Vicco Media Attention

Because I'm the Attorney for the small city of Vicco; I was tasked with the job of handling all media requests. So far, the interest has been incredible. Below, there is a list of links and stories that was sent to me. This list is not exhaustive and it doesn't include the New York Times who interviewed us for two days. Also keep in mind, some of these links may be niche publications that are interested in a different agenda.

Hazard Herald Editorial: http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/21414476/article-Encouraging-signs-in-Vicco?

Rachel Maddow Blog: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/15/16527862-vicco-kentucky-wants-a-future?lite

WYMT/WKYT TV: http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Vicco-approves-LGBT-anti-discrimination-law-186895192.html

Courier-Journal “Sunday Exclusive” Teaser: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/99999999/BILLBOARD/301140063/?odyssey=mod|breaking|img|Home

Courier-Journal Fairness Coalition Oped: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130118/OPINION04/301180059/1016/OPINION/Fairness-coming-s-just-matter-time

Courier-Journal Editorial Cartoon: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130117/OPINION03/301170005/1016/OPINION/Marc-Murphy-Small-town-values

Courier-Journal “Faith & Works” Blog: http://blogs.courier-journal.com/faith/2013/01/15/vicco-kentucky-called-smallest-town-in-america-with-gay-rights-protections/

Courier-Journal: http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013301140084

Lexington Herald-Leader Editorial: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/01/18/2480818/vicco-takes-stand-for-fairness.html

Lexington Herald-Leader: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/01/14/2476343/tiny-eastern-kentucky-town-becomes.html

Towleroad: http://www.towleroad.com/2013/01/tiny-appalachian-city-of-vicco-is-fourth-in-kentucky-to-pass-and-lgbt-non-discrimination-ordinance.html

Lex18 TV: http://www.lex18.com/news/vicco-kentucky-approves-lgbt-fairness-law

WHAS 11 TV: http://www.whas11.com/news/local/LGBT-Fairness-186835822.html

Hazard Herald: http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/21408952/article-Vicco-city-commission-votes-%E2%80%98yes%E2%80%99-on-fairness-ordinance

WKYT/WYMT: http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Tiny-Appalachian-city-enacts-gay-rights-ordinance-186844032.html

Daily KOS: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/15/1179206/-Progress-Very-small-Kentucky-town-of-Vicco-passes-LGBT-non-discrimination-ordinance

WBKO TV: http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Tiny-Appalachian-City-Enacts-Gay-Rights-Ordinance-186843492.html

Herald Dispatch (Huntington): http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x2130794773/Tiny-Appalachian-city-enacts-gay-rights-ordinance

News Channel 5 (Nashville): http://www.newschannel5.com/story/20583734/tiny-appalachian-city-enacts-gay-rights-ordinance

Washington Blade (DC): http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/01/17/small-kentucky-village-bars-job-bias/

WXKQ (Whitesburg): http://www.1039thebulldog.com/news

ACLU National Blog: http://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights-religion-belief-wrights-racial-justice/aclu-kentucky-celebrates-victory-vicco River City News (Covington): http://rcnky.com/articles/2013/01/15/kentucky-human-rights-commission-reacts-viccos-fairness-ordinance

WFPL Louisville Public Radio: http://wfpl.org/post/eastern-kentucky-town-vicco-pop-334-passes-fairness-ordinance

Floyd County KY Times: http://www.floydcountytimes.com/view/full_story/21416918/article-Vicco-city-commission-votes-%E2%80%98yes%E2%80%99-on-fairness-ordinance

The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/society/law/2013/01/15/vicco-ky-smallest-us-city-lgbt-rights-law
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/us/vicco-kentucky-passes-ban-on-gay-bias.html?pagewanted=all
Maddow Blog: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/29/16757625-letter-from-vicco-kentucky-we-want-everyone-to-be-treated-fair-and-just
Maddow Blog: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/15/16527862-vicco-kentucky-wants-a-future?lite
Maddow Blog: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/24/16682264-lessons-for-the-small-blue-dot-fair-is-popular?lite
Hazard Herald (Letter to the Editor): http://hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/21553670/article-LETTERS--Equality-in-Vicco-a-beautiful-thing?
LA Times - http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/09/nation/la-na-gay-ky-mayor-20130210
NY Times (letter to editor) - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/opinion/gay-identity-in-new-york.html?_r=0

Vicco...a small town with BIG plans...

As many now know, Vicco, the small city of 334 people, recently enacted city ordinances that made it illegal to discriminate against ANYONE based on their sexual orientation. The ordinances protect BOTH heterosexual and homosexual individuals. The ordinances simply mean everyone will be treated equally, no matter how they choose to live their life.

What people may NOT know, is the passing of these ordinances is only one of many positive changes in Vicco in recent months. Previously, Vicco was a financially struggling small town in rural eastern Kentucky. The water and sewer infrastructure was old, and getting older. The service, which was the only form of income for the city had become a financial liability. Lay-offs were levied. Grant funding had dried up. The city was in danger of having to dissolve its incorporation.

Today the city is running on a profit; mainly due to the infrastructure improvements. The water loss is now only 1%; down from 47%. Grant funding is flowing. The city has acquired a parcel of land to build a park and community center. Now, the city can afford a police officer to aid in local law enforcement. There is now plans to revitalize and improve the cities sewage treatment plant. There was also a curfew enacted in an attempt to ensure public safety. All of these ordinances/plans were also part of the same meeting which passed the equality ordinances.

Although we believe the fairness ordinances are good; we believe they are only one good thing in a litany of good things going on in the city of Vicco.

Gun Control? We Need People Control

Due to the recent outbreak of violence, there is a renewed cry for "gun control". Proposals would limit the way ammo could be purchased, put in additional wait time, add mental health evaluations, and/or banning the sale of guns altogether. But....these proposals fail to address the obvious question: would these additional restrictions do anything to curb the recent violent trend?

These new proposals/restrictions would do nothing to solve the problem of violence. Here's why:

1) If there’s one thing we know about criminals: THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW. This alone destroys any logic that gun or ammo control will stop violence. We know this, because there are already laws that prevent these violent acts: murder and/or assault. Those laws aren't stopping these acts; and neither would new restrictions.

2) This recent trends of mass violence have more to do with society than with guns. Guns have been available since the nation was settled. However, the trend of mass violence has only been around the last few years. What changed? Guns didn't change. People changed. More specifically: society changed. But what about society changed? THAT'S the question. And the subject of a future entry.