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Mounting Evidence Shows STOP Met with Lawyers Tied to Chris HansenSACRAMENTO-

A lawsuit to force a vote on the City of Sacramento’s contribution to the planned downtown arena was tossed out by a judge Wednesday.

Sacramento City Clerk Shirley Concolino had thrown out the petition by the Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP), citing a number of flaws. STOP, in turn, filed a suit against Concolino and the city to allow their measure on the June ballot.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley said Wednesday that STOP’s petition campaign was fatally flawed.

“The court is not aware of any case where the petition process, from beginning to end, was so infected with errors,” Judge Frawley said.

It is not yet known whether or not STOP will appeal Frawley’s ruling.

Below is Mayor Kevin Johnson’s statement on the ruling, posted to Facebook:

STOP also responded to the ruling with a written statement:

Today’s decision allows the city to silence 23,000 certified voters and all Sacramento citizens who demand a voice on their city’s future.  At the same time; its example diminishes the civil and constitutional rights of all California citizens.  

It is deplorable that our city’s leaders have put special interests ahead of the voters who elected them.  They make a mockery of democracy.  They may get away with it for the time being, but voters will not soon forget the arena subsidy scandals.  We call on Sacramento’s disenfranchised voters to express their outrage to their City Council; and we call on our elected representatives to begin listening to their constituents.  It is not too late for the city’s arena deal to receive the public scrutiny and debate that it deserves.