The city of Fresno, California, has been sent into an uproar after a man on the sex offense registry announced his candidacy for the City Council, in the wake of the Council’s legally dubious attempt to impose onerous residency restrictions that would make it difficult for those convicted of sex offences to live almost anywhere within the city limits. In response, a local state Assembly member proposed legislation to bar that population from holding public office, but a local TV’s station’s poll showed 53% of Fresno residents believed they should have a right to run for office. Now, one of the current Council members has proposed that individuals convicted of a sex offence should not even be allowed to attend Council meetings because of the purported danger they pose to children and “other vulnerable persons” who might be present, as if children are likely to be attending City Council meetings unaccompanied by parents. Like so many initiatives in this area, the real story is about performative political posturing rather than genuine concern for public safety.
Fresno May Ban Those With Sex Offenses from City Council Meetings
