9/11 Family Members, And Survivor File For Re-validation Of Citizens’ Signatures With New York State Supreme Court
9/11 Family Members, and Survivor File for Re-validation of Citizens’ Signatures with New York State Supreme Court, following rejection of NYC CAN petition by the City Clerk and Board of Elections
NYC CAN News Bulletin -- July 31, 2009 -- PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY
New York City– On Wednesday, several 9/11 victim family members and a survivor took the first step in challenging the City Clerk’s rejection of the NYC CAN petition for a new investigation in New York City. The group filed a Verified Petition/Order to Show Cause with the Supreme Court of the State of New York requesting a review of Board of Election documentation and a ‘special referee’ appointed to re-validate the over 52,000 signatures filed by NYC CAN on June 24th.
The NYC CAN petition was rejected by the City Clerk on Friday, July 24th, a week ago, certifying less than the minimum of 30,000 qualified signatures of electors. This benchmark, according to the Clerk’s office was not met. A ‘qualified elector’ is a registered New York City voter who was eligible to vote in the last election. According to the letter sent by the Clerk to the City Council, the NY Board of Elections validated 26,003 signatures and invalidated 24,664, leaving 1,333 that were not certified.
At a hearing scheduled for Monday, August 3rd, before a Supreme Court Justice, the plaintiffs, representing tens of thousands of concerned New Yorkers who support a new 9/11 investigation, will formally raise their request for an independent review of the Board of Elections findings. If granted by the presiding Justice, a re-validation of the petition signatures by an independent special referee will follow.
In addition to the requirement to reach the threshold of 30,000 qualified electors, the petition itself must comply with New York Municipal Home Rule Law and relevant Election Laws. The City Clerk maintains the Petition fell short in several areas but it should be emphasized that this is the legal opinion of the Corporation Counsel, the City of New York’s top lawyer, and will be challenged in court by lawyers for the five plaintiffs.
Legal advisers to the plaintiffs believe that the legal objections raised by the Corporation Counsel are specious and should be set aside, however considering the political implications and official opposition to the proposed Commission, obtaining approval for placing the referendum question on the ballet itself will be fraught with difficulty and challenge each step of the way.
The fact is historically in New York City ballot initiatives have not been successful. The last two were denied by the City Clerk. In both cases the petitioners filed a suit and ultimately lost and thus NYC CAN anticipated the response of the Clerk. And though the odds are stacked against us, we are committed to take the next steps available to us.
Regardless of the outcome, the court case will serve to amplify the demand for a new 9/11 investigation and with lessons learned, should serve to strengthen the ability of the people to petition their government for meaningful referendums in the future.
Please donate to support this historic court case now: Go to – http://nyccan.org/donate.php
NYC CAN is non-partisan organization comprised of 9/11 Families, First Responders, Survivors and proud, concerned citizens committed to bringing about an independent, impartial investigation into the events of September 11. For more info: http://www.nyccan.org
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So they can't add additional signatures?
It seems like NYC CAN should be allowed to kick in the required number of extra signatures to get 30,000.... Which is reportedly about 4,000 more. (Hell they have 70,000!) What sucks is that they had more than 60,000 back on June 24 and decided to submit 52,000 only, when 60,000 would have gotten it done. I was thinking that with street petitions about half would be deemed valid, so why were ANY held back??? Did Ted think that the valid signatures above and beyond 30,000 would be wasted and not count toward an override? Did he KNOW that or just think it? Now it appears that the entire 70,000 might be wasted based on that gamble.
Don't get me wrong though. Even if 60,000 were originally submitted back in June to ensure the 2-1 margin which street petitioners say is sound, I'm sure the Clerk and BOE would still have some other rejection based on Home Rule. I'm just a little pissed. I donated 3 times and they didn't turn in all the signatures they had on hand.
They submitted them...
On June 24th, I think, and at that point, they had 52,000+. For the additional signatures, they would have had to submit them separately. And then those would be counted. I think. I think they were waiting until the last possible second to collect as many signatures as possible. The end of August?
I feel your pain.
Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?
Thanks for the insight--Jon
I was venting a little there and about to edit but it's too late now. Your write-up is insightful.. and helpful.... also I don't mean to bemoan the signatures too much because it is obvious these NYC officials would use every means at their disposal, Home Rule, etc. to deny this courageous act of democracy. But as Albanese said, it is a symbolic victory nevertheless!
On a positive note: NYC CAN should stay solvent and NOT disband even if this ballot initiative is not successful. Parlay the perceived credibility of getting 70,000 signatures and valiantly attempting a 9/11 referendum that was rejected by bureaucrats-- who were taken to court-- into a citizen's commission that will publish a report. No, it won't have subpoena power or city funding, but it could still be an effective body for inquiry.
FBI whistleblowers Sibel Edmonds and Colleen Rowley would give statements willingly without having to be subpoenaed. First responders who were ignored from the 9/11 Commission would willingly testify. (Also the "9/11 Oral Histories" came out after 2004 so it could be used as well.)
Perhaps Norman Mineta would willingly appear and give a statement. Regardless, his previous OMITTED testimony is available to NYC CAN. Same with Richard Clarke, whose book could be quoted.
Numerous experts would present evidence to the NYC CAN commissioners willingly.... and a number of peer-reviewed scientific papers would be at the Commission's disposal. (Journalof911studies, etc.)
Just a few ideas to consider in writing a report based on evidence and sworn testimony that would augment the official narrative. A final report would be published. We need someone other than David Ray Griffin publishing books! We need a book of findings and recommendations released by a semi-official Citizens Commission! Which would be endorsed by heavyweight government officials such as Ray McGovern, Paul Craig Roberts, Bob Bowman, General Stubblebine and others... including the Family Steering Committee for the 9/11 Commission.
Oh I was venting...
A LOT earlier.
Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?
I don't understand
Why hasn't NYCAN published the names and home addresses of the city clerk, lawyers, and all other local government officials who are blocking this petition? This way couldn't citizens hold peaceful protests outside their houses, and ask them face to face why they are doing this - preferably on camera?
Is this a handful of people subverting the will of tens of thousands of citizens?
Blocking an investigation into mass murder and high treason?
.
What I don't understand is why this hasn't already been done?
I bet the real perpetrators of 9/11 have these people's names and a lot more.
Hearing on August 3
First Responders, family members and others should show up to this hearing and after hold a press conference.........Only public pressure will force the NY Court to do the right thing.
Steve Alten's newsletter on nyc can
I just got a newsletter from Steve Alten, regarding the 9/11/09 release of The SHELL GAME in paperback. Steve will also be speaking at the NYC 9/11 truth event:
We Demand Transparency
This following is an excerpt from Steve Alten's August, 2009 newsletter -
Next Release: The SHELL GAME paperback
This is actually an entirely NEW edition, the changes and outcome reflecting an Obama Administration in office when the next 9/11 false flag event strikes. It is far more terrifying and even more real. I hold nothing back this time around. The book will be released the week of 9/11/09.
LIVING TIPS: If you truly believe in democracy
As an author, I often write about good versus evil and the journey of the hero, who must reveal the truth against all odds in order to right a wrong. There is no doubt that a great evil was committed on September 11, 2001, but the entire truth has yet to be revealed. Why is the truth so important? Because the domino effect of 9/11 led to two wars that wiped out over a million innocent people who had nothing to do with September 11th, and there has yet to be a single firing or reprimand in regard to intelligence failures that allowed 3,000 Americans to be murdered. Democracy is an illusion if the people refuse to make our leaders accountable. An open free society cannot exist in a vacuum controlled by the media. Real patriotism is not a noun, it is a verb. Each of us has a choice: We can either shrug our shoulders and remain indifferent, or demand a real investigation. As a patriotic American, I fully support the New York City Coalition for Accountability Now, which has one simple yet important goal: the creation of an independent and impartial subpoena powered investigation into the September 11th attacks. (This project is supported and backed by the 9/11 victims' families and NYC Firefighters!) Be the hero of the story: Demand answers NOW so that we can prevent another 9/11 that could steal more of our loved ones. Please go to the below link
http://www.nyccan.org/
...
http://www.911blogger.com/node/20714
Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?
We all need to help out with what ever we can.
I just sent 25.00. I wish i could sent 10 times that. I'm sure there's many that feel the same, but, even a little, if a lot give, that is what's needed. A little, given by a lot. Give 5 dollars.