News From the Community Rights Movement

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Sep 16, 2015

Be the Change: How to Get What You Want in Your Community

Be the Change: How to Get What You Want in Your Community

A revolutionary handbook that shows everyday citizens how to stand up and take control of their local governments. With assistance from the cutting-edge methodology of his Democracy School, this book will teach you how to achieve true self-governance and help provide ecosystems with the inalienable right to exist and flourish.

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Sep 15, 2015

Daily Egyptian: Rights group to Jackson County Board: Protect us

Daily Egyptian: Rights group to Jackson County Board: Protect us

Jackson County, IL, residents rally at the County Courthouse to support adoption of a Community Bill of Rights ordinance. The local law would establish community rights to clean air, water, and soil, banning fracking as a violation of those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 12, 2015

My Daily Tribune: Ohio Court of Appeals denies Meigs ‘Home Rule’ ballot initiative

My Daily Tribune: Ohio Court of Appeals denies Meigs ‘Home Rule’ ballot initiative

An Ohio appellate court refuses to place a community rights county charter initiative on the ballot for residents of Meigs County. Residents are appealing.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 12, 2015

The Medina-Gazette: Party leaders weigh in on charter denial

The Medina-Gazette: Party leaders weigh in on charter denial

Some local party leaders make clear Ohio Secretary of State’s decision to remove county home rule initiatives that were duly qualified from the ballot is tyranny.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2015

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors disparages CELDF’s work, while others see through the smokescreen to the real issue at hand: communities fighting to protect their health, safety, and welfare, while corporations bully them for doing so through lawsuits.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Supreme Court date set for Envision arguments

The Spokesman-Review: Supreme Court date set for Envision arguments

Spokane, WA, residents qualified a Community Bill of Rights for the ballot for 2013. Corporate and government interests attempted to keep the measure off the ballot, and lost in an appellate court. November 10th the Washington Supreme Court will hear the case.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 10, 2015

The Athens News: Charter petitions awaiting decision by Ohio Supreme Court

The Athens News: Charter petitions awaiting decision by Ohio Supreme Court

An Athens County, OH, resident, lays out the considerations for the Ohio Supreme Court as it determines whether or not residents of three counties may vote on their own community rights county charter initiatives.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

Envision Spokane is asking a judge to throw out a legal challenge brought by the mayor against the group’s most recent ballot initiative.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Citizens should be able to vote on charters against pipelines

Citizens should be able to vote on charters against pipelines

Thank you, Paul Wohlfarth, for your 7/28 LTE raising awareness about the hazards of pipelines and the Waterville compressor station and for pointing out that we cannot rely upon our judicial system to do what’s right for the people. Experience indicates that the same could be said for our legislative and regulatory systems as well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Columbus Free-Press: Community Rights Network Calls Out Jon Husted for Blocking Anti-fracking Initiatives

Columbus Free-Press: Community Rights Network Calls Out Jon Husted for Blocking Anti-fracking Initiatives

Ohio residents don’t take “no” for an answer, protesting Ohio Secretary of State’s recent decision to remove three county Home Rule charter initiatives that ban fracking infrastructure projects from the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 8, 2015

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection refuses to issue two frack wastewater injection well permits where townships have community bills of rights bans on injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 6, 2015

The Journal Gazette: Fracking at center of battle over vote

The Journal Gazette: Fracking at center of battle over vote

Residents in three Ohio counties argue to the Ohio Supreme Court that their right to vote is being violated by Secretary of State Jon Husted. Attorneys for the Secretary of State argue Mr. Husted acted within his authority to pull the duly qualified initiatives from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 5, 2015

The Athens News: Big state groups come out against charter/bills of rights in Athens and two other counties

The Athens News: Big state groups come out against charter/bills of rights in Athens and two other counties

Big business comes out against the people of Ohio and in favor of reining in democracy as it files amicus briefs in support of Secretary of State Jon Husted in the Ohio Supreme Court. Mr. Husted pulled 3 county Home Rule initiatives from the ballot. Residents are suing Mr. Husted to place their duly qualified initiatives back on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 5, 2015

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection rejects a permit for a frack wastewater injection well in Grant Township, acknowledging the Township’s Community Bill of Rights banning those wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 3, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: State Supreme Court to hear 2013 Envision Spokane case

The Spokesman-Review: State Supreme Court to hear 2013 Envision Spokane case

Not wanting communities exercising authority in the places where they live, business and government interests appeal a Washington appellate court decision to the Washington Supreme Court. The appellate court had ordered Spokane’s Community Bill of Rights on the ballot for a vote by the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 3, 2015

The Crescent-News: Dozens protest Husted speaking engagement in opposition to fracking decision

The Crescent-News: Dozens protest Husted speaking engagement in opposition to fracking decision

Determined to have their right to vote recognized, residents from across Ohio protest the Secretary of State’s blocking of their community right county charter ballot measures. More than 9,000 signatures were gathered in three counties.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 2, 2015

Stow Sentry: Backers of fracking-related ballot issues protest at Columbus event featuring Jon Husted

Stow Sentry: Backers of fracking-related ballot issues protest at Columbus event featuring Jon Husted

Residents from across Ohio protest outside a luncheon where Ohio Secretary of State Husted is speaking today. Mr. Husted is attempting to block Home Rule county charter initiatives in Athens, Medina, and Fulton Counties from being on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 2, 2015

Cleveland Scene: Medina County Citizens Protesting Jon Husted’s Petition Review Process

Cleveland Scene: Medina County Citizens Protesting Jon Husted’s Petition Review Process

Citizens from Medina, Fulton and Athens counties in Ohio are gathering in Columbus today to protest Secretary of State Jon Husted’s ruling that those counties’ citizens may not vote on their own county charter initiatives, despite meeting requirements to place those initiatives on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 1, 2015

The Republic: Fracking foes in 3 Ohio counties say elections chief exceeded authority to block ballot issues

The Republic: Fracking foes in 3 Ohio counties say elections chief exceeded authority to block ballot issues

Three Ohio counties argue in their filing to the Ohio Supreme Court that the Secretary of State overstepped his authority in removing their county charter initiatives from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 31, 2015

What’s in a Community Bill of Rights (CBOR)?

What’s in a Community Bill of Rights (CBOR)?

Community Bills of Rights (CBOR) come in a variety of forms, including municipal or county ordinances, home rule charters, charter amendments, state legislation, and state constitutional amendments. The community decides which form to use, depending largely upon the types of local government and the tools for exercising local government allowed by your state constitution.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

Initiating a Rights-Based Campaign

Initiating a Rights-Based Campaign

The Three G’s of Organizing

Wondering how to get started on the road to local self-government in your community? You’ll need:

A Goal,
A Group,
and Get out of “The Box” by asserting your Right to Local Self-Government

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

Is it Really ILLEGAL to Think Outside the Box?

Is it Really ILLEGAL to Think Outside the Box?

What is it that keeps us from getting what we want in our communities? Why can’t we say, “No!” to harmful activities? The short answer is: THE LAW. A handful of legal doctrines make it illegal for communities to govern on important issues like fracking, factory farms, large-scale energy infrastructure projects and commercial water extraction.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

The System is Fixed and We Need to Break It

The System is Fixed and We Need to Break It

The system is broken! At CELDF we hear this all the time from communities asking for our help. Yet, to our eyes, the system is actually working just fine for those who created it; it’s been fixed to work on behalf of corporations that are protected by our state and federal governments.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

All is not Well in Grant Township

All is not Well in Grant Township

The true story of one community’s struggle to save their heritage watershed. And the corporations actively trying to destroy it.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 31, 2015

Press Release: Ohio Citizens Protest Against Secretary of State for denying their Constitutional Right to Vote

Press Release: Ohio Citizens Protest Against Secretary of State for denying their Constitutional Right to Vote

Ohio residents will demonstrate in downtown Columbus on Wednesday, against Ohio Secretary of State’s recent decision to remove three Home Rule county charter initiatives from the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

Press Release: National Community Rights Network Endorses NH Town ’ s Community Bill of Rights Ordinance

Press Release: National Community Rights Network Endorses NH Town ’ s Community Bill of Rights Ordinance

The National Community Rights Network backs Barrington, NH’s Community Bill of Rights Ordinance banning resource extraction as a violation of residents’ rights to clean air, water, and scenic preservation. Residents are bringing the measure forward for a vote at Town Meeting in March 2016.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 31, 2015

Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania

Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania

The story of one Pennsylvania community gaining community rights.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 31, 2015

Corporations and Natural Rights By Charles A. Beard

Corporations and Natural Rights By Charles A. Beard

Chapter I, from “Jefferson, Corporations and the Constitution” originally published in The Virginia Quarterly Review, 1936

Read More | Resource Links

Aug 30, 2015

Tom Paine on Corporate Charters

Tom Paine on Corporate Charters

I answer not to falsehood or abuse, but proceed to the defects of the English Government. I begin with charters and corporations.

Read More | Resource Links

Aug 30, 2015

Press Release: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Recognizes Community Authority to Ban Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

Press Release: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Recognizes Community Authority to Ban Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

MERCERSBURG, PA: On August 12, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) took an unprecedented step, for the first time suspending the issuance of a state frack wastewater injection well permit on the basis of a local ordinance banning injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 28, 2015

The Putney Debates

The Putney Debates

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Aug 28, 2015

Selections From “THE SPIRIT of AMERICAN GOVERNMENT”

Selections From “THE SPIRIT of AMERICAN GOVERNMENT”

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Aug 28, 2015

Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

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Aug 28, 2015

Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production

Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production

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Aug 28, 2015

Toxic Sludge is Good For You

Toxic Sludge is Good For You

Read More | Uncategorized

Aug 28, 2015

The Strings that Control the Public Mind

The Strings that Control the Public Mind

How Public Relations Sold Sewage Disposal as Agricultural Recycling

Read More | Resource Links

Aug 27, 2015

Capital Press: Why initiatives should remain a power tool for citizens

Capital Press: Why initiatives should remain a power tool for citizens

The Oregon Secretary of State refuses to certify a duly qualified state constitutional amendment that would secure the right to democratic local self-government. This writer points out the dangerous precedent established by such action if allowed to stand.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 27, 2015

The Inlander: Worker Bill of Rights will be on ballot as city declines to appeal judge’s ruling

The Inlander: Worker Bill of Rights will be on ballot as city declines to appeal judge’s ruling

The Worker Bill of Rights is the fourth initiative from Envision Spokane, now operating under Envision Worker Rights, to qualify for the ballot. It would grant new protections and rights to workers in Spokane, a prospect that has the business community worried.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 27, 2015

Press Release: Ohio Government Officials Again Deny Citizens the Right to Vote on Fracking

Press Release: Ohio Government Officials Again Deny Citizens the Right to Vote on Fracking

YOUNGSTOWN, OH: A week following Ohio Secretary of State John Husted’s ruling which stripped residents in three counties of their right to vote on Home Rule Charter initiatives, the Mahoning County Board of Elections voted to do the same to Youngstown residents. The Board refused to place a proposed Charter Amendment on the November ballot, even though all requirements for qualifying the amendment to the ballot were met, and the Board’s own attorney advised placing the amendment onto the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 27, 2015

Vindy.com: Mahoning elections board votes to keep Youngstown anti-fracking proposal off ballot

Vindy.com: Mahoning elections board votes to keep Youngstown anti-fracking proposal off ballot

With the Mahoning County Board of Elections unanimously voting to keep a Youngstown anti-fracking charter amendment proposal off the Nov. 3 ballot, backers of the initiative are unsure of their next step.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 26, 2015

Read the Dirt: Hundreds of Communities Are Building Legal Blockades to Fight Big Carbon

Read the Dirt: Hundreds of Communities Are Building Legal Blockades to Fight Big Carbon

Communities across the country – threatened by harmful carbon extraction – are leveraging community rights and lessons from indigenous peoples to use rights-based legal strategies, working to overcome unjust western legal doctrines.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 26, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Recognize workers’ rights

The Spokesman-Review: Recognize workers’ rights

While The Spokesman-Review got it right that all qualifying citizens’ initiatives should make it onto the ballot, the editorial board continues to get it wrong on corporate rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 25, 2015

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

A natural gas driller suing Highland Township in federal court claims attempts by outside parties to intervene in the case, one involving a municipal ban on wastewater injection wells, are both “befuddled” and baseless, asking the court to refuse their inclusion, in a statement filed on Monday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

The Vindicator: Youngstown council puts anti-fracking amendment on November ballot

The Vindicator: Youngstown council puts anti-fracking amendment on November ballot

YOUNGSTOWN ­— City council voted today to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot, and the Mahoning County Board of Elections could do the same as early as Wednesday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

EcoWatch: Corporate Rights Trump Democracy in Ohio Fracking Fight

EcoWatch: Corporate Rights Trump Democracy in Ohio Fracking Fight

People who oppose having their communities transformed into corporate resource colonies are familiar with the Halliburton Loophole, a secretly drafted edict that places the oil and gas industries above the law, exempting them and no one else from obeying the clean water act, the clean air act, the safe water drinking act, and others. Now, Ohio Sec. of State Jon Husted has unilaterally placed those same corporations above the Ohio State Constitution.

Read More | News from the Grassroots, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 24, 2015

Ohio SOS in hot water over dismissing unconventional oil & gas ballot proposals

Ohio SOS in hot water over dismissing unconventional oil & gas ballot proposals

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has been sued by 10 residents of Fulton, Medina and Athens counties after he invalidated hydraulic fracturing ballot proposals.

The group is challenging Husted’s decision to remove a series of ballot questions that contain bans on fracking-related oil and gas drilling projects, such as wastewater injection wells used during the fracturing process.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Coloradans advance their campaign for a statewide community rights state constitutional amendment for the 2016 ballot. Residents across the state refuse to remain resource colonies for corporate profits, and are working to codify their right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 23, 2015

Vindy.com: Youngstown council to vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on ballot

Vindy.com: Youngstown council to vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on ballot

City council will vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot, and it appears the Mahoning County Board of Elections will do the same in a couple of weeks.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 22, 2015

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

Activists will take another crack at passing the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, a proposed ballot initiative designed to give localities a veto over corporate activity, starting with the oil and gas industry.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

E&E Reporter: Fracking foes ask Ohio Supreme Court to reinstate ballot drives

E&E Reporter: Fracking foes ask Ohio Supreme Court to reinstate ballot drives

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted blocked the initiatives in Athens, Fulton and Medina counties on Nov. 13, 2014, saying local governments cannot get around state law that allows fracking. He acted under a section of Ohio law that allows the secretary of state to respond to election complaints (EnergyWire, Aug. 17).

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots