Dear Neigbors, I received the following from Ed Goppelt, who runs the Hallwatch site. I know a number of us on the listserv refer to it frequently, and I think it's a wonderful resource. Please see below.
Thanks, debra kimmelman --- Ed Goppelt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Ed Goppelt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Help > Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 12:34:10 -0500 (EST) > > Dear Hallwatch User: > > I need your help. > > I am getting ready to launch a series of "open records" law suits > against the City of Philadelphia. > > For some time now I have been been frustrated by my inability to offer > useful services on Hallwatch because certain bureaucrats refuse to > release public records. > > A case in point: I want people to be able to look up their polling > place and verify their registration information on Hallwatch. > > I first asked City Commissioner Margaret Tartaglione in April, 2001 to > provide me with the records I need--basically an up-to-date copy of > the voter rolls--to offer this public service. Almost two years > later, Commissioner Tartaglione continues to consider my request. > > This sorry state of affairs was permitted under Pennsylvania's old > open records law which set no deadline for official action: officials > could and did take as long as they wanted--months, years or never--to > respond to citizens' requests. > > No longer. In December Pennsylvania got a new Right to Know law. > City agencies now have 5 business days respond to a request for public > records. If they don't respond, they risk being sued. > > And I'm suing. > > If you find the Hallwatch service useful, I'd like to ask for your > help in two areas: > > 1. Law suits cost a lot of money. > > This is just a fact of life. To save money, I'm doing most of the > work myself, but some costs are unavoidable. Like filing fees. I > hope you will consider making a donation of $25 or more to Hallwatch > o help offset these and other costs of running Hallwatch. You can do > so here: > > https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=goppelt%40goppelt.net&item_name=Friends+of+Hallwatch&amount=25.00&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD > > 2. Testimonials > > The Law says it doesn't matter who is asking for the records or why. > But in real life, we all know these things matter. As the friend who > helped me draft these law suits put it: "the Judges want to know who > is wearing the white hat." I need to convince the Judges that what I > do is sufficiently worthwhile to risk ruling against powerful City > officials. > > Here's where your help is needed: please write me a short letter, > preferably on official letterhead, explaining what you use Hallwatch > for and how it has helped you. The letter doesn't need to be long or > fancy: this is show of hands more than anything else. I do need you > to act quickly, though. > > If you find Hallwatch useful in your business or home life, please send > your letter by January 22 to: > > Ed Goppelt, Webmaster > Hallwatch > 1116 Annin St. > Philadelphia, PA 19147 > > As always I look forward to hearing your comments, suggestions and > gentle criticism. Hallwatch wouldn't be much without its users. > Thank you for your support and encouragement, both past and present. > > Respectfully yours, > > Ed Goppelt > Webmaster, Hallwatch.org __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
