Update: Read expanded coverage at: www.LaHabraHeights.net

According to sources the City pressured Mrs. Margo Reeg to deny access to outside media. The City claims they do not edit candidate forums but that is false.

February 10, 2011 Email from Margo Reeg with the Whittier League of Woman Voters.

Mr. Edwardz,
After talking to Shauna Clark and Joe Geissinger and looking at some of your blogs, the League Board has decided that it is inappropriate to allow someone who is obviously opposing certain Candidates to film the proceedings. The City has decided to have a live feed onto their website, Granicus, and posting of the forum on the website also. The live feed will obviously not be cut or edited because it is live.
News media without a predetermined point of view can report in an unbiased way. Your postings show that you have taken sides in this race and are not unbiased. So for this forum you will not be invited to participate.

Thank you,
Margo Reeg, President

Margo A. Reeg
League of Women Voters of Whittier
10011 Melgar Drive,
Whittier, CA 90603

"LWV--Where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement"...(Really?)

Our response:

Hello Mrs. Reeg,

I am responding to your email that forbids our organization (Unisat/Avocado Express) from participating in the coverage of the 2011 La Habra Heights City Council Election Candidate Forum.

We are quite surprised at your prohibition since we have provided coverage of past candidate forums since 2007, including the first ever web cast. Further troubling is the fact that just 3 months ago we received your support when our organization covered the League of Woman voters sponsored Lowell Joint School District Candidate Forum in which you participated. Television coverage of that forum was provided free of charge to the League and was then carried in over 5 cities including La Habra Heights. However, we were disappointed in the fact that La Habra Heights chose to edit out dialogue by your moderator.

In regards to the information that we operate a blog, you are misinformed. UniSat only operates a news site with the sole objective of providing information to the public. That news site is: www.TheAvocadoExpress.com and it is by no means is it a blog. I am also an Editor with Topix La Habra Heights where individuals can read and comment on stories submitted by the Whittier Daily News, The Orange County Register, LaHabraHeights.net and The Avocado Express.

If you have any questions regarding UniSat's news operation you can contact our Public Relations Executive Julie Ragozzino at (562) ***-****

Mrs. Reeg, I felt our organization had a similar mission to inform and educate the voter. Preventing media access or selective access to the League's Candidate Forum will not further our mutual cause.

For Reference I have attached a copy of the 2007 ACLU Letter sent to the League and City regarding coverage of the candidates forum.

Sincerely,

George Edwardz

UniSat

And here is the ACLU's response to the City of La Habra Heights and The Whittier League of Woman Voters

2011 ACLU Letter To City of La Habra Heights

2007 ACLU Letter To City of La Habra Heights