Do We Live In A Bubble Here In Mesa?

Hmmm .... Gotta wonder, dear readers, gotta wonder.
About what you might ask?
Most recent case in point: Why was there no local reporting from so called "news reporters" at The Arizona Republic or East Valley Tribune or Phoenix New Times or The Mesa Independent with assignments to cover Mesa on an item that's been the subject of interest in national and international news reporting on First Amendment rights, fair use, freedom of expression, and favoritism by incumbents to control politics? . . . .Maybe because "outside interests don't get it "spoon-fed" to them by sources inside city government?
Bubbles are wonders of nature beautiful to behold, but when it comes to closed systems like local politics that get over-inflated and over-bloated, they exceed their own capacity to contain the hot air and pressure to expand, and burst.

What is your MesaZona blogger talkin' about?
An attempt to restrict political speech using intellectual property laws - featured in a post here two days ago based on reporting by Ars Technica - "A well-known First Amendment lawyer has formally responded on behalf of a city council candidate in Mesa, Arizona, who is accused of abusing the city’s trademarked logo in his campaign literature. . . "

Paul Levy, the lawyer referred to, has specialized in free speech issues arising on the Internet.  
More information here >> http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=337

Another report on May 25, 2016 appeared in The Washington Post

The Volokh Conspiracy opinion

Mesa, Arizona city threatening city council candidate with lawsuit

for using Mesa logo

It opens with this statement [words underlined to emphasize a point]

Paul Alan Levy of Public Citizen — who is representing the candidate — has the details; I’ve looked into the case, and I agree with his analysis:

The city of Mesa, Arizona, has threatened suit against a local businessman, Jeremy Whittaker, who is running for city council in opposition to a longtime city employee who enjoys endorsements from several current elected city officials. His offense? . . . Read more >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/05/25/mesa-arizona-city-threatening-city-council-candidate-with-lawsuit-for-using-mesa-logo/

 

Eugene Volokh teaches free speech law, religious freedom law, church-state relations law, a First Amendment Amicus Brief Clinic, and tort law, at UCLA School of Law, where he has also often taught copyright law, criminal law, and a seminar on firearms regulation policy.

Follow @volokhc

Yet another report about Mesa's actions on Monday can be seen in Techdirt

City Of Mesa Abusing Trademark Law

To Punish City Council Candidate They Don't Like

from the not-how-it-works dept

"Another day, another story of abusing trademark law to try to silence speech. Paul Levy has the story of how the city of Mesa, Arizona, has sent a ridiculous cease and desist letter to Jeremy Whittaker, who is running for city council. Apparently, his opponent in the election is the preferred choice of many current city officials, suggesting that they don't really appreciate Whittaker's candidacy. But the city took things a ridiculous step too far in sending that cease and desist, arguing that Whittaker's campaign signs violate the city's trademark on its logo . . ."

Readers please note documents produced by Mesa law firm Booth, Udall & Fuller are included in the article together with the response from the Public Citizen Litigation Group  

Read more >> https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160524/18141034540/city-mesa-abusing-trademark-law-to-punish-city-council-candidate-they-dont-like.shtml