California
FFRF was relieved to hear that Placer County in Auburn had not provided funding to a religious event focused on a “biblical focus” toward zoning.
A resident reported that the county was apparently involved with and sponsored an event entitled, “Making Affordable Housing Happen: A Biblical Focus from Advocacy to Zoning.” FFRF learned that the country distributed a flier for First atheist billboard in Africa! individuals in Ghana and beyond. The initiative aims to foster awareness, encourage open dialogue about secularism and support the growing community of freethinkers in the region.
“It’s constitutionally problematic when the county sponsors and promotes a religious event, even if the focus of the event is a topic of community concern,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the county.
FFRF received a thorough response from Supervising Deputy County Counsel Renju Jacob. Jacob detailed the investigation, which included discussions with the Public Information Office staff, who confirmed that the event had thankfully not been promoted via official information channels. Additionally, while the county was listed as a sponsor of the event, county management confirmed that it did not authorize the event organizer, Placer People of Faith Together, to list the county’s name as a sponsor. “I do appreciate you bringing the concern to our office’s attention,” Jacob wrote. “During my discussions with management, I also stressed the importance of not taking actions that would in effect be deemed a sponsorship of religion. Your concerns provided an opportunity to emphasize this point.”
