August 10, 2009

Cincinnati NAACP
Media Release


African Americans have experienced status quo suggesting that rules be changed when African Americans begin to exercise their constitutional rights.  Smitherman says, "African Americans make up 47% of the City of Cincinnati have discovered the petition.  Now Qualls wants to change the rules." The Cincinnati NAACP has petitioned the government 5 times in three years. Over the same three years Council has voted on over 6,000 items.

Councilmember Roxanne Qualls stated in The Enquirer on Sunday, August 9, 2009 that "The trend toward "the ballot-issue of the month" has led to suggestions that petitioners be required to gather more signatures.  While citizens' right to petition their government is very important, getting something on the ballot was supposed to take extraordinary effort.  But improvements in techniques and technology have made it easy--maybe too easy--to get the signatures."


Quall's comment that five ballot initiatives in 3 years is defined as "the ballot issue of the month" is an attempt to trivialize the process and the Cincinnati NAACP's rights.  For Example if the Cincinnati NAACP had not led a petition drive Cincinnati would have Red Light Cameras with City Council balancing their $28 million deficit on our backs.  For example Qualls has not asserted any problem with the casino petition.  Qualls only seemed to have a problem when African Americans started exercising their right to petition the government.  The Cincinnati NAACP would like Qualls to explain her legal reference to the statement "getting something on the ballot was supposed to take extraordinary effort..."  Smitherman says, "Councilmembers seem to make up the law as they go."  The law states that the required signatures needed to place an issue on the ballot is determined by 10% of the total voters who participated in the last election.  The more citizens that  participate in elections the higher the threshold. 

The more interesting discussion is why it only takes 500 signatures to get Councilmembers and the Mayor on the ballot?  The elected officials make it difficult for "the people" to petition their government but "easy" for them.  Citizens should consider using the same 10% petition threshold rule that Qualls has stated as "easy" for politicians to get their names on the ballot.  "Councilmember Qualls 500 valid signatures are due on August 20, 2009 to qualify her to run for city council.  If Qualls is reelected she represents 350,000 citizens with a budget of $1.3 billion that she only had to collect 500 signatures to qualify.  It is a little hypocritical for Qualls to use the word "easy" when our teams have collected over 110,000 signatures to place 5 issues on the ballot to meet the required threshold by law" Smitherman says.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPeCQzHu5w