Open letter to Michael Bloomberg

[Joe Fields]

It seems that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's answer to handling hordes of political demonstrators is to have them go shopping, spend lots of money, and of course everything will be alright.

I would like to explain a few things to you, Mr. Mayor, for your benefit, and to the benefit of your city. There may be as many as a million people descending on your fair city during the Republican convention. They will not be coming on a shopping spree. Oh, there will be money spent, but they will be of a single purpose - to protest the grotesque policies of the Bush administration. The nearly million people are full of disappointment, shock and anger over how George Bush has conducted domestic and foreign policies. Trying to placate these protesters by having them wear a pin that will give them shopping discounts is a sweet touch. But if you really want to placate the good citizens who will be exercising their constitutional right to free speech and freedom of peaceful assembly to address their dissatisfaction with an out of touch administration, the best suggestion I can give to you is to give the protesters what they really want. Give them the space they need to assemble, make speeches and to march. And we do not mean twenty or so blocks away from the convention.

May I remind you that the event that will be shaping up in your city is bigger than any one person or ego. It will be a big mistake to try to sweep protesters to one side and corral them like a herd of animals. You do this with a high percentage of risk - risk that will possibly end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy of displays of lawless anarchy.

We don't want discounts on goods and services as much as we want a viable forum for our voices to be heard. Do us all a big favor - give us what we ask for. It would be better for everyone concerned. A couple more things to remember - the world will be watching. Let the world know that we practice what we preach about democracy and our constitutional rights. Let the world know that it's more than just words written on paper. And keep in mind that there will be millions more of us that won't be able to go to New York to protest, but that we will be with those who do, in spirit. Your actions will have an affect on how we view New York, and whether we will feel welcome in your city and spend the money that you want us to spend.

This could be your defining moment as mayor. Do the right thing.

Joe Fields

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. I'm speechless.

Very nice work.

I get angrier every day that I cannot be in NYC for this.

You guys show em how it's done!

FSC

[sui generis]

2. bravo Joe

I would add that if we hadn't had that idiot in the whitehouse who was unable to decipher the meaning of "Bin Laden Determined to Attack America By Flying Airplanes Into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on the Morning of September 11th" intel that was available to anyone in the executive branch with one-third of a brain, New York would still have the twin towers and it would be a different world today.

The fact is tens of millions of us ARE spending money, and it's on the campaign to overcome this bigoted paranoid unscrupulous dishonest republican administration and get America back on the path of honor and decency in the world community and here at home.

Whether you honor our RIGHT to assemble peacefully or not, the assemblies are going to happen and you are going to have news covering it. It's up to you to determine how successfully you steer and honor that most American effort, because I guarantee you won't be able to stop it.

[Joe Fields]

4. It's up to Bloomberg to...

determine whether we see true democracy in action or a train wreck. Let's hope he makes the correct determination.

[bryant69]

3. Did you send this to the Mayor?

I worry frankly that some on our side and some of the police and Mayor Bloomberg may be looking for a fight. And I'm pretty convinced that any violence will hurt Kerry a lot more than it will hurt President Bush.

Bryant

Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Joe Fields]

5. Nice blog! I'll bookmark it.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Great letter!

Unfortunately, he took off for Greece today on his private jet like the little coward he is.

[enigmatic]

9. Serious?

Bloomberg's not going to be in town for the RNC?

[smirkymonkey]

11. He did leave for Greece, but will probalby

be back for the Fascist Convention. He pretty much spearheaded the whole thing, so it would be a shock if he failed to show.

You never know with these cowards.

[RhodaGrits]

7. NYCLU is urging everyone to write Bloomberg today:

Snipped from their email alert ~

The battle to protect the right to protest in Central Park continues, and we need your help!

The City has again refused to open the park for the Sunday August 29th demonstration by United for Peace and Justice. Instead, the City insists that the rally is held at the fringe of the city, on the West Side Highway.

Today the NYCLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of UFPJ seeking a court order to open the park for the UFPJ rally.

We will pursue our First Amendment claims in court, but we need you to make your voice heard in the court of public opinion.

Click here to send a fax or email to Mayor Michael Bloomberg today, asking to open Central Park for political protest:

http://ga1.org/campaign/centralpark

And call the Mayor at [phone] with this message: Open Central Park for political protest during the RNC and issue a Central Park permit to UFPJ for the 29th!

[Joe Fields]

8. Kick

[Joe Fields]

10. It's disgusting how citizens are being squeezed from

all directions. Bloomberg making an impossible situation for protesters and the government is trying mightily to squash our rights. Three cheers to all of us who have the courage and convictions to travel to NY for their voice to be heard!