Malibu city public works crews’ selective removal of pro-Measure R campaign signs that were lawfully placed in homeowners’ front yards is an egregious assault on free speech and a misappropriation of taxpayer money. There is also mounting evidence that the “No on R” committee systematically removes and blocks pro-Measure R posts from its “ReinerBu” hate forum on Facebook.
The Measure R opponents’ clumsy attempts to curb political speech only give Malibu voters another good reason to vote “yes” on R. In addition to allowing voters to exercise their constitutionally protected right to veto bad, pre-committed City Council decisions on commercial development that impacts more than just one neighborhood, a “yes” vote is now needed more than ever before to send a strong message of protest to city hall, express the right to dissent from official party line and reject business as usual.
Frank P. Angel