[Capr-announce] CAPR News March 2007

Wed Mar 21 20:22:30 PDT 2007

CAPR  NEWS

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM CITIZENS’ ALLIANCE FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS
MARCH, 2007

Russell C. Brooks – A Man on a White Horse

The world lost a good one recently.  As a Principle Attorney, Russ Brooks
managed the Northwest office of Pacific Legal Foundation, a non-profit,
public interest law firm.  Studying law for his second career, Russ interned
in PLFs head office in Sacramento and was hired upon graduation.  He was
promoted shortly thereafter to oversee PLFs northwest office where he gained
his reputation as a tireless and unrelenting advocate for citizens who were
oppressed by arbitrary government regulations.

Russ handled many important lawsuits in the Northwest.  His most famous was
the Alsea Valley Alliance case.  In that suit, he won a federal court
challenge in Oregon in 2001 that said federal officials couldn’t protect
wild coho salmon off the coast of Oregon if they did not also protect
hatchery fish swimming next to them.  That win punched a hole in a system
that was arbitrarily harming landowners and fishermen.   In addition to
excellent legal work, Russ apparently used good, old fashioned “Hey, think
about it” logic to win that ruling.

Under Russ’ guidance, PLF stepped in to fight provisions of King County’s
current CAO and Clearing and Grading Ordinances for several individuals and
CAPR.  After a setback in Superior Court, the portion of the challenge
dealing with allowable clearing and grading rules is currently under appeal
and stands an excellent chance of winning.

Russ followed his passion, not the money.  He reveled in his young family
and was noted for his enthusiasm for life.  His uncle said  “He always knew
what was right, even when he was young”.
He was that kind of a guy.

Russ Brooks died unexpectedly in his sleep on February 27, 2007, stopped
short at the age of 41.  He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, his 5-year-old
son, Austin, and his 2-year-old daughter, Savannah.   He will be missed.

CAPR Welcomes San Juan Chapter

A new chapter of CAPR was formed in February.   Based in Friday Harbor on
San Juan Island, the chapter will serve the islands community as well as the
surrounding areas in the northwest part of the state.  This is the first new
chapter to be formed after the CAPR Board revamped CAPRs organizational
structure in 2006 to promote such growth.

CAPR / San Juan is spearheaded by Frank Penwell who will serve as it’s
president.  At the last public meeting of CAPR, Frank expressed thanks to
Rodney McFarland and CAPR for providing the structure to form the group.  He
is an enthusiastic supporter of property rights and brings fresh energy to
the cause.  Relieved of the heavy lifting of starting an organization from
scratch, Frank and company are already off to the races, as you’ll read in
the next segment.

San Juan’s monthly meetings will be held the first Wednesday of each month.
For more info, call 360-378-3776 or email at sanjuan at proprights.org
<mailto:sanjuan at proprights.org> .

I-958,  Life Safety and Protection Initiative

Not slowed by the defeat of I-933 last November, Frank Penwell has
successfully filed for the “Life Safety and Protection Initiative, I-958.
Frank’s feeling is that property rights can be regained the same way they
were lost, one bite at a time, and this initiative is just that.  Its beauty
is in its simplicity.

I-958 says that for safety, landowners will have the right to clear brush
and cut trees within 100 feet of their buildings and utility lines.  That’s
it!  The idea for the initiative was borne out of the devastation caused by
the big windstorm we suffered last December.  The message is easy to grasp
and hard for the extremists to spin their propaganda against.  Who in their
right mind wants to get hit by a tree in a windstorm?!  And it won’t cost
the voters a dime (after the obligatory Supreme Court hearing anyway).
However, the best part about this initiative is that it would punch a hole
in the currently popular belief that humans and their property (rights) come
second.

You can read the initiative (one paragraph) at www.yesonI958.squarespace.com
<http://www.yesoni958.squarespace.com/> .  To get involved, you can contact
the campaign by email at I958 at centurytel.net <mailto:I958 at centurytel.net>
or by phone at 360-378-3776.

Make Elections Director an Elected Office (!)

A King County initiative has been filed with the aim of making the County
Elections Director a non-partisan, elected official.  The County Executive
currently appoints the Director.  However, the last governor’s race left
many people feeling that the office was compromised and needed major
changes.  With the County Executive and the majority on the County Council
wanting to maintain the status quo, an initiative of this type was
inevitable.

Citizens for Accountable Elections filed the initiative.  The group has a
website at www.AccountableElections.org
<http://www.accountableelections.org/> .   If you would like to get involved
with the campaign you can request petitions at info at AccountableElections.org
<mailto:info at AccountableElections.org> .   You can also endorse the
initiative at that same address.

CAPR Meeting Schedule

The next meeting of the King Co. chapter of CAPR will be held at 7:00 PM,
Thursday April 5th.  The meeting site is the IHOP restaurant located at 1433
NW Sammamish Rd. in Issaquah.  Consider coming early for dinner and
conversation.

Support the Cause!

As a volunteer organization, CAPR depends on our supporters and Board to get
things done.  If you have time to donate, please contact us.  If you would
like to make a financial contribution, you can do so with this link:
http://www.proprights.org/donate.php.

Jeff Wright
Secretary, CAPR
E-mail:        jeff at proprights.org <mailto:jeff at proprights.org>
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