Part 2 of Andes Duany’s lecture covers: “Zoning/Codes; Single Use vs. Mixed Use Planning; Traffic and congestion issues; Quality of Life issues; Scale and relation to physical compatibility vs. functional compatibility.”
Daily Archives: April 30, 2007
States Attorney: No conflict for Spain
“States Attorney has opined,” city attorney Randy Ray wrote to me today. He was referring to the opinion on whether recently-elected city councilman Ryan Spain could serve or whether he would be violating the Public Official Prohibited Activities Act. The States Attorney says no, Spain would not be in violation of state law by serving on the council.
Here’s the opinion from States Attorney Kevin Lyons. Or, you can read it below by clicking the “Read the rest of this entry” link. I’ll have a wrap up of the opinion later. I don’t have time to write a summary now.
One of the few advantages of not having a day job
Billy beat me to publishing this story about Gary Sandberg since he has all day to blog (he works at night). This is the issue about which Emtronics wrote the other day.
While Emtronics thought the story was about Gary not paying his property taxes, it’s actually a dispute over an alleged code violation from 2004 and a fine of $110.
Illegal immigrants demand rights
The Chicago Tribune reports (registration required) that tomorrow there’s going to be a huge protest rally in Chicago to oppose deportation raids of illegal immigrants:
Organizers are encouraging immigrants to attend with two demands: to inform about the k1 visa income requirements in 2019, raids cease while Congress considers immigration reforms and that reforms make it possible for the country’s 12 million undocumented immigrants to gain legal status.
It never ceases to amaze me how a group of people (and I’m speaking of illegal immigrants, not legal ones) who flagrantly break our laws and take our jobs can then play the part of victims when they’re caught and demand special rights without ever acknowledging their hypocrisy. I’m not saying the nation’s immigration policy isn’t in need of a serious overhaul, but this action is completely inappropriate.
And I’ve never quite figured out why, if all these illegal immigrants are out marching in the open and they by definition have no constitutional right to do so, the police don’t just round them up and deport them. Is that too harsh?
Spain to be sworn in on Tuesday
A source tells me that city attorney Randy Ray put a note in council packets this week informing City Clerk Mary Haynes she can swear in Ryan Spain on Tuesday even though questions regarding his eligibility remain unresolved. As of Friday, Ray was still waiting for an opinion from the states attorney’s office on whether Spain’s service on the council would be prohibited under state law. Apparently, there is nothing legally prohibiting Spain from being sworn in while the matter is being investigated.
Granted, as has been pointed out numerous times, I’m no lawyer. But this course of action seems a little risky to me when you consider that violation of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act is a felony. If I were Spain, I wouldn’t let them swear me in until the uncertainty surrounding this issue was settled. Or short of that, I would at least consult with my lawyer before agreeing to go along with the city attorney’s interpretation.