Free Speech To Be Discussed At Shaker Heights Event

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The city of Shaker Heights will hold its first Democracy Day on Sept. 11. Voters approved the celebration in November 2016, as part of an initiative that declared corporations are not people and money is not free speech. Voters cast their ballots in support of amending the U.S. Constitution to reflect that ethos.

Democracy Day will mean a public hearing at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 3400 Lee Rd. Attendees will have five minutes each to speak.

The ordinance approved by the public is available in its totality at the bottom of this article. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland Heights newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Neighboring Cleveland Heights approved a similar measure in 2013, in response to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which gave corporations the same rights as people. On Jan. 25, residents of Cleveland Heights held their own Democracy Day, explaining why they wanted to see the Constitution amended.

The ordinance approved by Shaker Heights voters is below.

Beginning in 2017, the Mayor and City Council shall designate one day, every two years, within ninety (90) days prior to the November general election, as "Democracy Day." On this day, the Mayor and City Council shall sponsor a public hearing to study the impact on the City, the state and the nation of political influence by corporate entities in connection with the most recent and upcoming elections. "Corporate entities" include business corporations, Political Action Committees, Super PACs, 501(c)(4) groups and unions. Members of the general public in attendance shall be afforded the opportunity to speak on these matters for up to five minutes per person. The public hearing shall be held during an evening or weekend time. The City will publicize the public hearing on its website and in area media at least two weeks in advance. The City shall record the hearing and make such recording or a transcript available to the public by posting such recording or transcript on the City's website within ten days following the hearing.

(b) Within one (1) week following the biennial public hearing, the Clerk of City Council shall send a letter to the leaders of the Ohio House and Senate, to the U.S. Congressional Representative who represents the City, and to both Ohio Senators. The letter shall include a brief summary of the public hearing and will state that the citizens of the City of Shaker Heights in November 2016 voted in support of a Citizens' Initiative calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring:

(1) Only human beings, not corporations, are legal persons with Constitutional rights, and

(2) Money is not equivalent to speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending does not equate to limiting political speech.

(c) The biennial public hearings will no longer be required if and when a Constitutional Amendment reflecting the principles set forth in subsection (b) is ratified by three-quarters (3/4) of the state legislatures.
(Approved by Initiative November 8, 2016)

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