Occupy L.A.: Free speech is free

[bemildred]

City Hall embraced Occupy L.A. Trying to make protesters foot the bill now is wrong.

With the Occupy L.A. encampment dismantled, the city is left with the task of refurbishing the battered grounds of City Hall and tallying up the costs of the occupation. Officials estimate the city spent

$1.7 million in overtime for police enforcement. Graffiti must be removed from three monuments. And it could cost $400,000 to repair the irrigation system and replace the lawn (if the city upgrades to desertscaping). These are not insignificant figures, but suing the Occupy L.A. protesters to foot the bill — an option, according to City Atty. Carmen Trutanich — is wrong.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-occupy-20111229,0,2850379.story

[Downwinder]

1. If Occupy does not pay:

are they going to lock them up?
will they confiscate their tents?
will they require a permit for the next protest?

[bemildred]

2. It's an empty threat of harassment.

That's all they have.

But I want to remind people how important it is to not support Trutanich.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. They will probably spin some new law saying #Occupiers cannot gather

due to owing money.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. There are of course many problems with this.

Firstly, protesters were WELCOMED by the city council and "Mayor". When it became clear that it was a permanent encampment (wish it would have been!), they began changing their tune and eventually sent (their number) 1400 cops to clear it. 292 were arrested on and off site during the raid, you figure out the ratio of cops to protesters, and calculate the ridiculous amount of money spent. And they were brutal. Mostly the sheriffs who held them afterward.

Trutanich wants to run for higher office using #OLA as some sort of springboard. The hell with him.

Word has already gotten to #OLA of what #Vancouver did regarding itemizing THEIR costs and contribution to the city.

[Downwinder]

5. Strikes me as the definition of frivolous.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Here's the story on Trutanich. He wants to prove himself tough so he can run for higher office.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/councilman-trutanich-wants-to-silence-civil-disobedience/

[Downwinder]

7. When law enforcement becmes a profit center,

it is corrupted. No law enforcement is better than corrupt enforcement.

[deacon_sephiroth]

8. should have seen that coming

As the country slips further and further to the right, "free" speech becomes PAID speech. Don't got the cash, then you ain't got the voice... you already don't have representation...

[bemildred]

9. Yep, democracy for the rich, that's what we really have.

One dollar, one vote.