The Walk for Life West Coast does not have a payroll, but if it did it would seem that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors ought to be on it. Their inept meddling with the Walk, which began with the very first Walk in 2005, continues to provide us with excellent publicity. And they’re at it again. Now Supervisor David Campos, “Supervisor Snowflake,” joined by six of his colleagues, has introduced a resolution condemning our ‘Abortion Hurts Women’ banners. He is actually trying to have them removed. Ever heard of the First Amendment?
From yesterday’s San Francisco Chronicle:
Supervisors take on anti-abortion Market Street Banners
“Mayor Ed Lee may be staying out of the brouhaha over a series of anti-abortion banners on this liberal city’s main thoroughfare, but the Board of Supervisors isn’t.
On Tuesday, Supervisor David Campos introduced a resolution that would put the board on record opposing the banners, which read “Abortion hurts women” and were put up last month in anticipation of a January 25 antiabortion rally.
While the Department of Public Works, which issued the permits for the banners, has already weighed in, saying they do not consider content — only whether there’s profanity or nudity — Campos’ resolution calls for a review of the city’s permitting process of the banners. The resolution states that they “appear to violate City regulations in several respects, including failure to fit a category of permissible banners, failure to display an accurate date for a related event, and failure to avoid lamp posts that also display holiday snowflakes.” An aide for Campos said he plans to hold a hearing on the issue.
Campos also calls for the city to devote all proceeds from the banners to a campaign “to educate vulnerable populations regarding true information about reproductive health and rights, including accurate information about the safety of abortions.”
While the resolution (excerpted below) may have many San Franciscans nodding in agreement, it’s seems unlikely that city has any legal right to refuse to post something simply because politicians don’t like the message….”