To: Laura Mullins, Director Planning/Zoning Department and Beverly C. Owens, Town Manager (Town of Wise)
Greek Letter Recognition In Wise
"The theory of our Constitution is that every citizen may speak his mind and every newspaper express its view on matters of public concern, and may not be barred from speaking or publishing because those in control of government think that what is said or written is unwise, unfair, false, or malicious..."
-Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
What precedent is set which allows for the suppression of self expression upon ones home/residence/domicile? Is one not allowed to express their beliefs or interests within the boundaries of their own private property? Then what is the purpose of private ownership if one is not allowed to do as one wishes with which they own.
The Town of Wise has in place an ordinance which restricts the "brandishing" or "showing" Greek letters in/on which may be viewed from outside of the residence/domicile/home. That is to say, that if a house occupied by a member (either current/alumni) of any organization which affiliates itself with Greek lettering...that individual resident/homeowner etc... would not be allowed to place lettering representational of their affiliated organization on their property which could be seen from the outside i.e. someone walking down the street looks at said house and can identify whatever material used which would symbolize "Greek Letters".
The purpose of this petition is to illicit the Town of Wise's Zoning/Planning Department in addition the Town Manager of Wise in either one of two actions:
One-The removal of the ordinance in question thus allowing residences/homes/domiciles the ability to place Greek letters within the boundaries of their property apart from the interior of the residence/domicile/home.
Two-The ordinance in question limits the restriction of the placement of Greek letters within the parameters of the domicile/residence/home. This option would lend itself to a collaborative measure between the Administration of the Town of Wise and it's citizenry to negotiate measures in which Greek lettering could be permitted to be placed on the domicile/residence/home of the property owner.
Homes are allowed to fly flags of their favorite college...season...in addition to other accents that are placed on homes (flower boxes/gardening accents/lawn gnomes etc...). These are all means by which the homeowner expresses their right to speech. As such, the display of Greek letters is in of itself an expression of one's speech.
"You can't give some degrees of free speech to some classes of people and other degrees of free speech to other classes of people. All speech can be reasonably regulated in terms of time, place and manner but you can't treat people differently with laws and policies."
- Kent Willis, director of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
If you are in favor of allowing the placement of Greek letters on a privately owned residence/domicile/home within the boundaries of the property that you own not just limited to the interior of the occupied space...or if perhaps you simply favor granted constitutional right to speech...then sign this petition and let the Administration of the Town of Wise hear your voice.
-Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
What precedent is set which allows for the suppression of self expression upon ones home/residence/domicile? Is one not allowed to express their beliefs or interests within the boundaries of their own private property? Then what is the purpose of private ownership if one is not allowed to do as one wishes with which they own.
The Town of Wise has in place an ordinance which restricts the "brandishing" or "showing" Greek letters in/on which may be viewed from outside of the residence/domicile/home. That is to say, that if a house occupied by a member (either current/alumni) of any organization which affiliates itself with Greek lettering...that individual resident/homeowner etc... would not be allowed to place lettering representational of their affiliated organization on their property which could be seen from the outside i.e. someone walking down the street looks at said house and can identify whatever material used which would symbolize "Greek Letters".
The purpose of this petition is to illicit the Town of Wise's Zoning/Planning Department in addition the Town Manager of Wise in either one of two actions:
One-The removal of the ordinance in question thus allowing residences/homes/domiciles the ability to place Greek letters within the boundaries of their property apart from the interior of the residence/domicile/home.
Two-The ordinance in question limits the restriction of the placement of Greek letters within the parameters of the domicile/residence/home. This option would lend itself to a collaborative measure between the Administration of the Town of Wise and it's citizenry to negotiate measures in which Greek lettering could be permitted to be placed on the domicile/residence/home of the property owner.
Homes are allowed to fly flags of their favorite college...season...in addition to other accents that are placed on homes (flower boxes/gardening accents/lawn gnomes etc...). These are all means by which the homeowner expresses their right to speech. As such, the display of Greek letters is in of itself an expression of one's speech.
"You can't give some degrees of free speech to some classes of people and other degrees of free speech to other classes of people. All speech can be reasonably regulated in terms of time, place and manner but you can't treat people differently with laws and policies."
- Kent Willis, director of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
If you are in favor of allowing the placement of Greek letters on a privately owned residence/domicile/home within the boundaries of the property that you own not just limited to the interior of the occupied space...or if perhaps you simply favor granted constitutional right to speech...then sign this petition and let the Administration of the Town of Wise hear your voice.
Why is this important?
The Town of Wise has in place an ordinance which restricts the "brandishing" or "showing" Greek letters in/on which may be viewed from outside of the residence/domicile/home. That is to say, that if a house occupied by a member (either current/alumni) of any organization which affiliates itself with Greek lettering...that individual resident/homeowner etc... would not be allowed to place lettering representational of their affiliated organization on their property which could be seen from the outside i.e. someone walking down the street looks at said house and can identify whatever material used which would symbolize "Greek Letters".
The purpose of this petition is to illicit the Town of Wise's Zoning/Planning Department in addition the Town Manager of Wise in either one of two actions:
One-The removal of the ordinance in question thus allowing residences/homes/domiciles the ability to place Greek letters within the boundaries of their property apart from the interior of the residence/domicile/home.
Two-The ordinance in question limits the restriction of the placement of Greek letters within the parameters of the domicile/residence/home. This option would lend itself to a collaborative measure between the Administration of the Town of Wise and it's citizenry to negotiate measures in which Greek lettering could be permitted to be placed on the domicile/residence/home of the property owner.
The purpose of this petition is to illicit the Town of Wise's Zoning/Planning Department in addition the Town Manager of Wise in either one of two actions:
One-The removal of the ordinance in question thus allowing residences/homes/domiciles the ability to place Greek letters within the boundaries of their property apart from the interior of the residence/domicile/home.
Two-The ordinance in question limits the restriction of the placement of Greek letters within the parameters of the domicile/residence/home. This option would lend itself to a collaborative measure between the Administration of the Town of Wise and it's citizenry to negotiate measures in which Greek lettering could be permitted to be placed on the domicile/residence/home of the property owner.