[Peace-discuss] Legislature is suppressing advisory referenda

[Stuart Levy]

On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 01:36:01AM -0500, John W. wrote:
> At 11:12 PM 4/12/2008, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
>
>> Yes, it does force us to get the approval of the elected officials -- and 
>> they are thus the judges of what is "relevant to powers granted to 
>> electors under the Township Code." I can't imagine any board will 
>> determine that an anti-war referendum -- or advice on that subject to our 
>> federal representatives -- is "relevant to powers granted to electors 
>> under the Township Code."
>>
>> It seems clear that the bill removes the judgment of the content of any 
>> proposed advisory referendum from those present at the annual town meeting 
>> and gives it instead to the town board.
>>
>> I agree that "much of the actions by the Democratic elected officials 
>> [Republicans too] was to show us who was in control: it's their township, 
>> city, county, not ours."  This bill is more of the same.  --CGE
>
>
> So who exactly is the "town board"??  The city council of Champaign or 
> Urbana?

Yes, it's the same people in each case, though wearing different
hats and supposedly representing the interests of the township
over those of the city, somehow.