ACLU Questions Assembly on Public Testimony Limits

The civil rights group says the assembly needs to hear more testimony on AO 37

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By Lacie Grosvold

Story Created: Mar 9, 2013 at 8:59 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 9, 2013 at 8:59 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Since the mayor proposed an ordinance that would overhaul the city's labor laws, union members have signed up to testify at four assembly meetings and talked to the assembly during two work sessions. They fear the mayor's new ordinance would limit their ability to collectively bargain with the city.

On Wednesday, Todd Sherwood, a municipal attorney, released a memo saying the assembly would be within its legal rights to terminate testimony after the final public hearing on Monday.

Jeffrey Mittman with the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska disagrees. "Every Anchorage citizen, every Alaskan, has to know that the rules are fair. In this case, the assembly is looking to change the rules in the middle of the game. We all know that's not fair."

The ACLU said the assembly set a precedent back in 2009 when allowing hundreds to testify either for or against AO 64, which would have extended the city's anti-discrimination laws to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

That proposal ultimately failed. Mittman said the assembly needs to be consistent. "You have to have the same rules for all citizens for all viewpoints."

Assembly member Paul Honeman said maybe the assembly should take more time to hear from residents. "The ACLU may be on to something here. It didn't feel right anyways the fact that we're rushing through this matter when the administration had since August of last year to work through to present this ordinance."

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Opr8r said on Tuesday, Mar 12 at 12:22 PM

Anyone remember the Patriot Act? Hurried legislation is either poorly thoughtout legislation or underhand.....possibly both!

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Opr8r said on Tuesday, Mar 12 at 7:42 AM

It does not matter whether you like or dislike the ACLU, the bottom line is that I waited patiently for over 20 hours of testimony to get my turn to address the Assembly and I was denied my right to have my voice heard.

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Grant W Hunter said on Sunday, Mar 10 at 9:32 PM

, I have listened to the hearings over the computer and in person; I respectfully submit that all possible arguments against proposed AO 2013-37 have been presented by the union members who have already spoken before the assembly.

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phillis said on Sunday, Mar 10 at 8:44 PM

Yeah, and that city attorney never wrote me a check

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TedtheBear said on Saturday, Mar 9 at 6:29 PM

Who pay attention to this political action group that serves the liberal cause?? ACLU is just another lobbyist group. I wonder why media gives them so much creditably.

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ACLU said on Saturday, Mar 9 at 2:12 PM

nuff said.

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