LNP EDITORIAL “Speaking up is not a crime” reports and opines:
“Kimberly Kann, of Conestoga Township, was found guilty Tuesday of disorderly conduct. Against rules established for an April 28 meeting, Kann attempted to make statements, rather than ask questions. The meeting was organized by township officials for the stated purpose of providing “nonbiased, nonpolitical” information about home rule. The session was held three weeks before the May 19 primary, which featured a ballot question on whether the township should study a new form of government. Kann, who says she plans to appeal, was fined $25 by District Judge Joshua Keller.”
“As we noted in a previous editorial, the no-statements rule was ill advised. A true public meeting does not attempt to control the content of speech, cursing and fighting words excepted.”
“The rules of the event — and the limitations on the Conestoga Community Group’s participation — seem to have been stacked against a truly nonbiased presentation of facts regarding home rule. The organizers who chose the presenters were against home rule. It seems the least the supervisors could have done was allow a short rebuttal — three to five minutes of speaking time — for those who favored it.”
We don’t mean to blame the current editorial board for the sins and silences of its predecessors, but our salient memories are of three times when LNP has remained silent (if not conspiratorial) when similar issues were involved:
1) Convention Center Authority’s refusal to respond to questions from the audience during the only opportunity for public comment, which was at the outset of the meeting. Questions or comments were not allowed from the audience at any other time during proceedings.
2) Franklin and Marshall / Lancaster General Hospital deceptive information session concerning the moving of the rail yard that, unknown at the time, actually was the only legal opportunity for pubic comment. Even so, the audience contribution was severely restrained in a manner reminiscent of the above.
3) Refusal of ‘Public Charity’ Lancaster General Hospital to allow audience comment during its annual meeting. Members of the audience were told they could speak with board between sessions when audience was absent. (The public and media are barred from all of its other meetings!)
We applaud the editorial. We just hope that LNP continues to defend free speech, even when its interests and that of Dale High, Franklin and Marshall, and Lancaster General Hospital are at stake, one of which was involved in at least one of the three above. .
LNP will always make sure that the Power Elite’s interests are a forgone conclusion. That’s the way it always was; the way it is; and the way it always will be.
After all….LNP is ……..Always Lancaster!!!