I don’t know about you all but I am getting SICK of the freaking weather this “spring”. A couple of nice days and then back to dreary cold rain. If I wanted to live in Seattle I would have moved to Seattle. Arrrgh.
In other news, the corporation counsel attorneys were back in court lying through their teeth about the motivations of the police department in regards to their video taping of legitimate political protests. It is unnerving how these attorneys can abandon any shred of dignity to argue in support of a position that is clearly a work of legal fiction. Under Ray Kelley the NYPD has become a reactionary police department which is hell bent on snuffing out any first amendment expression in this city. It’s bad enough that New York is already turning into a giant mall complete with TGI Fridays and big box stores, but our City government apparently won’t be satisfied until we are all walking in straight lines on the sidewalk and speaking only when spoken to by a police officer.
Near as I can figure out, the City attorneys are arguing, with a straight face, that the NYPD needs the freedom to spy on critical mass bike rides because they think there may be terrorists mixed in among the vegan anarchists. What, are they afraid that one of these kids is going to go postal and beat on the mayor with an organic carrot? Their legal argument is disingenuous at best. The City agreed to have the police department’s rules incorporated into the Handschau agreement. It was only when they realized there was a penalty for violating said rules that they want to weasel out of them. The NYPD has to realize that their responsibility is to the citizens and that despite their heroic activities on 911 they will not be granted unfettered discretion to spy on any political group that takes to the streets to express its views. I live in New York BECAUSE the streets are full of crazy people. Once you take away a New Yorker’s right to mouth off to the government you might as well be living in Nebraska.
This is all especially irksome to me because I am developing a genuine liking for Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Yes, he is a billionaire who was way to obsessed at one point with building a football stadium on the upper west side, but in recent months he has put forth the most daring and comprehensive vision for the future of this City since Robert Moses was parks commissioner. I am very pleased at the proposed rebuild of McCarren Park pool and the general infusion of cash to the parks department. I also agree that congestion pricing has to happen in Manhattan and I am ecstatic that construction of the 2nd Avenue subway is finally happening after years of delay. The 311 line was also a stroke of genius. But Ray Kelly and his fascist army must go, as should Michael Cardozo the City’s chief attorney. This can be both a beautiful safe City and one where everyone can express their views without fear of being followed around and locked up. New York cannot succumb to America’s paranoia and still be its shining, albeit slightly dingy, City on the hill. Happy week-end everyone.
In other news, the corporation counsel attorneys were back in court lying through their teeth about the motivations of the police department in regards to their video taping of legitimate political protests. It is unnerving how these attorneys can abandon any shred of dignity to argue in support of a position that is clearly a work of legal fiction. Under Ray Kelley the NYPD has become a reactionary police department which is hell bent on snuffing out any first amendment expression in this city. It’s bad enough that New York is already turning into a giant mall complete with TGI Fridays and big box stores, but our City government apparently won’t be satisfied until we are all walking in straight lines on the sidewalk and speaking only when spoken to by a police officer.
Near as I can figure out, the City attorneys are arguing, with a straight face, that the NYPD needs the freedom to spy on critical mass bike rides because they think there may be terrorists mixed in among the vegan anarchists. What, are they afraid that one of these kids is going to go postal and beat on the mayor with an organic carrot? Their legal argument is disingenuous at best. The City agreed to have the police department’s rules incorporated into the Handschau agreement. It was only when they realized there was a penalty for violating said rules that they want to weasel out of them. The NYPD has to realize that their responsibility is to the citizens and that despite their heroic activities on 911 they will not be granted unfettered discretion to spy on any political group that takes to the streets to express its views. I live in New York BECAUSE the streets are full of crazy people. Once you take away a New Yorker’s right to mouth off to the government you might as well be living in Nebraska.
This is all especially irksome to me because I am developing a genuine liking for Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Yes, he is a billionaire who was way to obsessed at one point with building a football stadium on the upper west side, but in recent months he has put forth the most daring and comprehensive vision for the future of this City since Robert Moses was parks commissioner. I am very pleased at the proposed rebuild of McCarren Park pool and the general infusion of cash to the parks department. I also agree that congestion pricing has to happen in Manhattan and I am ecstatic that construction of the 2nd Avenue subway is finally happening after years of delay. The 311 line was also a stroke of genius. But Ray Kelly and his fascist army must go, as should Michael Cardozo the City’s chief attorney. This can be both a beautiful safe City and one where everyone can express their views without fear of being followed around and locked up. New York cannot succumb to America’s paranoia and still be its shining, albeit slightly dingy, City on the hill. Happy week-end everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment