Michael Bloomberg - Enemy of Civil Liberties

[Stephanie]

Don't let anyone try to tell you that Michael Bloomberg's not really a Republican.

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0710,gardiner,75975,2.html

Day of Rage
Behind the scenes of the NYPD crackdown at the GOP convention

<excerpt>

It started benignly enough with a police inspector laying the ground rules through a bullhorn. "This is a march without a permit. You must comply with all the rules or else you will be subject to arrest. You have to walk in either a single file or a double file so that you do not obstruct pedestrian traffic. If you obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, you will be subject to arrest. I ask your cooperation so that everybody has a safe march."

With that, a chunk of the crowd ambled across Church Street and began slowly shuf fling up Fulton Street. Schiller, already across the street, figured he'd get a quick shot and then head up to the Union Square or Public Library protests, which were rumored to be more happening.

Just over a minute later, the march suddenly stopped. When Schiller looked up from his viewfinder, he noticed a police officer behind him blocking the way.

"What's going on here? Are we being placed under arrest?" Schiller asked the New York City cop.

"Nooooooo, no, don't worry about it," the officer replied. "Don't worry about it."

But Schiller couldn't help but worry a few minutes later when a phalanx of bicycle cops pedaled in and formed a line along the sidewalk against the wall of St. Paul's cemetery. Minutes later, cops unrolled an orange net around the crowd.

Schiller tried to explain that he was a journalist and showed the officers his business card and the HBO release forms his interviewees had to sign. He was told only those with NYPD-issued press cards could go free. So he pleaded with the cops to at least release his assistant, an 18-year-old NYU freshman who had started her internship that very day. No dice, they said.

What Schiller didn't realize then was that this wasn't like the other days of protests leading up to and during the RNC. This was "A31," August 31, 2004—the day police expected the shit to go down.

Searched, handcuffed, and with property seized, the bewildered—Schiller among them—were transported to a makeshift detention center so filthy that 40 cops assigned there would later file medical complaints. It was the start of what would be, for the average protester, a 33-hour incarceration misadventure. No phone calls. No lawyers. Not knowing the charges until the very end.

The arrests were so wobbly that five weeks later Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, with the aid of the footage taken by Schiller and crew, flat out dismissed all 227 cases.

An NYCLU report later called the Fulton Street roundup "the most egregious example of unlawful mass arrests" at the RNC.

Perhaps, but on A31, Fulton Street was just the beginning.

http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-critical0330,0,7814855.story?coll=am-local-headlines

Critical Mass to be tested under new NYPD rules


Participants in Friday's Critical Mass bicycle ride are bracing for mass arrests if police enforce new regulations requiring a permit for rides of more than 50 cyclists.

The monthly gatherings routinely draw hundreds of riders, and Friday's will be the first under the new rules.

"I'm afraid we are going to see a return to the police actions of 2004 and 2005," said Marilyn Horan, who has been participating in Critical Mass rides for a decade. "Police could once again block off streets at both ends, corral and arrest cyclists."

The NYPD instituted the controversial regulations last month without City Council oversight. They define any group of 50 or more cyclists, pedestrians or other vehicles as a "parade" that must apply for a permit.

Critical Mass participants say the rules are designed to crack down on their event. They also say the group has no central organization, and thus no responsible person to apply for the permit.

Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) said she would ride along in a pedicab tonight, both as an observer and to protest the rules.

"To criminalize the behavior of individuals assembling in groups over 50 is arbitrary and unconstitutional," she said.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Speaking as a New Yorker, I would not vote for him for dog-catcher..

[Stephanie]

2. Nor would I.

Add to this list his real estate gifts to his wealthy cronies - Atlantic Yards, the (defeated) Jets Stadium.

[NYC]

3. I'll bet most New Yorkers feel this way.

I wouldn't vote for Billionaire Bloomberg, and I didn't in the past.

[NYCGirl]

4. You might be mistaken — he has a high approval rating. BTW, I didn't vote for

him either, although Ferrer was a really weak choice.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1146061820070514

New York City voters would prefer current Mayor Michael Bloomberg over former Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president of the United States, according to a poll published in the New York Daily News on Monday.

Forty-six percent of those polled said Bloomberg would make a better president than Giuliani while 29 percent chose Giuliani over Bloomberg, according to the poll conducted for the Daily News by Blum & Weprin Associates.

By an even greater margin -- 56 percent to 29 percent -- those surveyed said Bloomberg was a better mayor than Giuliani, who was widely praised for his leadership following the September 11 attacks.

[smirkymonkey]

5. It's like a choice between herpes and syphillis for REAL New York

Democrats. Guiliani is crooked Republican and Bloomberg is an autocratic, patronizing (Fill in the Blank).

As a New Yorker, I haven't cast a vote for either one and I never will.

[Stephanie]

8. No kidding!

Is Bloomberg as bad a Giuliani? Yes!

[NYC]

7. That was a choice between Giuliani and Bloomberg.

What kind of a choice is that?

[qdemn7]

6. To praphrase General Patton....

I wouldn't vote for him to shovel shit in Louisiana.

[Stephanie]

9. k

.