Let me fill in those who may not know about this from the first paragraph of an essayprinted in The Coast News
Last Friday a noise complaint against Francine Busby's Cardiff fundraiser blew up into a full scale police action -- complete with helicopter support, massive reinforcements, fire truck and canine squad. It ended with several people handcuffed, pepper spray discharged and the homeowner jailed for resisting arrest.
Had the police (represented by San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies) been raiding a terrorist explosive cache or a major drug cartel, this demonstration of force would have been warranted, but actually the nature of the meeting was quite the opposite. The gathering was an integral component of the democratic political process, a candidate expressing her views and asking for citizen support.
Since my diary breakingthis story landed on the recommended list, and my article was published, I have become enmeshed in this issue. I happened to speak to the current congressman, and when he said that the attendees were obligated to do what the police said, I said in no uncertain words that he was wrong. This is a mostly republican suburb of San Diego, sort of working class, and a place that my wife and I enjoy.
In spite of my participation on this site, ironically the first diary being about Francine Busby's election, where I had been an active part of her campaign, I am far from being a lock step Democrat. I am open to every issue, to every policy proposal, and make my decision based on self interest (yeah, I admit it) and what is best for the country.
Here, I tend to concentrate on those issues that where my sentiment coincides with the majority, but not always. In fact I've had some classics where I went against the strong majority here, and took the criticisms. Actually, that's why I'm still here. I can be proud that this web site with all it's flaws is a venue for stimulating challenging discussion.
What's happening with the police (Sheriff's office deputies)has had an effect on me over the last ten days. I'm almost 70, and beyond the limit to start a career as an activist. And, actually, I don't want to be branded as such, especially when the target of my activism is a group of people who wear guns and have the power of arrest.
I was not at the fundraiser, and could have just remained an observer, but somehow it hit too close. Part of the reason I enjoy living in this city, Encinitas, is that I can participate in city government, get to know the council members and have my allotted three minutes to speak.
I had an early success when I made two such speeches on why a parade that had been called the Holiday Parade should revert to that name, instead of the Christmas Parade. The reversion won by a single vote, by a councilman who happened to give for a reason the exact one that I presented, that religious conflict is not a good thing to foment.
Actually what really made me go to the council today, to ask that the city at the least bring this up for an agenda item, was a call I got from one of the attendees.
Not everyone who was at the fund raiser fit the stereotype of liberals- those of the bleeding hearts who generally disapprove of the use of force. There was one person there who had graduated from law school, but then decided to make a career as a front line agent of Drug Enforcement Agency. She routinely put her life on the line to enforce our nations laws, but recounted to me that would go through hoops to make sure they had a warrant.
This woman knew the difference between legitimate police action and something else. When she called 911 to tell them that a deputy was out of control, the response was the deputy was on the scene, so nothing more could be done. She had the courage to make a public statement, but I don't want to say anything more, as she has been through enough.
So, I had to speak at the council of this, my city, to the people who my fellow voters had chosen to be their leaders.
I'm tired, and I really don't know if anyone is interested in the details. Just let me say that the immediate complaint related to noise, a municipal code that I had linked in my letter to the council. One member, who had stepped outside where we spoke, adamantly said that it was a state criminal code, which it is not, as it is found right here. I even gave him the friggen mumber.
But he said that he could tell that I was biased, and he didn't need the details. As I write I'm getting more angry....but who do I express it to. At least I tried, I really did.
And that provides some solace.