Screw 'Cuss-Free Week'? Photo by Michael Mendenhall

Screw 'Cuss-Free Week'?

Protesters say lawmakers have more important things to do than restrict speech

By Jake Armstrong 03/18/2010

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A growing group of locals has some choice words for Assemblyman Anthony Portantino and anyone else lining up behind his effort to carve out a “Cuss-Free Week” in March. 
 
True, some of those utterances may trend toward the vulgar. But many of them form pointed questions as to why the La Cañada Flintridge Democrat would interrupt business in Sacramento — where lawmakers are wringing their hands over a $20 billion state budget deficit, mounting joblessness and a laundry list of other worries — to push a congeniality measure critics see as an incursion into free speech rights.
 
“With all of that going on we’re wasting time and taxpayer money on a cuss-free week? That’s absolutely outrageous,” said Frank Minero, a 43-year-old South Pasadena resident who was among a small curbside horde protesting Portantino’s “Cuss-Free Week” proposal Saturday in South Pasadena. “I’d rather have a guy telling me to go ‘f’ myself than the state telling him he can’t.”
 
The proposal, inspired by South Pasadena teenager McKay Hatch’s effort to pause profanity for seven days at his high school, would challenge Californians to set aside the sailor talk during the first week in March. A resolution establishing “Cuss-Free Week” passed the Assembly in February, but Senate leader Darrell Steinberg tabled the measure earlier this month, hinting lawmakers need to make more progress on pressing budget matters before considering it.
 
But Minero and others who have galvanized around the opposing “Screw Cuss-Free Week” movement say they don’t ever want to see the measure return, and rue any day the government suggests they disabuse themselves of the right to free speech.
“It kind of stuns you to think that in this day and age someone would be telling Californians to button up,” said Linda Krausner, who also joined the protest. “Plus, it’s antithetical to the world we’re living in.”
 
In his defense, Portantino said the proposal was never about restricting speech — such resolutions have no legal power — but rather to highlight a local teenager’s effort and bring more civility to the state in trying times. “I don’t see a problem with that. We should be more civil as we deal with the big issues before us,” said Portantino, who handed out “cuss jars” to all lawmakers in Sacramento. His jar is full, he said.
 
Portantino also said he’s introduced a number of bills to help rein-in the state’s finances. But Minero and the others, who formed a Facebook group, want Portantino to know how serious their resolve is, because, in the words of Lenny Bruce, “Take away the right to say ‘f***’ and you take away the right to say ‘f*** the government.’”

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Comments

A bunch of left wing knuckle dragging losers. Of course they didn't even bother to read the resolution or else they would understand that it's a RESOLUTION - not a law. Nobody's rights of free speech are getting violated. This whole article was just an excuse to print the "f word" in the paper anyway. Funny guy that Jake Armstrong. Why don't you do an article about the number of bomb and death threats the KID that started the Cuss Free Club gets on a daily basis? You might start with Frank Minero.

posted by robert on 3/19/10 @ 02:57 p.m.

I agree that we can all use much more civility in our society these days because it's gotten out of hand. But, this resolution is a waste of time and taxpayers' money. With many State employees being furloughed, this is how Portantino wants to spend his time and our money? Let's get serious that this resolution, as well intentioned as it may be, is just a symbolic gesture and will have zero impact on anything; other than to open this nice kid to more ridicule and bullying.

posted by SoPasDad on 3/21/10 @ 10:05 p.m.

(clarification in 1st sentence: "it's" refers to lack of civility. Sorry.) Also, robert, political party/beliefs has nothing to do with this matter. Since when did protection of free speech become associated with only left wingers? What does that make right wingers? Against free speech? I don't think so.

posted by SoPasDad on 3/21/10 @ 10:09 p.m.

Too much time is wasted in Sacramento passing sentiment resolutions recognizing dedicated public servants, non-state holiday days of recognition, support for the success of a resident athletic team, etc. The state senate and assembly should consider amending their practices so that these sentiment votes could be conducted by a poll on the State intranet (restricted access). Yes it will remove the photo opps for the sponsor but perhaps it would allow more time for things such as balancing our budget.

posted by Summertree on 3/24/10 @ 08:11 a.m.
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