“The City considers ‘established presence in the local community of Pompano Beach’ as an individual or religious organization that has a physical or active presence in Pompano Beach… …including participation in local city events, i.e. memorial ceremonies.” That language is not mine. It comes straight out of the City’s records. And it doesn’t appear anywhere in the City’s published Invocation …
How to Break a City’s Flag Policy (Legally) Using FOI A Case Study from New Britain, Connecticut Cities love free speech—until it gets uncomfortable. New Britain raised a Christian flag over City Hall. When I requested to raise a different flag, the city didn’t debate theology or law. It reached for bureaucracy: resident-only rules, “no controversial flags”, and public safety …
TL;DR Municipal invocation policies often rely on vague standards like “established community presence,” which grant staff unbridled discretion—a major §1983 liability risk. By stress-testing these policies through formal records requests and comparative analysis, GovHacks reveals how easily “ceremonial” traditions become legal vulnerabilities. We provide the “bug report” so cities can fix their process before a third party files a lawsuit. …
Ever wondered what happens when an activist weaponizes the law to win against politicians? Meet Chaz Stevens. Celebrating Chaz Stevens: A provocateur who actually gets results If your activism starts and ends with hashtags and polite emails, Florida professional troublemaker Chaz Stevens has news for you: “That’s cute—but you’re playing to lose.” That online picture of you at the Take …
