Opinion ID: 507217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Speech Addressed Public Concern

Text: 16 The threshold question of whether Morales' statements constituted speech on a matter of public concern must be determined by the content, form and context of a given statement, as revealed by the whole record. Connick, 461 U.S. at 147-48, 103 S.Ct. at 1690. In determining whether Morales' statements were constitutionally protected, the district court stated without explanation that those statements touched upon a matter of public concern. 17 The parties stipulated that the garbage clean-up campaign for Melrose neighborhood and OCED's failure to implement it are matters of public concern. We agree, and we conclude that Morales' statement at the September 17 Melrose Board meeting addressed that public concern. Morales' statement, The one who is lying is you, came after Barrios denied Morales' explanation that Barrios' own lack of diligence, rather than any neglect on the part of OCED, could have delayed the clean-up campaign. While the actual words [Morales] spoke cannot be said to be valuable to the public at large, the first amendment's protections do not turn on the social worth of the statements. ... Waters v. Chaffin, 684 F.2d 833 (11th Cir.1982) (citations omitted). In context--i.e., an attempt to defend OCED's efforts with respect to the clean-up campaign against Barrios' public criticism--Morales' speech did relate to matters of public concern. 18 Morales' statements after the June 19 meeting and in his October 2 memorandum to OCED Director Martin also addressed matters of public concern. The statements conveyed Morales' assessment of Barrios' service to the goal of community development in Melrose. See Connick, 461 U.S. at 148, 103 S.Ct. at 1690-91. In making these accusations, Morales was clearly concerned with bringing to light an actual or potential wrongdoing or breach of public trust ... by Barrios. Id. Morales pointed to Barrios' attempted cancellation of the June 19 meeting and his behavior at the September 17 meeting as evidence of Barrios' lack of cooperation with OCED. These statements sought to inform OCED or other members of the Board that by disrupting the community development process, Barrios was not discharging his responsibilities as Chairman to the Melrose Board. These charges constituted an evaluation of Barrios' performance in his public service, and thus touched upon matters of public concern. Id. 19 Obviously, the references in the October 2 memorandum to Barrios' attempts to obtain kickbacks and political contributions relate to matters of public concern.