Yes on B CoalitionNEWS RELEASE - May 1, 2008
Sheriff catches man stealing "Yes On B" sign
The Mendocino County sheriff's office received an eyewitness report the afternoon of April 28, 2008, of a theft of a "Yes on B" yard sign from the 6000 block of North State Street, Ukiah, by two men in a truck. The witness recorded the license plate number.
Later in the day, a sheriff's deputy located a culprit with the stolen sign in his possession, and he confessed to the theft.
Because of the seriousness of the theft and vandalism attacks on its campaign signs, the Yes on B Coalition made a complaint in this case and it was sent April 30 by the sheriff's office to the district attorney in Report #08-1214.
More than 60 "Yes on B" signs have been stolen or vandalized, according to the Yes on B Coalition, which has placed more than 500 campaign signs across the county. Some Yes on B supporters have had their sign stolen three times.
"This is a level of campaign sign vandalism that's probably unprecedented in the history of Mendocino County," said coalition spokesman Ross Liberty. "It's an assault on free speech and the very concept of free elections. If those opposed to Measure B believe they have a message to communicate they should do so by putting up their own signs, not by stealing or tagging ours. Frankly, I believe this underscores a fundamental difference between our two groups."
"The Yes on B Coalition will replace every sign that is stolen," said Liberty. This battle for free speech is just a reflection of the underlying battle for the future of this county--whether we will be dominated by criminal activity or whether we have a future as a place where our quality of life comes first."
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