The King County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Public Stadium Authority have agreed to stop harassing people collecting signatures outside the Seahawks football stadium for an initiative that would legalize and tax recreational marijuana in the state.
One of the signature gatherers, Benjamin Schroeter, was arrested last month after he refused an order to stop collecting signatures for Initiative 502 in a public area outside the stadium. Another gatherer, campaign staffer Tonia Winchester, said she and others were threatened with arrest and kicked out of the north parking lot at Qwest Field for collecting signatures before the Apple Cup game between Washington and Washington State.
Good for Schroeter!
But King County Executive Dow Constantine and other county officials ought to reprimand King County Sheriff Sue Rahr for an unbecoming abuse of power. There’s no mention of Rahr’s deputies doing this to other petitioners. Using police officers to chill participation in the initiative process—apparently because they have an opposing political ideology—is a swipe at the democratic process. An elected official like Rahr should know better.
Tell me, are there not civil remedies for this bullshit? Seriously, I’m not a lawyer, but would be interested in hearing from informed analysis on this point.
For harassment as brazenly political as this, there surely exists some basis for a lawsuit against the county in civil court, right?
The last time I was approached by those signature gatherers, they were claiming that John “McCain” supported the initiative.
this is what happens in a fake democracy. the powers the be use their influence to suppress thought & action contrary to their political positions through arrests fines etc. and make no mistake, we live in a fake democracy.
and as a side note, the initiative is a scam. it will make every regular smoker ‘guilty of a dui’ every time they get behind the wheel. the blood test proves that you smoke (actually some have suggested that even just second hand smoke will cause some people to fail the test), but has ZERO to do w/ intoxication.
What’s Qwest Field?
It doesn’t help that Most of the gatherers are poster-men for not smoking pot.
Rahr is a pig. I can’t think of many top level law enforcement official who deserve that moniker – in it’s classic 60’s sense – than her. KCS should be shut down and started from scratch under an appointed Sheriff.
Rahr is gearing up for her run as a Republican in Congress.
RAAAAHRRRRRR!!!!
@3 If this was an equally-enforced policy, I wouldn’t be entirely against it. The whole “paid signature gatherers lying to low-information voters by badgering them at places they’re known to hang out” (think: outside of Wal-Mart and Monster Truck Rallies) is already an astroturfed version of democracy. That said, if they’re going to allow the practice, allow it for everyone who abides by the law.
At least they were not pepper sprayed.
“those hippies vomited on my gridiron” – rep. joe walsh
“King County Executive Dow Constantine and other county officials ought to reprimand King County Sheriff Sue Rahr for an unbecoming abuse of power…”
Unfortunately, Dominic, Dow Constantine can’t “reprimand” Sue Rahr, because she’s a separately elected official. He has no authority over the sheriff. Neither does the County Council.
I have to agree with @5 there; have you seen some of the signature collectors?
I fucking hate how Sue Rahr runs unopposed every election. Please recommend a good write-in!
@4 – I think he meant to write Tuba Man Memorial Field.
Remember when Sue Rahr endorsed Susan Hutchinson for King County Executive in 2009, essentially breaking the law? She should’ve been impeached.
@14 – the problem wasn’t that Rahr appeared with Hutchison, or even endorsed her. She can do that. She’s an elected official and can endorse anybody she wants to. It was that Rahr used county resources to do it.
And @11 is right, too. Hopefully when Holden writes articles his level of research is better than what he’s displayed here.
@15: The problem is she broke state law.
Um, unless the city has a legit no petitioning ordinance, this is a pretty text book violation of the first amendment. Even with the craziest pro se litigator, I couldn’t see this standing up in court.
@14, 15, 16
She never endorsed Hutchison. She appeared at a press conference and endorsed Hutchison’s idea to bring DAJD under the control of the Sheriff’s Office.
Despite what everyone here thinks, she’s a Democrat. Don’t worry, she won’t run again. She’s angling for the job at the police academy. Get ready for Sheriff Steve Strahan. If you have a problem with a Republican Sheriff, then you should look into the fact that he’s actually been elected as a Republican in Minnesota. Not very pro-choice…
The two gatherers we have in Ballard shouldn’t be let near small kids either. It’s like the initiative sought out workers who demonstrate why kids shouldn’t smoke pot. Our two hapless gatherers, who we call Larry and Mo, make carnies look like investment bankers.
A couple of notes here…
First, we (Tonia and I) did file a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit claiming we were deprived of our 1st, 4th, and 14th Amendment rights. That’s why you’re reading about it here… Today the judge signed an injunction today directing 1st and goal to allow us to uphold the Constitution!
That brings me to a second issue…these cops are “off-duty” and in the employment of 1st and Goal – so they’re basically corporate flunkies doing the bidding of their boss – despite the fact they knew that what they were doing (threatening arrest) was not based in law.
And the Washington State Constitution specifically specifies that signature gathering for initiatives and referendums are protected…
I’m curious if these people are paid signature gatherers, and if that makes a difference.
@20 Couldn’t get a real job?
Ooh, Dominic… you should get hold of the people @20. Could be a nice heartwarming slog post heading into the weekend. Especially if we know who made the decision to kick them out.
@18 and I’m a gerbil.
@24 Well I always assumed you had your head up your ass. Looks like you’ve just been stuffed up someone else’s.
Doesn’t make a difference if paid or not. I am paid, (although I started as a volunteer.) There was a girl that arrested same day as me but they let her out of the Centurylink jail because she was crying that she had kids at home…
Others that were harassed were volunteer gatherers…
And the decision was made by the company that runs the property – 1st and Goal…although the cops should have told their ’employers” that they couldn’t do that…
@26: Are paid signature gatherers required to have a business license and vendor permit?
Shame on you for criticising the cops; who are you to find fault with a couple of businessmen doing what they could to stop people doing something that would be bad for business?
It’s tpugh out there, and it would be even tougher without the ability to arrest a pot smoker every now and then for a relatively risk-free collar….
@28 – as a clarification, are you saying that legalized pot would be bad for Century Link business, or that people collecting signatures is bad for business? I don’t see either one as remotely true.
The variables that blur the line of authority is private ownership and management of what is perceived to be a public facility. Maybe a court case is needed on this to provide clarification. Even the SoS web page admits the laws, where one can collect, aren’t clear: < http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiati… >
I am of the opinion, any place where the public gathers, but is privately owned or operated, should still be considered a public free speech zone, or a place to petition the government for a redress of grievances – especially if the property receives tax subsidies.
Having collected signatures for two years in a row for Sensible Washington’s I-1068, and I-1149, I am all too familiar with the prejudices expressed when collecting signatures to legalize marijuana.
While I am against 502, primarily because of the discriminatory DUI provision, I also defend their right to petition. The laws that protect their rights, are the same laws that allow me to educate potential signers of the incrimination of innocent patients, should 502 pass.
The law needs clarity in defining public spaces for free speech.
As to the remarks concerning the appearances of the signature gatherers themselves? As a county coordinator for Sensible Washington, I have worked with many volunteers. As much as we try to stress, or suggest that volunteers dress appropriately, we cannot enforce such rules, you can’t “fire” a volunteer. The paid gatherers are often from out of state, again, there is little control over their appearance or actions, as long as they are doing their job.
In a perfect world, signature gatherers would look and act, with the professionalism that you expect. We don’t live in a perfect world, and not everyone is like you. This is America, we should celebrate diversity, and not be so judgmental of people that don’t meet your standards.
Keep making that case for our police state. WHERE ARE YOUR PAPERS