After our three letters to Brevard County Commissioners and numerous letters from members went ignored, FAC has now written to Florida’s Attorney General requesting she enforce Florida’s Governing in the Sunshine Law against the Commissioners of Brevard County. The Commissioners were clearly put on notice that they cannot exclude members of the public from their County Commission meetings at which official business is conducted.
A copy of the letter can be found here: Attorney General Complaint – Brevard County Commissioners
Do we know whether any business has been certified child safe yet? Has even one business taken advantage of this ordinance?
Or has it been the flop we’ve anticipated?
If we don’t know either way, does that leave any way to comply?
Someone just posted here that many Brevard registrants got arrested yesterday.
Can anyone substantiate?
If true, we ought to consider whether to develop a protocol for such situations. What do newly-arrested registrants need most that FAC can provide? Lawyer referrals? Raise some sort of bail fund?
Also if mass registrants arrests are substantiated, we might consider a press release before the sheriff does one. Or a public letter to the sheriff regarding our deep concern? Idk.
Hopefully I’m jumping to conclusions here.
Correct – many got arrested yesterday.
Do we know whether yesterday’s Brevard arrests are related to this apparent USMS operation?
It’s too much of a coincidence. We were supposed to have a call with a Brevard attorney today. Call got postponed because a client was one of the ones arrested.
Look for the press release about “Operation so-and-so” a “joint effort between state and local law enforcement, the US marshals and other agencies”
I can’t imagine how such operations net any arrests at all, absent cooperation from registrants and/or their family member(s).
Completely agree.
If someone is not compliant, then the person should be arrested once that becomes known. The fact that there are “sweeps” where multiple people are arrested indicates that some nonsense is happening. Are the pigs just letting warrants sit around so they can do them all at once? Certainly should not be the case. So I’ve got to think that people are helping their own arrests.
NEVER speak to law enforcement or allow them to get near you even.
Someone mentioned recently that the pigs don’t make the laws. Very true. But they way too often think all the laws are just awesome. So, f them. I can’t give a single f when they are shot.
America is a stupid, hateful place and there are casualties on all sides all the time. All good Americans should be working very hard to take resources from law enforcement in every way. They can focus on real crime or they will pay consequences.
Keep in mind right before the governor was elected his choice of AG came out and stated (paraphrased) that anyone on the sex registry should be in jail for life. So, what do you expect would happen. Right after the governor was elected – within 3 weeks – the AG had all SPOT agencies to investigate all those on the registry to see if the SPOT officers can find any type of violation of the registry laws. That AG is out to put everyone on the sex registry in jail or prison period.
please give us the source for all this information.
Any reply from the AG yet?
I think you’ve addressed the violations incredibly well. I hope & pray you are successful. Violating the US Constitution and Florida’s Sunshine law is bad enough, but to knowingly continue to hold the public meeting & in a location that I feel sure they were aware was within a restricted zone for the registrants, is an obvious snub and a form of bullying and discrimination; basically, sending a message that they hold themselves in higher esteem and value than that of the registrants.
A person with brains would think that excluding some citizens will have invalidated all the work that they did during those sessions. Their session were illegal. Or should be illegal, at least.
Let’s make no mistake. “People” who support these segregation laws are scumbags. And they are exactly the same kind of person who would still be segregating today “those people” who they would call “coloreds”. They are those kind of “people”. Just harassing terrorists.
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office arrested a RO for violating the ordinance for eating at a Burger King he had frequented before. This location it turns out was less than 1000 feet from a daycare that was located INSIDE a gym. The daycare had no signage to say it was there. Obviously someone called BSCO to intentionally report/harass this guy. I don’t know what the outcome was for him but the Sheriff’s Office and SA’s office deemed it important enough to follow through.
Made a donation today to the legal fund so we can fight this. It’s a fatal ordinance for RO’s on probation when violated because it violates the “you shall live without violating any laws” condition on their probation conditions.
If and when it’s determined that we can attend Commission meetings I’ll be there.
Gail,
Your letter to the attorney general was well written.
Thank you so much what you do for us and FAC.
Tony
Lake County
Yes great job Gail, thanks.
Might be a good idea to send to the paper serving brevard county which is the Florida Today paper. Maybe they would get involved and bring it to notice.
please feel free to do so
Done. You may get a call from the “Criminal justice” reporter. A Mr. Gallop for further information request.
I guess the “Justice Writer” of the FL Today paper does not care about our justice (or injustice) as I see no article or any further diligence was performed by him and I have heard nothing since he said he would look into the letter you wrote.
DONATE….donate….donate. Donate to the legal fund even $5, it matters.
Also remember, matching funds for the non-registrant collateral challenge going on now! That is huge!
FAC, we appreciate you!!!!
It’s obvious the restrictions have absolutely nothing to do with protecting children or anyone else. But all the finger pointing and screaming in the world will do nothing for they know they are above the law and even if there breaking state laws nothing will happen to them. The only thing they understand is money. Unless they can be sued a 7 figure amount at least they are just going to laugh at all the allegations in the world, and go on business as usual.
Gail, excellent letter of intent. I would suggest also a Writ of Mandamus, which is designed to compel government officials to follow the law and makes such violations of law public court record. In addition, a filing of injunction to enjoin Brevard county from enforcing thier ordinance against registrants for attending public meetings while suit is being procecuted.
Your suggestion is well-taken but legal action requires funds to bring it.
Great letter!!! Let’s see if they ignore this challenge to constitutionality. The commissions methodology for implementing ordinances and amendments is no way in compliance with Florida’s sunshine laws. But do the commissioners care? We will find out. The ‘meat’ of this letter may be material for a letter to the editor.
Wow, amazing. I hope it is taken seriously. would love to see the commissioners cited and taken to jail.
Great Work!
That is a very impressive complaint! Although I don’t live in Brevard, their ordinances impact me as a visitor.
Go Gail !!!
I made a memo reminder
On my phone to ask Larry N.(registry matters podcast /Narsol) About this very same question.
Hell I’m wondering if the commissioners even read my email I sent to all of them.
I also feel like, someone has to show up. Aka take the hit. Their county or city ordinance doesn’t/ can’t Trump the federal law/Bill of rights/first amendment/constitution. No prosecutor in the right mind would go through with that charge, wait you guys do live in Florida. Maybe!
I know in Iowa (not to rub it in) we can vote in a school or where ever it maybe located. But! That is in Iowa law.
I’m glad I don’t live in Florida anymore.
“No prosecutor in the right mind would go through with that charge.” I strongly disagree! The Brevard/Seminole County State Attorneys Office has a poor history when it comes to over charging and charging any cases related to a potential sex offense. I know from personal, painful experience.
Bill, I think Nate’s “no prosecutor in the right mind” comment was tongue-in-cheek. Of course, one obvious conclusion is that the Brevard/Florida prosecutors are not in the right mind. So you may both be correct. 🙂
Excellent letter FAC! Those with authority despise it when they are reminded of the limits to that authority. Excluding registrants from an open meeting regarding registrants is an absurdity.
I look forward to seeing how the Attorney General will dance around this clear violation of Florida law. After all, registrants aren’t actually barred from attending the meeting. They will merely be subject to criminal liabilities if they do. What’s the problem?
Veritas.