HomeMy WebLinkAboutFYI LPatrick JTownPress Date: January 30,2023
To: Clay County Utility Authority
Board of Supervisors
3176 Old Jennings Rd
Middleburg,FL 32068
From: The J-Town Press
9378 Arlington Expy
PMB 204
Jacksonville,FL 32225
thejtownpress@gmail.com
(904)-445-1589
RE: Cease and Desist
Privacy Complaints on YouTube Filed in Retaliation for Exercising the 1st Amendment
To Board of Supervisors:
This is to advise you to cease and desist immediately upon receipt of this notice.
The J-Town Press (JTP)visited the Clay County Utility Authority(CCUA)on August 29, 2022 to gather
ca content for a story about the CCUA and the services CCUA provides to the citizens.
c
=' The Clay County Sheriffs Office(CCSO)was called on JTP for recording from publicly accessible areas
cz
o of the CCUA while gathering content for JTP's story. JTP knows that CCUA Board of Supervisors are
E aware of this due to the Restricted Access Area signage put up on the CCUA property to denote the public
areas and the restricted access areas of CCUA. Thus making all the areas that JTP visited at the time of
ce JTP's visit,publicly accessible areas.
The lieutenant with CCSO that removed JTP stated that JTP had "made people feel uncomfortable"with
JTP's camera. Essentially JTP was removed under threat of arrest from CCUA for hurt feelings. Definitely
not CCUA or CCSO's finest moment.
CCUA has many cameras in and around the facility. Why is JTP's iPhone that JTP records with so scary
for CCUA employees?Is it that CCUA does not support the Constitution? Is it that JTP will see something
that CCUA is doing that isn't legal or ethical?
A CCUA employee by the name of Dennis Ragosta, Public and Governmental Affairs Liaison, has been
and continues to put privacy complaints on JTP's YouTube Channel. This is causing undue financial
hardship on JTP. Mr. Ragosta is an agent representing CCUA while on duty. The actions represented by
Mr. Ragosta are the actions of CCUA. Thus CCUA is retaliating against and trying to suppress JTP's
Freedom of Press.
JTP knows it was Mr. Ragosta putting in the privacy complaints because on JTP's 2nd visit to CCUA,
another employee representing CCUA admitted to such on 2 different cameras that were blatantly obvious
on JTP's person at the time of the encounter.
JTP would like to point out the case law in the 11th District that solidifies American's right to record public
employees in their official capacity, Smith v Cumming(2000).
Please see Title 18,U.S.C., Section 242 as well. CCUA had JTP removed from the building,under color of
law,while exercising constitutionally protected rights.Now,to add insult to injury,the CCUA is retaliating
by trying to remove income that was legally gathered from JTP's pocket.
While it is not against YouTube's policies for CCUA employees to put in privacy complaints, it does
however violate the Constitution(Freedom of Press) and also the law.
JTP demands that all privacy complaints be retracted immediately and refrain from future privacy
complaints to prevent any future litigation or lawsuits. CCUA is aware and has ample amount of time to
retract all privacy complaints made against JTP. As JTP always remained in publicly assessable areas of
CCUA.
Failure to retract the privacy complaints and future privacy complaints may result in JTP and any other
media organization associated with this concern to file federal lawsuits against CCUA and the CCUA
employee(s) in their official or individual capacity.
Thank you for your prompt attention on this matter,
Sincerely,
Lana Patrick
The J-Town Press
to
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3176 Old Jennings Road protect public health,
011411Middleburg,FL 32068-3907 conserve our natural
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February 15, 2023
Lana Patrick
The J-Town Press
9378 Arlington Expressway
PMB 204
Jacksonville, FL 32225
RE: Electronic Cease and Desist Letter Dated January 30, 2023
Privacy Complaints on YouTube Filed in Retaliation for Exercising the 1st Amendment
Ms. Patrick,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) regarding your
concerns. Your electronic word file, referenced above, has been received and will be presented to
the Board of Supervisors at the next regularly scheduled public meeting on Tuesday, February 21,
2023.
The information provided in your letter is being reviewed and a staff member or representative of
o
CCUA will be in contact with you.
Respectfully,
Clay County Utility Authority
iklibit)daihell(1.20J
Kimberly Richardson
Chief Human Resources Officer
cc: Board of Supervisors
File