Free Keene

On Friday, April 18th, I was told by a Keene Police Officer that I was committing theft by plugging my computer into one of the outlets that stick out of the ground along Main Street. These outlets have places to be locked or turned off, but they were neither locked, turned off, or marked with something saying they weren’t for public use. The officer told me “You can ask the City if you can use their electricity, but for now you’re stealing it.” I obliged and moved on with my night.

Tuesday, April 22nd, I went into City Hall and asked the Clerk’s Office about these outlets. Were they outlawed to the public? If so, why isn’t it marked, since they look as public as the public trash cans? How do I get permission to use them? Some of the workers were unaware that such plugs even existed, but they promised to call Keene Park & Rec and give me a call when they got the answer for me.

Tuesday, April 29th, I still had not heard from them, so I followed up with a personal contact I have in the same building. Perhaps he, being an employee on the inside, could push someone to find an answer for me. Today, May 4th, I followed up with him, and they told him the same thing they told me: “We’ll get back to you.”‘

***Update: Tuesday, May 6th, I finally got a call from Ms. Little in the City Clerk’s office. She said that the outlets are not for public use, and are for event use only. The city manager told her that if someone wanted to make some of them public, I could submit a written request to the city council. Sounds like fun…
This still does not answer the question as to why they are not marked, or how any person should know that an outlet on public property is not for public use.

Keene area Senator Molly Kelly called me back for the very first time ever today. I originally called to ask for her opinion on the marijuana decriminalization bill that the Senate will be hearing soon. I wish I had recorded the call. Allow me to break it down for you:

I first thanked her for her return call and asked how she felt about the legislation. She gave the standard politician answer that she had not yet read it. I then summarized the bill for her (<1/4oz possession would no longer be an arrestable offense) and asked not for a response on the legislation but for her thoughts on the issue of marijuana decriminalization. She responded that she was not familiar with the legislation.

I once again clarified for her that at this point I was just curious as to how she felt about marijuana users being arrested and put into jail cells. She responded that she did not believe that actually happens! (Read on …)

The genesis of this blog post was a comment by my brother left on a previous blog post of mine. He had asked this question; once I gain my freedom, how will the issues of Policing, the Military, and the Roads be taken care of. My answer is based on things that have already happened, so it is based in fact, rather than pie in the sky theory.

I will divide my answer into two blog posts, starting with the roads, and I will post the second half about the police and military in a few days or so.

(Read on …)

Keene Citizens Government Review asked this question of city council candidates: What specifically would you recommend doing to hold down spending and, thus, prevent high tax increases?

Here is my answer:

I’m not only interested in preventing tax increases, I’d like to actually lower taxes. Many politicians say this, but I’m serious. To prove it, I’m giving all of my tax funded paychecks back to sixteen lucky Ward Four taxpayers that vote in this election. There is only one realistic way to cut taxes and it’s to transition programs to voluntary funding methods, while voting down government increases. The truth is, no one knows how to spend your money better than you. A vote for me is one for personal responsibility!

Last week the Keene Sentinel reported that there is no opposition to the new proposal for a jail site on the Hill property on Route 101 in Keene. Once again the Sentinel has gotten the story wrong. There are many objections not only to the new jail site, but also to the housing and corporate park proposal. Some people have voiced concern over the fact that the site lies on top of a landfill which contains hazardous waste, and others are concerned with the traffic problem the proposed site will bring, but my objection lies in the fundamental concept of building a new jail. (Read on …)

Eric just posted about the minimum wage, but in an article solely about Washington DC. We need to decide on whether non-Keene related posts belong here.

On one hand, I don’t want the blog to be devoid of content, but on the other hand this blog is intended to highlight issues and solutions to government coercion - in the Keene area. I can certainly see extending the coverage to NH related issues, but I’m concerned about losing focus. Please post your comments. Should national issues be off limits unless they are tied into Keene?