Why is the LA County Seal Drive important?

History, Religion, Civil Rights


God will not cease to exist if the cross is removed from the Los Angeles
County Seal, so why the big fuss?

What is really at stake in this fight and why are so many people responding with such vigor?

For myself, no other fight has been as important as the one we are now fully engaged in. The broader issue is not the plight of a religious symbol as some would lead you to believe.

Had you been one of those individuals who took the time to leave work and family, endured peak hour traffic and paid over- priced parking fees, and then waited five hours to speak at the County Board of Supervisors meeting, you would know why.

When your agenda item was called to be discussed, you would have seen Supervisor Molina get up and leave the room. She did not give you the courtesy or respect to listen to the testimony of those who waited five hours to speak. She did not want to hear the facts or legal input from attorneys citing decisions from every court level up to and including the U.S. Supreme Court. When she did return, it was only to vote against you.
She, as well as the other Supervisors, Burke and Yaroslavsky, voted to express their beliefs and convictions.

They voted; a process these same three individuals denied to millions of others in Los Angeles County.
Molina, Burke and Yaroslavsky all based their positions on the legal opinion of the LA County Counsel. They relied on the legal process to reach their conclusion; the same legal process these three voted to deny to the residents of LA County with their refusal to fight the threatened lawsuit from the ACLU. This, even after the cost of litigation was offered free of charge.

Now we get to the crux of our battle. Politicians at every level of government feel immune to the will of the people. Through creative redistricting and the creation of safe districts, with the financial backing of special interest groups and the low voter turn out, these incumbents believe they are not accountable to those they serve. Are they wrong in their beliefs?

Up to now, they have not been wrong. They have relied on our not being willing to stand together and shout STOP! No more!, Enough is Enough! Now we are going to shout it loud and clear.

To borrow a phrase,"we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore".

That is where I found myself after attending the board meetings and watching first hand the contempt these individuals showed for the will of the people and the rights we as Americans are privileged to have.

Politicians such as these can be found at every City Council meeting, School Board meeting, Community College meeting and State Assembly and Senate meeting. Their appointees on Fair Boards, Planning Commission, Coastal Commission and Police Commission demonstrate and reflect the same contempt as those who appointed them.

If our communities reflected the ability of these individuals to make the right decisions, things may be different. Unfortunately, our schools, streets, environment, employment opportunities and crime statistics, do not reflect their self- perceived thinking.

I understand we live in a Republic and not a democracy, that our elected officials are elected to speak for us and make decisions on our behalf. Our system of government does not exclude us from participating in the process. There are procedures we can use when those who govern do not participate in the spirit of our system of governance.

The Los Angeles County Seal Ordinance petition is one such vehicle. By gathering 170,606 valid signatures from registered voters in Los Angeles County, we will place the proposed ordinance on the June 6, 2006 ballot. The people have until September 26th, 2005 to gather the required signatures.

A. If the petition is signed by voters not less than 10% of the entire vote cast within the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election preceding the publication of the notice of intention, the Board of Supervisors shall either:


1. Adopt the ordinance, without alterations, at the regular meeting
in which it is presented or within ten days after it is presented.

2. Place the ordinance on the June 6, 2006 ballot.

Once the measure qualifies for the ballot, then we will begin our next phase, a political Star Search.

Both Gloria Molina and Zev will be up for re-election and will be on that ballot. Candidates will be encouraged to participate in the this search for a candidate to run against them. On a web site to be announced, we will begin a virtual candidate selection process. Candidates must reside in the district and will be given the opportunity to reach the people via our site. Each month a poll will be taken based on the peoples choice and they will advance into the finals.

Why is the LA County Seal Drive important?