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*           UPDATE - NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE           
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* Bob Morton, NAC Chairman/Exec Dir:    ctnudists@aol.com  
* Charles Harris, NAC Board Member      harrisnat@aol.com
* Scootch Pankonin, Gov't Affairs:      scootchdc@aol.com  
* Dennis Kirkpatrick, Online Rep:            nat@tiac.net  
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* www.naturistsociety.com/NAC
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DATE: December 8, 2000
STATE: CALIFORNIA
SUBJECT: SIMI VALLEY ANTI-NUDITY ORDINANCE

On December 4, 2000, city council members of Simi Valley 
considered a harsh new anti-nudity ordinance. Responding to an 
urgent request for participation at the meeting, several Simi 
Valley naturists joined NAC Area Representatives Allen Baylis and 
Marianna Handler in publicly opposing the proposed ordinance.

In addition to issuing an online Action Alert, the Naturist Action 
Committee also sent overnight air express letters to naturist 
households in Simi Valley to assure that they were aware of the 
importance of the issue and to urge their presence at the meeting 
of the city council.

NAC also proposed a written substitute measure to the council. 

In addition to NACARs Baylis and Handler, a handful of naturists 
spoke against the proposed ordinance during the portion of the 
council's meeting reserved for public comment. No speakers 
supported the ordinance.

The council postponed further public consideration of the 
ordinance until its scheduled December 18 meeting. The city 
attorney indicated that the wording would be adjusted so that it 
did not criminalize thong-style bathing suits, but no further 
promises were made.

The city attorney has admitted that the sweeping language of the 
proposed ordinance could be construed to prohibit nudity in the 
back yards of private residences. 

The difficulty of the task facing naturists in Simi Valley was 
highlighted in a subsequent newspaper article that quoted the 
mayor's comments about the concerns expressed by naturists. He dismissed those concerns as "baloney!" 

NAC needs your help in its continued opposition this proposed 
ordinance. The Simi Valley City Council will meet again to 
consider this dangerous measure on Monday, December 18, 2000, at 
6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon 
Road, Simi Valley, California  93063. NAC strongly urges concerned 
Simi Valley residents to attend. 

The meeting is open to everyone, but residents of Simi Valley will 
have by far the greatest impact on the considerations of the 
council. 

For your reference, NAC has posted the text of the proposed 
ordinance (along with the substitute offered by NAC) on the NAC 
web site:

    www.naturistsociety.com/NAC

[Click on LOCAL ISSUES and select "Simi Valley"]

At the meeting on December 18, you are encouraged to speak against 
the proposed new city law. We need to continue making our voices 
heard if we are to have any chance at all of stopping or modifying 
this ordinance. Even if you don't intend to speak, your supportive 
presence at the December 18 meeting is important.

For more information, you may contact the following NAC Area 
Representatives:

  Allen Baylis (714) 593-0759	  Marianna Handler (949) 443-0891

NAC is the political arm of The Naturist Society, dedicated to 
advancing and protecting the rights of naturists throughout North 
America. Watch for further NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and 
Updates on this issue.

Naturally,

Charles Harris
NAC Board Member
www.naturistsociety.com/NAC