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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Practical Politics

PRACTICAL POLITICS CLASS NEARS

As many of you know, besides practicing land use law, I work as a political consultant. Sometimes these two roles go hand in hand. Anyone who's been involved in an environmental battle can tell you that.

So in case any of you are interested in the practical side of politics, check out my class at the College of Marin Saturday September 16, 2006, from 10-4 PM. Anyone running for office, thinking of running for office or working with a campaign are especially invited to join us.

We will, as always, go over some basics for activists, that can be used in campaigns or in your neighborhood battles.

Email me with any questions: del@greendogcampaigns.com

PRACTICAL POLITICS

How YOU can be an Activist for Your Community

"All politics is local" -Tip O'Neill

Dotty LeMieux’s community activist training class will be held at the College of Marin, Saturday September 16, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Learn how to be a more effective activist for your cause.

Environmental: Are you reviewing an EIR for a project in your neighborhood, fighting big box retail or struggling to preserve wetlands?

Social: Would you like your local government to be more responsive to community needs in the areas of affordable housing, transit or other pressing neighborhood issues?

Political: Have you thought about running for office yourself or working for a candidate or ballot measure to make changes in your community?
This training may be just what you’re looking for. Meet like minded people and hear their stories. Gain new allies and learn new techniques in working for your cause or candidate Topics include:

• Telling our stories, campaigns won and lost, what you are doing now in your community!
• Frame that issue: How to get your message just right
• Tracking the elusive volunteers
• Getting the Press to pay attention
• Creating effective materials to carry your message to the streets, City Hall or Washington
• Finding likely and unlikely allies. Learn why "The enemy of my enemy is my Friend."
• Yes, you CAN raise money! Tips to help you get over your fear.
• Planning your next steps; An activist's work is never done!

Successful students of past classes have won elected office offices, led citizen petition drives and become effective at getting their message across in public hearings and in the press.

It would be helpful, but not required, if students read George Lakoff’s Don’t think of an Elephant before the class. Binders with class material provided to each student.

Yes, you CAN make a difference!

Go to http://marincommunityed.org/regist/resources/index.htm

to register

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Neighbor removes common chain link fence after I constructed new wood fence on my land.

In LA County California two adjacent fences existed for two years then neighbor removed shared chain link fence in existence from 1950's. The removal allowed him exclusive use of a strip of my land and use of my newer wood fence on my land. This is an ongoing issue for the last 7 months. Now they do not allow for me to move my fence to borderline where chain link fence was. Their attorney threatened to sue me in superior court for nuisance of weed growth that had existed between two fences, reduced house value and that an easement exists for the strip of land.

The reason for me installing the wood fence on my side was that neighbors insisted to install a new fence on my side, and after their refusal to remove the 4' high chain link fence to prevent 7 small dogs (3 mine) fighting nuisance thru chain link fence and privacy to both sides. Do I get court order to move my wood fence to borderline and neighbor to absorb legal costs, share fence costs per California Civil Code 841, and possibly fence move cost.

asixtiesgirl said...

How tall are those weeds? And how large is this strip of land? Why not just chop down the weeds, move your fence if you want, but I'd keep it an inch or so on your side, so its your alone. He does not sound like a pleasant neighbor who likes to share.

I doubt a court would order a replacement fence back onto the property line. And why go through the aggravation?

To get an easements, he'd have to use the land as his own for at least five years, with some pretty stringent requirements. Sounds like the lawyer is bluffing, but if the weeds are truly tall, a fire hazard, harbor rats, etc. do mow them down. Good luck.