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Health & Fitness

BLOG: Opponents of Measure N Misstate the Facts. Is it Fear? Of What, Really? And Sign Vandalism?

The proponents of MEASURE N did not reinvent the wheel. Other City ordinances are far more complex and bureaucratic than MEASURE N. The claims that MEASURE N will drive away business are FALSE.

The proponents of MEASURE N did not reinvent the wheel.

Throughout California Sunshine Ordinances are very similar and have many clauses in common. Like other open government laws, the Dixon ordinance has been tailored to serve our best local interests.

The Davis proponents of a very similar ordinance are now including key sections from Dixon’s version in a draft presented to their own City Council.  They agree that there is good reason for a clause to prevent city employees, council members, or the agents of either, from lobbying or briefing a majority of council members on pending actions.  They are also including a provision that would require an item to be placed on their City Council’s agenda at the request of 20 or more registered voters.    

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Local opponents are making a big fuss about the MEASURE N provision allowing the public “unlimited” time to speak on subjects pertinent to our City’s business. In fact, our present City Council has not limited speaking times; and, that practice has not been abused by the citizens.  The wild claims by opponents that someone could read the telephone book or encyclopedia all night are unfounded. MEASURE N will help to ensure that citizen input is not surpressed.   

  • Other City ordinances are far more complex and bureaucratic than MEASURE N.

MEASURE N is only 9 pages (5 pages in the absentee ballot booklet) with 4,390 words.  It serves all of us by keeping our local government honest.   By contrast, the City’s Nuisance Ordinance is over 40 pages long and about 17,000 words. 

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What’s more, the City’s Zoning Ordinance has been in violation of State law for over thirty years due to its noncompliance with Dixon’s General Plan.  Former City Managers and bureaucrats allowed those violations to stay on the books.  Our oldest neighborhoods suffered the consequences.  With MEASURE N in place, citizens could put items on the agenda and problems would not be ignored for years.

  • The claims that MEASURE N will drive away business are FALSE.

Just look to all of the other communities that have Sunshine Ordinances and you’ll see that open government has nothing to do with whether business thrives.  And ask yourself whether an ordinance, not yet on the books, is somehow responsible for a downtown that has been languishing for thirty years and for the infrastructure problems in other areas such as the Northeast Quadrant.

  • MEASURE N, the SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, is endorsed by local citizens who have FOUGHT Government Waste for years.

The proponents have been the driving force behind other campaigns that, with your support, have saved thousands of local taxpayer $$$’s.

Opposition to MEASURE N is based on a misleading report prepared by the City Attorney and a consultant that padded their pockets with over $20,000 of our tax money.

  • Dixon has Been Under a Dark Cloud for Far Too Long!!
  • The Campaign against MEASURE N is local politics at its worst.
  • The attacks on the provisions of the “Sunshine Ordinance” are BASELESS and FALSE!
  • The attacks on individuals and on the proponents’ signs are disrespectful and mean-spirited.  It seems the same people who say that Dixon government is "already open enough" don't even want you to see the proponents campaign signs.

Vote for our right to be informed:  YES ON “MEASURE N”

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