City official berates man (over photography, recordings)

bmattock

bmattock

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http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/321794.html
MELISSA SANTOS; melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com
Published: March 30th, 2008 01:00 AM
An Eatonville councilman shouted repeated profanities at a citizen journalist and demanded that he stop recording at a public meeting earlier this month, despite a state law permitting such recordings.
...
Rath peppered Lind with intimidating language after the councilman arrived about 10 minutes late to a March 12 utilities committee meeting. He told Lind not to take his picture or post anything he said on the Web anymore. He called Lind profane names and twice threatened to “tangle” with him if he continued to post pictures and recordings.

At one point, he threatened to take Lind’s audio recorder and digital camera and throw them across the room.

“Anything I say you need my permission to put it on there or you’re going to get tangled with, buddy,” Rath said.

“You want to find out the hard way, we’ll go the hard way.”
Click to expand...

This is a small town in Washington state in the US. Typical of the low-level battles being fought everywhere, it concerns public officials who feel that they have a right to not be recorded or photographed as they go about the people's business. Despite state laws to the contrary, many believe that they can prohibit photographs being taken of themselves.

Fortunately, in this case, no equipment was damaged, despite the threats made by an elected official. No one was assaulted or arrested. This time.
 
Sunshine laws notwithstanding, many public officials don't like to be recorded and their statements published. Makes it harder to deny they ever said that. Not everyone can get away with a knowing smile and a simple I mis-spoke. Exceptfor the possibility of violence and the actual intimidation, it is almost funny. The politician must realize how silly he makes himself. Actually, I guess he doesn't, or he would do that.
 
I think entering politics pretty much denies any sense of moral integrity. Or am I just reading the news wrongly these days.
 
If this idiot Rath was not trying to bluff Lind than it is rather shocking that a"public" official has no understanding that his comments and actions during the execution of his duties are a matter of public record. And the public officials don't get to choose who is a member of the "public"and who is not. Maybe a basic civics course for public officials is in order in Eatonville.

Best regards,

Bob
 
I learned, shortly after moving into this town, that some of the meetings are open to the public, and can be recorded as public events. There simply is NO copyright to speak of.

This guy obviousiy needs to be told about it... after being voted out of office.
 
I am a member of my town's Planning Board, and I am on the Executive Board of the local Arts Center. I cannot imagine any public official being so ignorant and disrespectful of his/her community and its citizens to make those kind of statements. The town manager, mayor, or whoever oversees the public boards should have a very serious talk with this person and get him on the right track. Not everyone is cut out to be on a public board, and this guy seems to be out of his element. It would be entirely appropriate if Mr. Lind explained to Mr. Rath (name a coincidence?) that if he ever threatens him again, he will press charges against this bully. In fact, my biggest complaint about serving on these boards is the lack of town participation in what is going on. Mr. Lind should be congratulated for taking enough interest in his communitee's affairs to spend his time and energy to get involved.
 
I read the article and the assault occured before the meeting was called to order. "Open meeting" laws don't cover this, which is why Rath was not gaveled, but it was still assault.
 
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