10.15.2003
Free Newspaper Theft To Be Crime in Berkeley
"Stealing newspapers in Berkeley will officially become a crime after the City Council passes a new ordinance at tonight's meeting.
The ordinance will fulfill a promise that Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates made last year, after he pleaded guilty to stealing and trashing 1,000 copies of The Daily Californian the day before last November's elections when he was elected mayor..."
This is a surprisingly (or maybe not) common occurence.
What usually happens is this: The campus newspaper publishes something not too flattering (whether it be sexual harassment charges, or as it was in this case, an edorsement of an opponent) about a public official (a student politico, professor) on campus. In retaliation, the person rounds up a few of his or her friends and grabs as many copies as they can, tossing them away.
Some get away with it, some don't. This story seems to have a nice ending, with the mayor paying a $250 fine and $500 for the cost of the papers, as well as a promise to support legislation making it illegal to steal free newspapers.
UPDATE: Student Press Law Center has article, which has a complete list of links at the bottom.
The ordinance will fulfill a promise that Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates made last year, after he pleaded guilty to stealing and trashing 1,000 copies of The Daily Californian the day before last November's elections when he was elected mayor..."
This is a surprisingly (or maybe not) common occurence.
What usually happens is this: The campus newspaper publishes something not too flattering (whether it be sexual harassment charges, or as it was in this case, an edorsement of an opponent) about a public official (a student politico, professor) on campus. In retaliation, the person rounds up a few of his or her friends and grabs as many copies as they can, tossing them away.
Some get away with it, some don't. This story seems to have a nice ending, with the mayor paying a $250 fine and $500 for the cost of the papers, as well as a promise to support legislation making it illegal to steal free newspapers.
UPDATE: Student Press Law Center has article, which has a complete list of links at the bottom.
Comments:
Post a Comment
