Examiner columnist Melissa Griffin reminds the public of the following in her Nov. 23 column (http://www.sfexaminer.com/columnists/2010/11/there-way-weigh-toy-ban) with regard to the Board of Supervisors banning toys in Happy Meals:
"There’s this funky little provision in the City Charter that allows residents to protest any law that comes out of City Hall. The process is called a legislative referendum, and here is how it works:
A group of citizens can submit a petition protesting the passage of any law as long as the petition is received before the effective date of the law. In this case, the toy ban goes into effect on Dec. 1, 2011. The petition needs to have about 14,300 signatures, which is the amount equal to 10 percent of the total votes cast in the last mayoral election.
Once the petition is submitted along with the right number of signatures, the ordinance cannot go into effect. The board then has to reconsider the ordinance. If the board does not entirely repeal it, the law goes on the ballot for referendum at the next local election — remaining suspended until the voters approve it."
Personally I'm not particularly filed up to go out and collect thousands of signatures on behalf of McDonald's, although I would sign a petition to overturn the law. But if nothing else, this is an option we should keep in mind for the future when bad legislation is passed which does not go into effect quickly.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))