Anti-fliering petitions to go to Oct. 14 City meeting

Anti-fliering petitions to go to Oct. 14 City meeting
Mark Piotrowski
October 1996

After the State Attorney dismissed charges against 3 people for putting up fliers on utility poles, a strong petition drive has moved forward demanding repeal of the anti-fliering ordinance. It is currently illegal to post fliers on utility poles in Gainesville, a crime which carries a possible $500 fine and a 60 day jail sentence. Activists have gathered signatures asking to repeal the law at various businesses and through tabling by the Freedom Coalition at events such as at Henry Rollins' speech at the O'Dome in September. At presstime over 2,400 signatures have been collected and they will be presented to the City Commission at the Monday, October 14 meeting. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Everyone who wants to make sure the law is repealed should show up. The more people who show up, the better chance the Commission will move and move promptly and that we will actually be able to flier in Gainesville without fear of arrest. If you care about your right to flier, or simply want to be able to read information put up on utility poles, come to this meeting.

Fliering proponents first asked the City Commission to consider repeal of the ordinance on September 9. The Commission referred the matter to the Public Safety Committee (which includes City Commissioners Sande Calkins and Bruce Delaney). That meeting is Thursday, October 10 at 9 am in room 110 of City Hall. This is a chance for people to present the case for repeal. Anyone can attend, and we strongly urge anyone who is interested in making Gainesville safe to flier to attend this meeting, as well as showing up at the Commission on Monday night.

The Public Safety Committee will study the issue then make its recommendation to the commission as a whole at a future date, and it's expected a large group of activists, particularly from the campus community, will be there. If you'd like to voice your opinion to the commissioners, call them, write them or come to one of the meetings.

If you'd like to know more about the issue or get updated on the Oct. 10 Public Safety committee meeting, call the Civic Media Center at 373-0010.