little or no specific guidance from council) to draft any and all changes and improvements to the Ordinance. We demand an open and transparent process to ensure the very best results. Although Susan and I are relieved that the repeal of Ordinance No. 3149 has been removed from the city’s consideration, we still believe the city has more work to do to ensure that this ordinance is amended and strengthened properly.
Accuracy and attention to detail must be followed to ensure that our amended ordinance makes for a strengthened and effective law. The agenda as seen at: http://ci.fullerton.ca.us/about/meetings_live.asp (click on agenda) displays a number of significant errors.
Agenda Item No. 15 begins as follows:
“In the 1990’s, the federal and state governments enacted various pieces of legislation intended to protect minors from registered sex offenders including megan’s law adopted at the federal level in 1996 and chelsea’s law and the voter-approved Jessica’s law adopted at the state level.”
Fact: Chelsea’s Law was not enacted in the 1990’s as stated above but rather was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in September 2010.
Fact: Jessica’s Law also known as Proposition No. 83 was passed by a vote of the people of California on November 7, 2006 – not in the 1990’s as stated in the agenda item. It was passed by a direct vote of the people agenda item as well. It does not give me comfort that these rather significant errors have been overlooked by our city manager and city attorney and issued as a formal city document.
To summarize, I need dozens of people to attend the May 6th meeting starting at 6:30 PM. Please do not assume others will attend and your presence is not necessary. It is not only necessary, it is vital that you come and speak up for the rights and safety of our children.
Why would the city manager, the city attorney and a majority of our city council be against a public study session that would both allow for the people’s participation and allow for the free flow of factual information that people like myself possess?
#1 by Anonymous on May 6, 2014 - 7:27 am
My understanding was the council was to vote tonight to repeal the ordinance. Is that still the case?
#2 by Joe Imbriano on May 6, 2014 - 9:10 am
Barry, care to answer that?
#3 by Barry Levinson on May 6, 2014 - 1:23 pm
I was told that a total repeal was recommended by our city attorney by none other than Police Chief Hughes. Since a total of 10 citizens spoke out against this at the last city council meeting during public comments, it appears that our city now has second thoughts. Citizen pressure if enough is applied can work. However, all who want to protect our kids in fullerton as well as throughout Ca. must come to our meeting tonight to insist on an open and transparent process and not what has been recommended that it goes back to the city attorney with no specific recommendations from the council. Demand a city council public study session for this issue. Ask our council why they would be against allowing each citizen to participate so that we can collectively decide how best to amend and strengthen Ord. 3149. The city still wants to control this process lock stock and barrel. That is never a good thing! Come tonight and speak out for justice, openness and for our kids.
#4 by Joe Imbriano on May 6, 2014 - 11:35 pm
So how does the council go from cosnidering striking down the ordinance to the equivalent of inviting Mr. Levinson over for a barbecue to re-write and strengthen it? That is what happened tonight. Nice work Barry and to all of you who came out and spoke in defense of the children, may God bless you.
#5 by Ruth on May 7, 2014 - 3:49 pm
Sure seems fishy to me. They usually don’t turn on a dime like that. I guess your pressure was effective Barry.