Chuck Turner Press Statement 4/10/09

Councilor Turner Launches Discovery in Court of Public Opinion:
Councilor Turner has sent the following statement to his supporters:

Given our disagreement with the Court’s denial of our reconsideration,
we are appealing that ruling. However, we are also launching our own
discovery process in the Court of Public Opinion. Using my power as a
City Councilor, I am requesting under rule 17 F the following
information on all liquor licenses in Boston.

1) Licensee: 2) Type of License; 3) Date of Issuance; 4) Number of
Transfers in the last 10 years; 5) Location; 6) Race of Licensee (s);
7) Lawyer representing Licensee; 8) City Council District. I am also
requesting information on the number of licensees denied in the last
twenty years and the race of the person requesting, and the firm
representing the requester.

Once I have obtained the above information, I will call for a hearing
to explore the issue of discrimination in the distribution of liquor
licenses in the City of Boston which was brought to the City Council
by Senator Wilkerson. It is essential that the public be informed
regarding this issue since I believe it was the basis of Senator
Wilkerson reaching out to the Council as well as the basis of the
Council’s actions regarding her request. I know that the question of
discrimination was the basis of my filing a hearing on the issue of
liquor licenses on July 19, 2008.

While some may raise questions about my discussing these issues while
awaiting trial regarding liquor licenses, Judge Hillman validated my
right to take such action when he wrote in his March 16th opinion
supporting the government’s request for a protective order,  ”I
further find that the proposed protective order is narrowly drawn to
cover only discovery and does not prevent the defendant from
discussing information learned from an independent source.”