Slog
News & ArtsSaturday, October 8, 2011
Occupy Mayor McGinn Is Full of Bumbershit
Posted by Dominic Holden on Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Mayor's office spokesman Aaron Pickus said about an hour ago that cops wouldn't bug protesters at Westlake Park tonight as long as they didn't have a "structure." But other than that, things were hunky-dorey.
Cut to right now.
- Paul Constant
- Seattle Police block space underneath awnings at Westlake Park
"It's as aggressive as we've seen since Wednesday," Paul says.
Cops are trying to push out Occupy Seattle by any means necessary, it appears. Lt. Nollette told Paul this was a "a collaborative effort from the mayor's office, city attorney's office, and the police department." However, City Attorney Pete Holmes says his office worked with the city to establish a trespass admonishment program several months ago, but, on this action, "we are not making the call." So it appears the mayor is making the call. Speaking for McGinn, Pickus's only comment is that the city just posted these new rules for Westlake Park, which bans "structures."
So according to McGinn, umbrellas are "structures." An umbrella is a jailable offense if you're sitting down with it. Umbrellas are Seattle's top priority for law enforcement.
Christ, what an asshole.
3
Dumb move, cops.
You're three weeks away from the weather driving everyone away, awnings or no awnings. Just be nice, keep them out of tents, and wait. Mother Earth will do the rest.
You're three weeks away from the weather driving everyone away, awnings or no awnings. Just be nice, keep them out of tents, and wait. Mother Earth will do the rest.
4
More like a wimp than an asshole, I'm thinking.
Seems like a theme for "progressive" politicians in recent years. Run on a hopeful and inspiring platform, then immediately cave to regressive good-ol'-boy insiders as soon as elected.
Seems like a theme for "progressive" politicians in recent years. Run on a hopeful and inspiring platform, then immediately cave to regressive good-ol'-boy insiders as soon as elected.
6
I'm so sorry I voted for McGinn. I won't make that mistake twice. Thanks a lot Stranger. Thanks a lot.
7
Fuck McGinn. That fuckin bozo is a bozo. But I wouldn't be suprised if he has no control over the filthy pigs.
9
"No other tents or structures are allowed."
So much for vendors, the giant chess board that is a fixture in the park for public games, the dancers with their structures, the merry-go-round, the Christmas stuff, the bands, the various other things that get built...
Someone needs to surgically open McGinn & the city with lawsuits that has standing. They just completely dumped all long-standing historical uses of Westlake for political appeasement of the Downtown Seattle Association.
So much for vendors, the giant chess board that is a fixture in the park for public games, the dancers with their structures, the merry-go-round, the Christmas stuff, the bands, the various other things that get built...
Someone needs to surgically open McGinn & the city with lawsuits that has standing. They just completely dumped all long-standing historical uses of Westlake for political appeasement of the Downtown Seattle Association.
10
I am hopeful, although not optimistic, that these protesters will continue to organize, and organize voters, recruit candidates, and make shit happen. Real change happens when people vote and occupy elected office.
But their right to protest must be protected. Where has McGinn been throughout all of this? On the one hand, he supported the paid sick leave ordinance, and now he wants people to get wet and cold?
I call bullshit. Seattle is better than this, and McGinn is better than this.
But their right to protest must be protected. Where has McGinn been throughout all of this? On the one hand, he supported the paid sick leave ordinance, and now he wants people to get wet and cold?
I call bullshit. Seattle is better than this, and McGinn is better than this.
11
@7: Filthy pigs? Aren't you referring to your fellow 99%ers working class cops who have been written about in Slog as showing remarkable restraint and even helpfulness?
14
I doubt Mallahan would have been any more accommodating.
Still, dick move, cops. Dick move, Seattle government.
Still, dick move, cops. Dick move, Seattle government.
15
Joe Mallahan would never have let the police act this way. But at least McGinn stopped the tunnel.
17
@13: There were quite a few JakPaks. I saw them deployed earlier today, but I'm curious about whether they count, too. I not, that's a really strong JakPak selling point. I'll let you know if I see anything.
18
Technically, I don't think the law allows anyone to sit on the sidewalks in this town. Just ask the homeless.
19
Thanks Paul (and the other Stranger staff). I'm enjoying from afar. And judging by the past few weeks, OWS will make it all the way to my hick town by Christmas.
20
I can't even fully explain it, but I feel a little sick every time I hear about these protests or read one of their slogans.
21
...or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
K thru 12 get it.
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lesson…
22
Today, however, the right of peaceable assembly is, in the language of the Court, “cognate to those of free speech and free press and is equally fundamental.... [It] is one that cannot be denied without violating those fundamental principles of liberty and justice which lie at the base of all civil and political institutions— principles which the Fourteenth Amendment embodies in the general terms of its due process clause.... The holding of meetings for peaceable political action cannot be proscribed. Those who assist in the conduct of such meetings cannot be branded as criminals on that score.
http://supreme.justia.com/constitution/a…
In this sense, the City of Seattle has made a "law" whose only purpose is to prevent assembly; hence, a Constitutional violation.
The Occupants are not there as vagrants or vendors. The are there solely to petition. These edicts are directed at them, and them alone.
23
22@
You'd have a point if the law were worded in such a way as to apply only to protestors, and not to vagrants, unpermitted vendors, or outdoorsmen building ice-fishing huts.
But it isn't, and you don't.
You'd have a point if the law were worded in such a way as to apply only to protestors, and not to vagrants, unpermitted vendors, or outdoorsmen building ice-fishing huts.
But it isn't, and you don't.
24
@11 yes those filthy pigs. Those fithy disgusting pigs that happen to be in the 99%. The disgusting filthy pigs who call us "the enemy." The same turds that think equality training infringes on their god given right to profile. The same fuckholes that are being investigated by the justice department.
You know who else is in the 99%? A lot of fucktards that I still hate for obvious reasons. fuck those dicks.
You know who else is in the 99%? A lot of fucktards that I still hate for obvious reasons. fuck those dicks.
25
Sounds and looks like the cops are in violation of
Seattle Municipal Code 12a.12.015 pedestrian interference:
A. The following definitions apply in this section:
1. "Aggressively beg" means to beg with the intent to intimidate another
person into giving money or goods.
2. "Intimidate" means to engage in conduct which would make a reasonable
person fearful or feel compelled.
3. "Beg" means to ask for money or goods as a charity, whether by words,
bodily gestures, signs, or other means.
4. "Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic" means to walk, stand, sit,
lie, or place an object in such a manner as to block passage by another
person or a vehicle, or to require another person or a driver of a vehicle
to take evasive action to avoid physical contact. Acts authorized as an
exercise of one's constitutional right to picket or to legally protest, and
acts authorized by a permit issued pursuant to the Street Use Ordinance,
Chapters 15.02 through 15.50 of the Seattle Municipal Code, shall not
constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
5. "Public place" means an area generally visible to public view and
includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas,
sidewalks and streets open to the general public, including those that serve
food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to
buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.
B. A person is guilty of pedestrian interference if, in a public place, he
or she intentionally:
1. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
2. Aggressively begs.
C. Pedestrian interference is a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 117104 Section 1, 1994: Ord. 116897 Section 1, 1993: Ord.
113697 Section 1, 1987.)
Cases: Subsection B 1 was upheld as constitutional in a challenge based on
breadth and vagueness and does not deny equal protection of the laws.
Seattle v. Webster, 115 Wn.2d 635, 802 P.2d 1333 (1990).
More...
Seattle Municipal Code 12a.12.015 pedestrian interference:
A. The following definitions apply in this section:
1. "Aggressively beg" means to beg with the intent to intimidate another
person into giving money or goods.
2. "Intimidate" means to engage in conduct which would make a reasonable
person fearful or feel compelled.
3. "Beg" means to ask for money or goods as a charity, whether by words,
bodily gestures, signs, or other means.
4. "Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic" means to walk, stand, sit,
lie, or place an object in such a manner as to block passage by another
person or a vehicle, or to require another person or a driver of a vehicle
to take evasive action to avoid physical contact. Acts authorized as an
exercise of one's constitutional right to picket or to legally protest, and
acts authorized by a permit issued pursuant to the Street Use Ordinance,
Chapters 15.02 through 15.50 of the Seattle Municipal Code, shall not
constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
5. "Public place" means an area generally visible to public view and
includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas,
sidewalks and streets open to the general public, including those that serve
food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to
buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.
B. A person is guilty of pedestrian interference if, in a public place, he
or she intentionally:
1. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
2. Aggressively begs.
C. Pedestrian interference is a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 117104 Section 1, 1994: Ord. 116897 Section 1, 1993: Ord.
113697 Section 1, 1987.)
Cases: Subsection B 1 was upheld as constitutional in a challenge based on
breadth and vagueness and does not deny equal protection of the laws.
Seattle v. Webster, 115 Wn.2d 635, 802 P.2d 1333 (1990).
26
please share! the more voices that call the mayor and police, the more likely the screws will be loosened...
http://occupyseattle.org/blog/2011-10-08…
http://occupyseattle.org/blog/2011-10-08…
27
@25 what? Those hard working working class 99ers? Show some respect, i've heard they been "helpful." They are the ones that have "restrained" themselves from kicking your deserved-to-be-kicked ass, don't ya know?
28
@25
Go look up "reasonable use of force". And tell the driver to move the junior-legal-scholarship clown car to another thread, on your way out.
Go look up "reasonable use of force". And tell the driver to move the junior-legal-scholarship clown car to another thread, on your way out.
30
The Mercury in Portland already obtained their mayor's public records about preparations for and decisions during Occupy Portland. The last time somebody did that here it had interesting results (the plan to hide McGinn the night of the tunnel election) - hope you're giving that a try with this too. Keep us posted.
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blog…
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blog…
31
Hm. Now would be a great time to conduct a crime spree, no? Perhaps a few holdups? A series of breakins? It seems as though half the police force is preoccupied with keeping peaceful protestors from sitting down.
32
Enjoy the cold and rain morons. Nice and warm at home, mellow Cote de Rhone in hand. Makes you wonder how the 99% only got 35% to vote for I-1098?
33
Just left OS. It's lightly raining and there are about 100 people rolled up in tarps, some sound asleep, some children, laying under the trees with about 10 bike cops sitting under the awning doing absolutely nothing. Food not Bombs has just cleaned up the evening meal, about 100 more people are milling around eating soup and talking. The word is that the mayor leashed his puppies for the night and sleeping is allowed.
36
Meh.
If prisons weren't over crowded I'd say arrest them all. They'd get good publicity and maybe just stop whining sooner.
If prisons weren't over crowded I'd say arrest them all. They'd get good publicity and maybe just stop whining sooner.
37
@36 Sound logic.
So I've been keeping track and McGinn's pretty much worthless. Mallahan or Nickels--they both suck, but maybe we should at least beg Nickels to come back. It was fun when I couldn't get into work for a whole week!
So I've been keeping track and McGinn's pretty much worthless. Mallahan or Nickels--they both suck, but maybe we should at least beg Nickels to come back. It was fun when I couldn't get into work for a whole week!
38
@27 and @28
Did you miss it when I said "Sounds and looks like the cops are in violation of"
Fuck you very much.
Did you miss it when I said "Sounds and looks like the cops are in violation of"
Fuck you very much.
40
@38
You clearly have never given the slightest bit of thought to the question of why, in certain circumstances, it's perfectly legal for police officers to (e.g.) break into your house, knock you down, or confine you against your will, when there are very clear laws against each of those things.
Hint: there is a whole body of legal theory about "reasonable use of force".
Squealing about the cops violating the law is great when they are or even might in fact be doing things illegally, but when they plainly aren't, it makes you sound like a petulant toddler.
You clearly have never given the slightest bit of thought to the question of why, in certain circumstances, it's perfectly legal for police officers to (e.g.) break into your house, knock you down, or confine you against your will, when there are very clear laws against each of those things.
Hint: there is a whole body of legal theory about "reasonable use of force".
Squealing about the cops violating the law is great when they are or even might in fact be doing things illegally, but when they plainly aren't, it makes you sound like a petulant toddler.
42
@41
They do tax landowners, you know. Probably not nearly enough to pay for this 24-hour watch on the strip of concrete between the property line and the structure, but that landowner "occupation" does come at a price.
The awning thing just baffles me. Why make your officers into the bad guys like that? If you had any public relations sense at all, you'd at the very least order them to stand in the rain just like the protesters, right?
They do tax landowners, you know. Probably not nearly enough to pay for this 24-hour watch on the strip of concrete between the property line and the structure, but that landowner "occupation" does come at a price.
The awning thing just baffles me. Why make your officers into the bad guys like that? If you had any public relations sense at all, you'd at the very least order them to stand in the rain just like the protesters, right?
44
Oh no! They're corporate made computers will get all wet now and they won't be able to post comments on corporate blogs and slogs! They will have to go back home in their corporate made cars or on their corporate funded bikes to their corporate funded houses to get new ones ... or to the store and give more of their hard earned *sarcasm* cash to the super rich to buy a new one. The horror! It's a conspiracy to get more money back from these people!
45
@KittenKoder: You troll at a 5th grade level. This thread requires at least a high school trolling diploma to effectively participate. If you had any sense at all, you'd realize that the stated intent of this movement is NOT to destroy Capitalism and end all corporations forever and ever. It's to get Corporate money OUT of politics. While there are some individuals involved in the OS movement that I'm sure would love to also see the Corporations topple and anarchy reign, that's not the Consensus of the General Assembly. GTFO and DiaF. KTHXBAI.
46
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa: Handing out slickers to L.A. OWS protesters.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn: Arresting people with umbrellas at Seattle OWC Protest.
Sounds legit.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn: Arresting people with umbrellas at Seattle OWC Protest.
Sounds legit.
48
I can't WAIT to see how The Stranger will "forget" all of this come time for this asshole mayor to run for re-election.
But then again, if you take any suggestions from The Stranger seriously for anything other than the arts of anal sex you probably should get your head examined.
But then again, if you take any suggestions from The Stranger seriously for anything other than the arts of anal sex you probably should get your head examined.
50
It's Côtes du Rhône, Seattleblues/Alleged @32. But keep on prattling about Yurrup and sucking those Kochs; maybe they'll let you into one of their clubs someday, just to look around.
51
How come the self-proclaimed "99%" only becomes the "35%" whenever tax initiatives are on the ballot in Washington State?
Enjoy the cold and rain all week! My bet is there will only be a few stragglers only by Thursday, mainly the crusties, anarchists and 'Fuck capitalism' morons. Oh, and the paid union sign holders.
Enjoy the cold and rain all week! My bet is there will only be a few stragglers only by Thursday, mainly the crusties, anarchists and 'Fuck capitalism' morons. Oh, and the paid union sign holders.
53
Back in the late '70s, when I was a labor organizer, I had a prime view on how the unions were self-destructing, specifically the cop unions, the CWA and PATCO.
Prior to the first Reagan Administration, I stood before an assembly of air traffic controllers and related personnel, warning and pleading with them not to endorse Reagan, promising them they would all be sorry.
Little did I realize just how sorry those pathetically stupid clowns would be --- and they did endorse him. Just so with the rightwing behaviors back then of Communications Workers of America and the various truly dumb cop unions, with the Detroit Police Union leading the way.
What we are witnessing is a mayor who probably won't have a second term (one hopes), and six-figure salaried, two-digit IQ clowns who work for him (SPD).
Prior to the first Reagan Administration, I stood before an assembly of air traffic controllers and related personnel, warning and pleading with them not to endorse Reagan, promising them they would all be sorry.
Little did I realize just how sorry those pathetically stupid clowns would be --- and they did endorse him. Just so with the rightwing behaviors back then of Communications Workers of America and the various truly dumb cop unions, with the Detroit Police Union leading the way.
What we are witnessing is a mayor who probably won't have a second term (one hopes), and six-figure salaried, two-digit IQ clowns who work for him (SPD).
55
KittenKoder- Shut the fuck up, you ignorant plebe. It's not that we don't want corporations- we don't want corporations breaking that break the law and destroy the economy in the process. And even if they did want the complete and utter dismantling of all corporations, it's an American's right to protest peacefully.
I swear, the few that make up the pants-on-head retarded crowd on the SLOG needs to turn off Fox News and die.
I swear, the few that make up the pants-on-head retarded crowd on the SLOG needs to turn off Fox News and die.
56
kitten coder, dont break a nail pounding out your sarcastic troll comments. you might need those fingers to make a living still.
the america i grew up in still allowed freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. seattle's comedically breaking both concepts, they will have a tough time justifying "time/place/manner" on things like umbrellas on a sidewalk.
i have to laugh at the Stranger. Some of us could see a lying two faced lawyer in McGinn from the start. you all however fell for his act. Why dont you go ride a bike, you'll feel better.
the america i grew up in still allowed freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. seattle's comedically breaking both concepts, they will have a tough time justifying "time/place/manner" on things like umbrellas on a sidewalk.
i have to laugh at the Stranger. Some of us could see a lying two faced lawyer in McGinn from the start. you all however fell for his act. Why dont you go ride a bike, you'll feel better.
58
Awww whattsamatter Dominic... mayor stop taking your calls? Don't be bitter, you'll learn to love again.
59
I'd love one person at Crustylake to answer two questions:
Name one Wall Street bank CEO who broke a law and what law they brake? If you have to google it...fail.
Btw morons the 'A' in 'ARM' means 'adjustable'.
Name one Wall Street bank CEO who broke a law and what law they brake? If you have to google it...fail.
Btw morons the 'A' in 'ARM' means 'adjustable'.
61
@48 So true, so very true ....
@55 Would "turn off Fox news" if I had a TV ... but then again, I'd have to actually watch Fox for news, wouldn't I? Actually, the problem is that people think that every corporation is always breaking the law, or did you miss that? The thing is, just because a company does something you don't like, doesn't mean it's something that's illegal, and for every law there are at least three ways to break it legally. I mean, if you listen to what the protestors are saying, most are just hatemongering, others are complete nut jobs (I mean there's a few who are actually blaming Obama and others blaming Jews) ... which is all this protest is about, blaming.
@55 Would "turn off Fox news" if I had a TV ... but then again, I'd have to actually watch Fox for news, wouldn't I? Actually, the problem is that people think that every corporation is always breaking the law, or did you miss that? The thing is, just because a company does something you don't like, doesn't mean it's something that's illegal, and for every law there are at least three ways to break it legally. I mean, if you listen to what the protestors are saying, most are just hatemongering, others are complete nut jobs (I mean there's a few who are actually blaming Obama and others blaming Jews) ... which is all this protest is about, blaming.
62
@61, there's a lot of things the protesters want. They aren't simply claiming that corporations break the law, they are saying that the laws are serving the corporations at the expense of the people. They want the laws changed.
Part of the problem is the flood of money in politics. Part of the problem is corporate personhood, in which corporations get some of the rights of citizenship, with none of the responsibilities. Part of the problem is the ever-widening gap between the Paris Hiltons of the world and the poor/working class. The reckless and greed-wracked practices of the banking industry drove our economy into the ground. The people who over-borrowed lost their homes. The lenders who made it possible got bailed out and are still afloat. It's not about blame; it's about responsibility.
Part of the problem is the flood of money in politics. Part of the problem is corporate personhood, in which corporations get some of the rights of citizenship, with none of the responsibilities. Part of the problem is the ever-widening gap between the Paris Hiltons of the world and the poor/working class. The reckless and greed-wracked practices of the banking industry drove our economy into the ground. The people who over-borrowed lost their homes. The lenders who made it possible got bailed out and are still afloat. It's not about blame; it's about responsibility.
63
I don't want to say I told you so, but ... I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO! I knew McGinn was completely out of his element running for mayor (not quite the same thing as being an activist, which he's never understood), but he's a much bigger disaster than I could have imagined. Nickels wasn't perfect, but he was leaps and bounds better than McGinn. He knew how to lead and he got things done. I've always thought Nickels got a very bum rap. I just wish he'd really wanted to be reelected and put his heart in the campaign. But he didn't, and he didn't.
Stranger staff, you have a lot to answer for, having endorsed this clown.
Stranger staff, you have a lot to answer for, having endorsed this clown.
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