http://www.freeourstreets.org Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:14:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From the Washington Post: "Developers cannot prohibit people from taking photographs on public-private space in downtown Silver Spring, the Montgomery county attorney declared yesterday in a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett. In an eight-page letter, County Attorney Leon Rodriguez said that the street in question, Ellsworth Drive, "constitutes a ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/31/county-opinion-rejects-photo-limits/ From Marc Fisher, Washington Post: "In the continuing saga of the fight for First Amendment rights in the publicly-owned but privately-managed downtown Silver Spring, Montgomery County's chief lawyer today released a strongly worded opinion making it clear that the new downtown development is public space and must be open to public ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/30/photo-freedom-update-moco-tells-silver-spring-developer-to-let-people-shoot/ (Original document in PDF format) MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY July 30, 2007 TO: Isiah Leggett County Executive VIA: Leon Rodriguez County Attorney Marc Hansen Deputy County Attorney FROM: Nowelle A. Ghahhari Assistant County Attorney RE: Public Use of Ellsworth Drive QUESTION Do Ellsworth Drive, and its adjoining sidewalks and walkways, and other public use areas (collectively, ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/30/county-attorneys-elsworth-drive-first-amendment-rights-opinion/ From the MoCo Gazette "The developers of downtown Silver Spring cannot prohibit visitors from taking pictures on the Ellsworth Drive property, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced Friday, publicly stating his position for the first time on a civil liberties controversy over use of the public-private space. ‘‘The [c]ounty considers Ellsworth to ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/25/ellsworth-drive-photo-policy-unconstitutional/ From the Washington Post: "County Executive Isiah Leggett weighed in on the debate over the protection of civil liberties in public-private space yesterday with a letter telling the developers of downtown Silver Spring that they cannot prevent people from taking pictures in public areas. "The County considers Ellsworth to be a public ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/21/developer-cant-ban-photos-leggett-says/ From Marc Fisher, Washington Post: "In the continuing saga of a private developer's attempt to restrict freedom of speech in downtown Silver Spring, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett today delivered a powerful blow to those who would ban photography, political campaigning and other forms of speech on publicly-owned but privately-managed streets. Leggett ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/20/no-photo-finish-here-big-victory-for-speech-rights-in-silver-spring/ Today Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett wrote to PFA Silver Spring, the development partnership including the Peterson Companies, Foulger Pratt and Argo Investment, that developed Downtown Sliver Spring and manage Ellsworth Drive. "The county considers Ellsworth [Drive] to be a public forum permitting the free and unfettered exercise of First Amendment ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/20/moco-executive-ike-leggett-writes-peterson-company/ The Downtown Silver Spring photo contest pictures are now open for online voting Free Our Streets recommends that photographers take a close look at all the entrants and pick the one that best visualizes the relationship of PFC Silver Spring LLC with photography and other First Amendment rights. May we suggest Jesse ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/18/downtown-silver-spring-photo-contest/ From the Washington Post Editorials: "THE DEVELOPERS who manage the heart of Silver Spring's vibrant new downtown have backed away from their silly stance discouraging some sorts of street photography and video-making there, even going so far recently as to put up a banner over Ellsworth Drive welcoming picture-taking. That's an ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/15/private-rules-public-space/ http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/08/downtown-silver-spring-1-rents-your-rights/ From the Montgomery County Sentinel: A picture is worth 1,000 words, unless one of them is "No." The Rockville Town Square management company may enforce a policy similar to that in the Silver Spring Town Center. Two weeks ago, a security officer there stopped a man from taking pictures of that area's ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/06/just-say-no-to-freedom/ From Marc Fisher, Washington Post: The battle over the right to treat downtown Silver Spring as if it were a real downtown--that is, a public space where people have the right to express themselves as the Constitution guarantees--continues. In the latest chapter, the developer has announced--get this--a photo contest in which ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/06/the-photo-flap-moves-to-rockville/ From Marc Fisher, Washington Post: Dozens of photographers and people who believe in the right to take photos in public spaces spent the midsection of the Fourth not sitting at home watching America reclaim the Mustard Belt--the world title in competitive hot dog eating--but out in downtown Silver Spring, where until ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/05/snapping-the-silver-spring-photo-ban/ From DC Examiner: "More than 100 photographers and supporters used Independence Day to protest what they called the recent infringement on the freedom of a local shutterbug to take pictures at a Silver Spring development built with taxpayer help. Chip Py, whose recent run-in with private security guards was the focus of ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/05/photographers-stage-protest-over-silver-spring-dispute/ http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/04/downtown-silver-spring-photo-walk-video/ Today we celebrated a declaration of photographic freedom in Downtown Silver Spring. A horde of photographers swarmed down Ellsworth Drive, exercising their First Amendment rights including freedom of assembly, petition, and speech. The photographers demanded that the developers of Downtown Silver Spring welcome photography, videography, and other filming on Ellsworth Drive should ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/04/photography-on-ellsworth-drive/ As you prepare for the big event, today's Downtown Silver Spring Photo Walk, take a look at Ellsworth Drive as of 8pm last night. Do you see anything different? Like a big banner saying "Welcome Photographers"? I didn't think so. While the PFA Silver Spring, LC, photo policy change was ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/04/no-welcome-photographers-banner-on-ellsworth-drive/ Downtown Silver Spring Photo Walk a declaration of photographic freedom Wednesday, July 4, 2007 @ 12:00pm - Noon As of June 29, PFA Silver Spring, LC, the developers of Downtown Silver Spring have now changed their photo policy. And while Free Our Streets welcomes the change, we feel that they should welcome photography, ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/04/downtown-silver-spring-photo-outing/ From the Metro Express: "Its usually easy to tell which spaces are public or private. The Mall in Washington is public, the shopping mall near your house is private. But in this case, it's a bit more tricky: Downtown Silver Spring -- the mixed-use private development built in part with public ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/02/developer-in-silver-spring-concedes-to-photogs/ From the Washington Post: "The developer of downtown Silver Spring has backed off its policy of forbidding photography in the area without its explicit permission, but local photo enthusiasts are not satisfied. A debate over the protection of civil liberties in public-private partnerships ignited when a security guard stopped amateur photographer Chip ... http://www.freeourstreets.org/2007/07/01/permission-no-longer-needed-for-photography/