Only 3 days ago, the PDN reported that the City Council was planning to revise its Code of Ethics  --  because it had to pay for legal advice and City staff time when citizens filed complaints last year.  But somehow the City never begrudges the money to take its own citizens to court.  

It seems our City government believes we have the code-city right to initiatives and referendums  --  but only when they agree with them.  I was genuinely shocked in 2010 when the City sued its citizens to strip them of their right to use the ballot to decide the fluoridation issue.  Thanks to that suit, this one shocks me less.  

Still, it's a real shame when an elected government decides its own citizens are its enemy.  The intent of this petition, and the ballot measure it creates, is clear from its language  --  to change to a second-class city, and to elect a new City Council.  It qualifies to be put on the ballot as is, whether City government likes that or not.