FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009

REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:30 P.M.

FILLMORE CITY HALL
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA

ITEM REFERENCE**

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral

3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral
Oral Communications is the time for citizen presentations or comments on items not on the agenda, but within the responsibility of the City Council. Please complete an Audience Participation Form prior to the beginning of oral communications and hand it to the clerk if you wish to speak. Please stay within the time limit indicated by the Mayor. If you wish to speak on an item on this agenda, please fill out an Audience Participation Form and hand it to the clerk prior to that item.

4. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR (6:50p)
4A. Warrant List for January 27, 2009. Copy CONTINUED »

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today commented on the California Sex Offender Management Board's call to repeal residency restrictions set forth by Proposition 83: Jessica's Law, a ballot measure passed by 70 percent of voters in the 2006 election:

"California voters overwhelming adopted the laws that determine where sex offenders are allowed to live. If the Sex Offender Management Board wants to change the will of the voters, then I would expect them to issue a more detailed report that outlines the specific changes they believe should be made to Jessica's Law.

"What SOMB's latest report fails to address is the inclusion of GPS monitoring of California sex offenders, which gives our state a comprehensive approach to residency restrictions – unlike so many other states that just use residency restrictions.

"The report also lacks specific recommendations to improve current California sex offender management policies, which is disappointing; and it's unfortunate that the report omits actual evidence to support the board's idea that sex offender residency laws in California should be abandoned.

"Let's not forget the voters made it clear that they do not believe child molesters should live in close proximity to schools, parks and other places where children play."

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today released the following statements regarding the Governor's 2009 State of the State speech:

"The Governor mentioned the political catchphrase of 2008: 'change.' The change that California needs to implement is to stop the ongoing cycle of overspending taxpayers' dollars.

"California can beg, steal or borrow $40 billion today, but if we continue to spend with abandon we will be $20 billion in the hole tomorrow.

"Now is the time to live within ours means; we must adopt a spending limit, hold the taxations of our citizens to a minimum and allow government to provide only the most basic needs."

Visit Senator Runner's website at: http://cssrc.us/web/17/

Ventura County, CA - The campaign for Jeff Gorell, candidate for State Assembly in 2010, announced today that he has been endorsed by incumbent Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark). The 37th Assembly District lawmaker is precluded from running for re-election due to Proposition 140, California's term limits law, and she has made public her early and strong support for Jeff Gorell to succeed her in office.

"It's an honor to have the support of Assemblywoman Strickland," said Jeff Gorell, a former Ventura County Deputy DA and local attorney. "As our next Assemblyman, I will work to reform California's government and build upon her efforts to hold the line on government spending and new taxes. Like Audra, I will be a strong ally of public safety on all fronts, and will fight against the proposed Camarillo prison hospital. "

"Despite the challenges in Sacramento today, I continue to have great optimism and inspiration to make positive change for our community" said Gorell. "It's an honor to have the early support of Assemblywoman Audra Strickland and so many respected state and local leaders. It would be one of life's greatest honors to represent this community - my neighbors - in the State Legislature."

About Jeff Gorell for Assembly 2010

Jeff Gorell has a strong background in public service and public policy, including his work as an aide to Governor Pete Wilson from 1993 to 1996 and as a statewide business advocate with the powerful California Manufacturers and Technology Association from 1996 to 1999. He also served Ventura County as deputy district attorney for more than 6 years from 1999 to 2006, working as a trial prosecutor in the major narcotics and violent felony units. Today, Gorell is a practicing business attorney and an adjunct professor of public policy at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Gorell, a war veteran, also serves in the United States Navy Reserve and was deployed to Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. He was recently promoted to the rank of Lt. Commander and continues to serve today as a naval intelligence officer.

Jeff Gorell lives in Camarillo with his wife Laura and six-year-old step-daughter Ashley.

To learn more about Jeff Gorell's campaign, including his full list of endorsements, background, experience and vision for the future, please visit www.jeffgorell.org.

Sacramento, CA – January 13, 2009, California State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) was named Vice Chair of Health and a Member of Energy, Utilities and Communications committees.

“Healthcare is an issue of extraordinary importance to everyone in California and I will fight to make sure that Californians have access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

As a Member of the Energy committee, Senator Strickland will push for a more efficient economy and the creation of green jobs. “I’m excited to serve on the energy committee. I believe it is vitally important that California should transition to a renewable, more energy efficient economy. If we make this transition it will help jump start our economy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, and lower energy prices,” stated Senator Strickland.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve on these committees to make a different in the lives of our Californian residents,” said Senator Strickland.

State Senator Tony Strickland represents the 19th Senate District which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Written By Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law.
September 25, 2001 9:20 a.m.

You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is. So they would know when they found one to kill.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as Native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them
chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan, other Middle Eastern countries, and every other nation in the world. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today commented on the California Sex Offender Management Board's call to repeal residency restrictions set forth by Proposition 83: Jessica's Law, a ballot measure passed by 70 percent of voters in the 2006 election:

"California voters overwhelming adopted the laws that determine where sex offenders are allowed to live. If the Sex Offender Management Board wants to change the will of the voters, then I would expect them to issue a more detailed report that outlines the specific changes they believe should be made to Jessica's Law.

"What SOMB's latest report fails to address is the inclusion of GPS monitoring of California sex offenders, which gives our state a comprehensive approach to residency restrictions – unlike so many other states that just use residency restrictions.

"The report also lacks specific recommendations to improve current California sex offender management policies, which is disappointing; and it's unfortunate that the report omits actual evidence to support the board's idea that sex offender residency laws in California should be abandoned.

"Let's not forget the voters made it clear that they do not believe child molesters should live in close proximity to schools, parks and other places where children play."

Australian Gun Law Update
Here's a thought to warm some of your hearts . From: Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia

Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the now available data from Down Under.
It has now been one year (12 months) since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are now available:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 6.2 percent;
Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent);
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent as compared with the last one year period when private ownership of a firearm was legal.
(NB: the law-abiding citizens did turn in their personal firearms, the criminal element did not and thus criminals in Australia still possess their guns.)
While data for the 25 years preceding the confiscation of privately owned guns showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months as criminals now are assured their victims will be unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.
Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in 'successfully ridding Australian society of guns.'
This story of well intentioned government intervention in the rights of lawful individuals to own and possess firearms won't be seen in the mainstream US media or on the American evening news. Senator Obama who advocates a similar confiscation in the US will not be reporting any of this to you.
But, the Australian experience speaks for itself. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Americans may want to take note before it's too late!

From Washington Times comments

DE BORCHGRAVE: Capitalist Abyss

I agree with Mr. de Borchgrave's commentary above, and with the comments of soxconn and Jaeger, below. But there is another critically-important factor in this national tragedy: the education-level of the public. The general public is now so undereducated that at least a third of the high-school graduates can't do enough simple math to hold down a job on a production line or make change while running a cash register. Thus, when someone comes along and offers them a mortgage that their income can't possibly sustain, or an adjustable-rate mortgage with sky-high premiums down the road, or a car lease with a balloon payment, they simply have no idea what they're dealing with.

Until about 45 years ago, our public-school system was run under the tenets of conservatism: its goal was to educate the educable children; and it understood clearly that the perfect is the enemy of the good. 85% - 87% of the children are educable; the rest are dysfunctional, meaning that many are disruptive, and some are actually dangerous; so the schools moved them out of the mainstream. You can't teach if you don't have discipline; so the schools were expected to discipline the children. The system was not perfect, but it created an American public with enough smarts to deal effectively with the world around them.

Then the liberals took over. The Earl Warren Supreme Court undercut fatally the authority of the schools to maintain discipline, and converted the schools from education centers for the educable into holding pens for all of the children (ironically, President George W. Bush's recent slogan, "No Child Left Behind," expresses perfectly that mentality). Then the schools were integrated racially in such a way as to emphasize the speed and smoothness of the integration, for political purposes; in order to attain those ends, the schools had to drop their education standards, and invent fluff courses and social promotions to play the necessary looking-good games; and those horrible expediencies persist today. The liberals junked the traditional courses and teaching methods, and substituted Rousseau's and John Dewey's proven-unworkable programs and techniques. The liberal trade-unions for teachers then gained so much political clout that they could successfully stonewall any real attempts to reform the system. This combination of educational catastrophes constitutes the perfect storm.
The result is that today, much of the American public is barely functional. Therefore, it provides endless numbers of suckers who can be scammed with pathetic ease by the greedheads who run so many of our financial institutions these days. And that is one of the key reasons why the greedheads in business and the liberals in Congress have been able to wreak such destruction upon our economy.

City of Fillmore

FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009

REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:30 P.M.

FILLMORE CITY HALL
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA

ITEM REFERENCE**

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral

3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral CONTINUED »

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today joined fellow Republican legislators, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the National Federation of Independent Business California and others in filing suit in appellate court to block the enactment of new illegal taxes approved by the Legislature without the constitutionally required two-thirds vote.

Proposition 13, enacted by the voters in 1978, prohibits state elected officials from creating or increasing taxes without a two-thirds vote. However, the Democrats in the Legislature passed a measure in December with a simple majority vote that raises sales tax, income tax, car tax and gasoline tax.

“Apparently, the Democrats believe they can pull the wool over the eyes of California taxpayers and nobody will do a thing,” Runner said. “This law suit sends a strong message to the Democrats that we will not stand idle while they trample the California Constitution.”

Also joining the suit are the Americans for Prosperity, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Flash Report president Jon Fleischman and KFI radio show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chaimpou.

Written by Petra Marquardt-Bigman

Perhaps you remember the demonstrations during the Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, when protesters proudly carried placards announcing "We are all Hizbullah". Over at Z Word, you can admire the updated version: "We are Hamas" - a slogan that, as Ben Cohen rightly observes, was "entirely predictable". What Hamas - and therefore the people who identify so enthusiastically with the Islamist group - really stand for has been gruesomely illustrated in the past few days.

Last week, an Israeli air strike targeted and killed Nizar Rayyan (sometimes also spelled Ghayan). He was a Hamas military commander who was regarded as one of the most popular and influential Hamas leaders in Gaza; in addition, he served as a "spiritual" leader for Hamas's armed wing and taught at the Islamic University in Gaza City, where his students reportedly revered him as a prominent Muslim scholar.

What Rayyan taught his students, and what he preached, is described in a post on Jeffrey Goldberg's blog at the Atlantic:

In particular, Rayyan was interested in the hadith, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, with a special interest in hadith that painted Jews in a negative light. ... This is what he said when I asked him if he could envision a 50-year hudna (or cease-fire) with Israel: 'The only reason to have a hudna is to prepare yourself for the final battle. We don't need 50 years to prepare ourselves for the final battle with Israel.' There is no chance, he said, that true Islam would ever allow a Jewish state to survive in the Muslim Middle East. 'Israel is an impossibility. It is an offense against God.'"

And make no mistake: Rayyan was a man who didn't just preach hatred against Israel, he practiced it, and nothing was dearer to him than a dead Israeli: In 2001, he sent one of his sons to carry out a suicide attack in Gush Katif's Elei Sinai settlement.

That's what the people who march under a banner proclaiming "We are Hamas" identify with. And this is also what they identify with: as Khaled Abu Toameh reports, "Hamas militiamen had been assaulting many Fatah activists since the beginning of the operation last Saturday ... at least 75 activists were shot in the legs while others had their hands broken ... sources close to Hamas revealed over the weekend that the movement had 'executed' more than 35 Palestinians who were suspected of collaborating with Israel and were being held in various Hamas security installations." CONTINUED »

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement on the violence in Gaza and around the world:

“This past year, we have seen far too much violence throughout the world, from the continued genocide of the people in southern Sudan to the horrible bombings in the city of Mumbai, to this week’s violence between Hamas and Israel.

“Every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism and cold-blooded attacks on its people. Israel is no different and is right to defend itself against the unceasing violence of rocket attacks launched by Hamas.

“The goal should be just and lasting peace not only in Gaza but throughout the world, and all sides have the choice and ability to reject violence and work toward that goal.

“My thoughts are with all of those who face senseless violence and with all Californians who are affected by conflicts throughout the world.”

Senators: Barack Obama & Dick Durbin
Representative: Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Illinois Governor: Rod Blogojevich
Illinois House leader: Mike Madigan
Illinois Attorney General: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike)
Chicago Mayor: Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley)
The leadership in Illinois ? .....all Democrats.

Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago. Body count in the last six months: 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago, 221 killed in Iraq.

State pension fund - $44 Billion in debt, worst in the country.

Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax - 10.25% highest in country. (Look it up).

Chicago school system - rated one of the worst in the country.

Of course, they're all blaming each other. They can't blame Republicans because there aren't any.

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois. And he's going to '"fix" Washington politics for us? Good luck and may God help us.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley), as a representative of the California Senate, testified before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court in its case against the California prison system’s alleged prisoner overcrowding.

“There is no question that California’s prison system has problems, but under no circumstances do the problems warrant the early release of prisoner,” said Runner, who has led the charge in prison reform in the State Legislature. “Other solutions exist – solutions that Republicans have introduced in recent times – that would not endanger our communities.”

Runner’s testmony will help the federal government’s three-judge panel (that was created in 2007) decide whether to place limits on California’s prison population. At the heart of the issue is deciding whether the prison system’s delivery of health care to prisoners is constitutional.

Runner affirmed to the court that indeed California does meet the scrutiny of the US Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment to prisoners.

“California prisoners are afforded adequate health care,” Runner said. “In fact, the mortality rate for California prisoners is lower than that of the general public.”

Runner also testified that California’s prison population has decreased in the past years, making it one of the lowest per capita populations of the 50 states.

36 years ago, December 23, 1972, a date that is etched in adrenaline memory for many watching and betting on one of history’s greatest National Football League plays. The game: Oakland Raiders verses the Pittsburgh Steelers. With less than 22 seconds remaining in the game, Steelers’ Franco Harris scooped up the loose ball right before it hit the ground after being bounced from John Fuqua; Harris then ran over 35 yards for a touchdown. Forever known in history as the “Immaculate Reception”—a miraculous play.

Miracles define the holiday season—36 years ago it was that final 22 second miracle push that made history. This week we have an opportunity to contribute to giving miracles locally. Ventura County’s food bank, FOOD Share, has entered into the final quarter of their 2008 “Tackling Hunger” food drive with a goal of collecting 250,000 lbs of food by December 31st. The end of the food drive is near and there is still a great need for donations to make that final touchdown and reach their goal. FOOD Share has collected 106,897 lbs entering into the final weeks of the drive and needs that final 143,103 lbs to make their touchdown. 250,000 lbs will help sustain FOOD Shares service demands through the month of March. I am asking you to join with me and many of your neighbors, schools and local businesses, in the spirit of the holidays, to buy a little extra food to help your local food bank reach their goal.

FOOD Share is the emergency food lifeline to those hungry in Ventura County. Over 600 volunteers work to glean, collect, sort, pack and prepare more than 7 million pounds of food each year, and over 40,000 hungry people are being fed each month.

To donate to the VONS/PODS Food Drive, stop by any Vons in Ventura County and put your donations in the yellow FOOD Share containers until December 31st, 2008. FOOD Share is in need for protein rich foods to provide Ventura County residents in need with quality, healthy food such as: canned tuna, chicken and meats, canned soups, canned beef stew, canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned beans, canned spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, rice, dry beans, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, jelly (in plastic), fruit juices (canned, plastic bottles & boxes).

You can also visit FOOD Share’s website at www.foodshare.com and donate money to purchase the healthy foods people need most.

Miracles happened throughout history; please join me in making a miracle for families in need throughout Ventura County this holiday season. Support Ventura County FOOD Share.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

At one of the most congested sections of I-405 in Los Angeles, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today highlighted the job, economic and quality of life ramifications of the legislature’s failure to pass a real and comprehensive budget solution. The legislature’s inaction caused the state Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) to vote last week to stop $3.8 billion in state infrastructure financing over the next six months – including the halting of $730 million in financing to build a 10-mile I-405 HOV lane in Los Angeles between LAX and US 101 in the San Fernando Valley designed to reduce 23,000 hours of freeway congestion per day. Due to the legislature’s continued failure to provide a real and comprehensive budget solution, 2,000 infrastructure projects in California valued at more than $16 billion are in jeopardy and tens of thousands of California jobs are immediately at risk.

“Last week the legislature asked Californians to pay higher taxes and fees without making a real attempt to put Californians back to work and help them keep their homes. Because of the legislature’s continued failure to pass a real budget solution, funding for infrastructure projects like this I-405 widening project has been stopped. So instead of bulldozers, cranes and construction workers getting to work – all we’ll have is more gridlock. This not only halts job creation and economic stimulus across California, but it also impacts our quality of life,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “The time for political posturing is over – its time the state legislature starts solving problems instead of creating them.”

Designed to widen I-405 in Los Angeles County between Interstate 10 near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and US 101 in San Fernando Valley – this 10 mile northbound HOV project would complete the HOV system on Interstate 405 from State Route 14 to the Orange County line. As southern Californians know, this section of I-405 is heavily congested and existing traffic in the project area can be stop and go throughout the day. The HOV project projects to reduce 23,000 hours of congestion per day. Due to the legislature’s inability to resolve California’s budget shortfall, the financing for this project has been halted – and funding for 2,000 other projects across California is in jeopardy. (For a list of all infrastructure projects that could potentially be affected, please see the attached list).

Last week Governor Schwarzenegger declared he would veto the budget bills passed by the legislature because they fail to provide real solutions for California’s budget crisis and also fail to provide economic stimulus and mortgage relief for California. On November 6, 2008, the Governor presented a budget proposal to the legislature that would address all such issues.

In September, Governor Schwarzenegger announced the $730 million Proposition 1B allocation to this Los Angeles 1-405 HOV project. It is the largest individual Proposition 1B project allocation to date.

Supervisor Kathy Long is proud to announce a revitalization of the community of Piru’s Warring Park Basketball Court. Construction of the park’s revitalization project started this week and will replace the current asphalt court with a colored concrete court, new backboards, court benches, and baseball field dugout benches.

The County of Ventura has been working with the Piru Local Parks Commission to move forward on the replacement of Warring Park’s aging Basketball Court that is overrun with cracks and weeds. The new revitalization project is expected to be complete for use by December 29th barring any weather delays; and just in time for a New Years Day basketball game.

Supervisor Long remarks on the new basketball court; “Warring Park is like a favorite pair of shoes—worn and treasured by those that like to play. The new basketball court will bring more than new pavement—our children will now have new and safer opportunities to play, strengthen their confidence and their bodies on the court—the favorite pair of shoes got new soles.”

The revitalization project will cost $56,300 and will be completed by Draper Construction of Somis, who won the bid to replace the basketball court. Funding for the project is through the County’s Quimby Trust Funds that are designated for park acquisitions and improvements. The County is currently planning Warring Park’s next project that is estimated to go to bid January 2009 to level the baseball outfield.

In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter & Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews & observances of their holy days. The argument was....it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized day(s).
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, “Case dismissed.” The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, “Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter & others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur & Hanukkah. Yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.” The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, “But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant.” The lawyer said, “Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists.” The judge said. The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned.