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You can't fight City Hall...
9 years ago
...except when you can.
For anyone who hasn't been paying attention to me pretty much anywhere else, the Vermont Furs recently successfully fought to get an ordinance banning the wearing of masks in Burlington amended such that the suiters now have the freedom to suit in the city. Good for us!
As far as I know, in fact, this is the first time the furry fandom has actively played a role in having laws revised.
I may or may not have helped with that, in some capacity:
http://www.wptz.com/news/burlington.....nance/38393208
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/.....ance/81446590/
And I think that's all I've got to say about that pending any user comments here...not that anyone actually reads this. :p
For anyone who hasn't been paying attention to me pretty much anywhere else, the Vermont Furs recently successfully fought to get an ordinance banning the wearing of masks in Burlington amended such that the suiters now have the freedom to suit in the city. Good for us!
As far as I know, in fact, this is the first time the furry fandom has actively played a role in having laws revised.
I may or may not have helped with that, in some capacity:
http://www.wptz.com/news/burlington.....nance/38393208
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/.....ance/81446590/
And I think that's all I've got to say about that pending any user comments here...not that anyone actually reads this. :p
Wonder if there's a transcript of your speech, as I couldn't make it there, since I had class during the meeting. :(
All in all, you really pushed when it mattered, here. Thank you for making our case all the stronger, doniago! :)
I’ve been a resident of Burlington for the past 15 years, and a member of the furry fandom for over twenty. I count the Vermont Furs as my best friends and some of the finest people I’ve ever known. I don’t own my own costume, but I love to see them in theirs, bringing joy to whatever venue will have them.
I love the Vermont Furs, but the mask ordinance shouldn’t be reformed just to allow them to wear their costumes here.
Reforming this ordinance isn’t about appealing to a special interest group, not even one that brings entertainment to the young (and not-so-young) and asks for nothing in return. Reforming this ordinance is about making Burlington the city we want it to be. A city that welcomes diversity and freedom of expression, a city that I can be proud to call my home.
I have the deepest respect and sympathy for those who enacted the current ordinance amidst a time of great social upheaval, but the ordinance as it stands is overly-broad. In this country we are “innocent until proven guilty”, but the mask ordinance makes no such allowances. The mask ordinance allows people to be considered criminals simply because they’ve covered their faces. There is no consideration for intent.
This past Saturday Burlington hosted Mardi Gras, a carnival celebration at which wearing masks plays an integral part. If not for a statement released by our esteemed mayor, the citizens of this city and those who came here for the occasion would have had no reason to believe they could wear masks without the risk of being approached by the police and facing possible citation.
Also, as I suspect everyone in this room is aware, it gets a bit chilly in Burlington even in early March, and I can’t imagine that the people who created the existing ordinance intended to make wearing protective headgear a criminal offense.
I think we can all agree that if someone is determined to commit a crime in Burlington, an ordinance banning the wearing of masks is going to be the least of their concerns.
Please, reconsider this ordinance. Not because the Vermont Furs want to be able to walk down Church St, but because the ordinance as it stands is overly-broad and does not represent the best our city can be. Every day that this ordinance has a chilling effect upon others, whether it’s the furs who just want to entertain others, the people who come to our city to celebrate holidays, or the shoppers warding off the cold weather, is a victory for those who would like nothing better than to see people who aren’t like themselves live in fear and repression.
Thank you for your time.