Thank you Mayor Cline for your apology and your commitment to reinvigorate the PCC'c compliance with the Brown Act.

Where's Jerry Carlson's apology?

Mr. Mansfield:

don't hold your breath waiting.

Apologies are fine, just so long as they apply to everyone. I mean by that, if what these officials did broke the law, and they can simply apologize for it, I want the same right to apologize for any transgression I make (such as speeding, rolling through a stop sign, or come to think of it, more serious things than those traffic infractions since it was reported here that the Brown Act violation is a misdemeanor, not an infraction). Fair? Cline and Carlson deserve no better or less than we do.

The Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Atherton city attorneys should all be taken to the woodshed, if not fired.

It is incredible and inexcusable that not one of the attorneys from these three communities would have cautioned the governing bodies of these three communities that they were about to commit a crime.

It is after all the job of a city attorney to keep its client out of trouble. The clearest indication of how badly each of the attorneys representing these communities is the Menlo Park Mayor's explanation for how this illegal meeting was allowed to happen. "I had no idea".

Someone should be held accountable for this debacle. In my view the attorneys for all three of these communities should be given their walking papers.

Get to know the law a bit before you bite.

It is a misdemeanor if the elected took action (none here) and did so knowingly keeping the public out (meaning there was evidence that the elected(s) announced the meeting).

That does not apply here no matter how you slice it.

Since we are using irrelevant comparisons, I personally think it is more than a misdemeanor to order your police to pull over hispanics because they "may" be illegally living in our country, but I would guess I am the only one here with that opinion.

"no evidence" of an announcement...

Truth said, "I personally think it is more than a misdemeanor to order your police to pull over hispanics because they "may" be illegally living in our country."

I'm sure you're not talking about the new Arizona law because that would reveal that you have not read it. Even the United States Department of Justice under Attorney General Eric Holder abandoned that assertion in their recent lawsuit.

I stand corrected and offer an apology.

Actually, it is more than a misdemeanor if a policeman pulls over hispanics because they may be illegally in our country.

The officer would be charged with a FELONY under the new Arizona law.

You're right, it is a great law.

That is why 9 of 41 states support it.

I'm very glad to hear you support it, truth. You're just like 57% of Americans! Web Link

POGO & Truth,

I've enjoyed the last couple of exchanges between the two of you, but I do want to get back on topic for a moment. First, though, and Truth please take this as just a friendly poke and not mean spirited--I know what you meant, 9 of 41 states (there are 50). Sorry just couldn't pass that up. To the topic, I said this in another posting and I'll say it again. I was very pleased to see Mayor Cline's apology and his commitment to put things in place to avoid such a mistake in the future.Nobody is perfect, and I for one am very impressed when someone admits a mistake rather than, like in Atherton lately, they look for legal counsel to give them "cover" that it wasn't wrong. I didn't read Mr. Clines comments as trying to say ignorance of the law was an excuse, but rather that it was the "reason" for the error. So maybe a point on his driving record, but certainly not a suspension of his license or a fine.

The violation of Cline et al should be looked at within the context of the behavior of the individual city councils they represent. If this kind of thing has happened before in any of the communities represented (Atherton, Menlo Park or Palo Alto) then throw the book at 'em.

If this truly is an isolated event then give 'em a warning and move on.

Oh Dear. Well I guess its up to me to advise Truth and WhoRUpeople that there are in fact on 46 States in the United States.......

Oops

Oh Dear. Well I guess its up to me to advise Truth and WhoRUpeople that there are in fact ONLY 46 States in the United States.......