Posts: 3293
Registered: 2004-02-05 Destin, FL
The FOIA was originally going to go in last year. Indeed, raising this issue was what got me banned from "Deco Stop" when a few of the folks who were enjoying their 'exclusive' status (and their buddies) objected to me calling out WKPP representatives in public and threatening to file that document to both discover the truth and also attempt to achieve an equitable and reasonable resolution.
The petition effort was why I held it back - both the original and then the electronic "everyone can sign" version.
I only launched it when it appeared clear that we were not going to get a definitive reply back from the state.
It is possible that the decision was already made before I sent the FOIA in.
Its also possible that it was made when the FOIA was received and read.
I have no idea which is the case. Nor does it matter, really. What does matter is that we've seen extraordinary movement, but now is the time to take what we've achieved and make sure that it can't be slid backwards - only forwards towards the ultimate goal.
BTW, the "permanent ban" by the opponents of that access stands to this day....
It does not surprise me that there is little expression of outrage over this sort of thing, because in general people simply don't care. Nor did it dissuade me in the least, despite both that and threats made both then and later. I've been threatened by far better men than that; threats do not impress me.
What did surprise me though is that we got the traffic that we did - both in signatures on the petition but also in those who wrote personal letters and otherwise got involved.
If we now turn those signatures into able-bodied men and women with saws, hammers and nails, we will soon be diving instead of chatting online.
Days like this make all the effort worthwhile, and show just how foolish attempting to shut someone up for challenging the 'status quo' really is.
2005-03-25 20:21:22