CC 07-28-2022 Item No. 1b Written CommunicationsCC 07-28-2022
Item No. 1b
League of
Women Voters of
Cupertino-
Sunnyvale v. City
of Cupertino et.
al., N.D. Cal.
Case No. 5:22-
cv-04189
Written Communications
From:Connie Cunningham
To:City Clerk; City Council
Subject:July 28, City Council, Agenda Item 1B, LWV v. City of Cupertino
Date:Thursday, July 28, 2022 3:26:31 PM
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Dear Kirsten: I am hoping to have someone read this for me during
public comments before the Closed Session. However, if noone is
there, would you please read it to the Council and put it in the record?
It is about 2 minutes long. I will let you know if I am able to get
someone to come. I had a person lined up, but then they couldn’t make
it after all.
Thank you, Connie
July 28, City Council, Agenda Item 1B, LWV v. City of Cupertino
Good evening Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Councilmembers:
I am Connie Cunningham, 34 year resident, Housing
Commissioner (speaking for myself only). I am not a lobbyist.
I regret I cannot join you in person because I have tested positive for
COVID. It would have been better to keep the Zoom option, so that
those, like me, who could not come to Community Hall, could be here
virtually.
I am concerned that this change to the meeting reduces transparency to
the public on a very important matter: Cupertino’s Ordinance for
Regulation of Lobbying Activities.
This evening I am addressing Agenda Item 1b. League of Women
Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale v. City of Cupertino.
1. I support the position of the League of Women Voters.
2. I urge you to narrow the scope of the current ordinance.
3. I urge you to abandon the legal changes proposed in April
2022. We live in a litigious city, and adding a private right of
action to an already overbroad ordinance will chill speech
further.
4. By changing the method at the last minute to an in- person meeting
only seems to validate the League’s point in the lawsuit—that the
Council doesn’t want to hear from the public. I encourage Council to
be more circumspect about the present difficulties of public
participation in the future.
Open government means welcoming the opinions of all. We
may disagree with some people. They may even be wrong.
Conversation about ideas is how we get to understanding.
Opening an invitation for neighbors to sue each other will not
allow that conversation to flow.
In closing I urge you to conform your actions to the request
by the League of Women Voters.
Sincerely,
Connie L Cunningham
REGULATION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES*CHAPTER 2.100