Pubdate: Sun, 19 Dec 1999
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Section: Our Times
Copyright: 1999 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053
Fax: (213) 237-4712
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/
Author: Robert Scheer

[snip]

LAST WORD ON THE ACLU

Ramona assured me that the ACLU is looking into the case of James W.
Hancock, the so-called hippie of Topanga whom I wrote about last week after
he incurred the wrath of powerfully connected people and was arrested.

Is his drug bust a case of selective prosecution by those who would
gentrify Topanga at all costs? Was there undue influence by a political
consultant who doesn't live in the area but knows his way around the
Sheriff's office?

The plot thickens as to whether Topanga school principal Eileen Goodman
permitted school facilities to be used to gather names for a petition
calling for harsh penalties against the accused fellow.

Goodman wouldn't talk, but we were referred to school cluster administrator
Merle Price who said, "The petition took place when the principal was
off-campus attending a district principal's meeting."

But the question remains: Were school facilities or personnel used for this
effort, and if so, is this a proper use of taxpayer funds?

[snip]
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