Small AZ town declares "State of Emergency" after response to Journalist's open meeting arrest.

[TalkingDog]

http://www2.az-independent.com/2011/07/10/state-of-emergency-in-quartzsite/

Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert has asked the town council to declare a “state of emergency” due to all of the publicity the town has received over the arrest of a reporter at an open meeting in June.



Well, now, doesn't feel so good when the sheep start biting back, does it?

[TalkingDog]

1. Another source with more info

http://theintelhub.com/2011/07/10/mayor-claims-quartzsite-arizona-under-martial-law-after-state-of-emergency-declared-during-secret-meeting/

This, according to Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster, happened after a secret meeting was held during which the city council voted in favor of declaring a state of emergency.

Jennifer Jones, the woman who has gone on a full scale crusade against corruption in the small town of 3,600, posted an urgent update on here blog The Desert Freedom Press.

“At about noon today, the town council, at the request of the police chief, declared an official state of emergency. Sgt Xavier Frausto was dressed in tactical gear when he and the police chief demanded the mayor get in their car,” wrote Jones.

That’s right, according to this report, police in tactical gear ordered a sitting mayor to a potentially illegal secret meeting.

[Kaleva]

4. The Mayor tells a somewhat different story.

"Foster told the Pioneer Gilbert stopped at his home and offered to take him to town hall. Foster declined and said he would drive himself. He said that, when he arrived, he found a council meeting was taking place.

He said he declined to enter the building because he recognized this was an illegal meeting. After that, he said the front doors were locked."

http://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2011/07/11/news/doc4e1bbc98edd99386157241.txt


The so-called marital law in Quartzsite is pretty lame.

"The emergency declaration allows the council to meet without public notice and suspend all public comment until they declare the state of emergency over."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/11/general-us-quartzsite-feud_8559496.html

"Regular council meetings would be suspended until the second Tuesday in September, or until two-thirds of the council members determine an emergency no longer exists. The council meeting set for Jan. 12, which had already been posted, would be held at 10 a.m. rather than in the evening.

- Call to the Public and the rules on citizen comments would be suspended until the second Tuesday of September, or until two-third of the council members determine an emergency no longer exists."

- Council meetings would be rescheduled for 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

- The town staff was directed to implement measures to ensure public safety at Town Hall and during the council meetings."

http://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2011/07/11/news/doc4e1bbc98edd99386157241.txt


As best as I can gather, this stink up in Quartzsite is based on the Council raising water and sewer rates.

"The council provoked anger by raising water and sewer rates for the first time in 10 years and several members have fought off recalls."

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/state-and-regional/article_ebe26b5f-8b17-54e4-a793-a00a6ed7eb05.html

I haven't been able to find any source that verifies Jennifer “Jade” Harris-Jones' claim that the police are dressed in tactical gear.

[TalkingDog]

2. Here is a pdf with complaints against the corrupt police and council members

http://azcops.com/userfiles/public%20letter%20for%20meeting.pdf

I think this was some of what she was getting ready to discuss at the meeting then the police hauled her off.

The Mayor tried to intercede on her behalf, but was ignored.

[Kaleva]

8. She was taking about an unmandated tax according to press reports.

Which might have been the recent water and sewer rate increase.

[TalkingDog]

9. Ah... Thank you.

So, they had her removed for complaining about water and sewer increases?

[Kaleva]

10. It's a complicated story and I haven't been able to figure it out yet.

So far, I think it's a case of small town politics gone bad. Jennifer Jones, the mayor and a few others are in one group while members of the council and their supporters are in another. As best as I can tell, this all started with the council voting to increase the sewer and water tax.

[Abq_Sarah]

3. Sounds like the Police chief and the town council

Need a wake up call.

[barbtries]

5. so it looks as if

they just want to run their town the way they want to run their town. the state of emergency isn't really because of the reporter so much as a way to accomplish that without anybody else knowing what they're up to. wow.

[lpbk2713]

6. Everybody to get from strit ... LOL

I can see two little old ladies zooming around town on a motor scooter alerting everyone. :rofl:

[snooper2]

7. There are a number of youtube videos on that POS chief of police..

Of course Alex Jones has a couple as well :P

But he is one ignorant asshole