Parking Kiosks Loom

February 7, 2012 by Ian · 8 Comments
Filed under: Personal Freedom, Police, Update

Pay or else. There has rightfully been much ado regarding the BEARCAT attack vehicle in Keene recently, but all along, there’s another serious issue facing the people in this region. The money-hungry gang at the Keene Police Department have convinced the city council to install two parking kiosks downtown as a test. According to the police chief, Ken Meola, they are all about raising revenue. They estimate another $100,000 per year just for the parking division! I bet they can hire another enforcer with that money – doesn’t everyone want to see more parking enforcers on the street? Is there a way for me to paint those words with more sarcasm?

As you might imagine, many people in Keene do not want these parking meters, but they should speak for themselves. The Keene Sentinel recently published a letter from Luann Udell that outlines some great reasons the city council should say no to these awful meters. (Of course, ALL the meters should go, but that’s another issue entirely.) Here’s Luann’s letter:

Parking kiosks are a problem

To whomever makes parking meter purchase decisions:

I am not enjoying the new parking meter system in downtown Keene. And if we can judge by the unusually high number of empty parking spaces in that area lately, I have a lot of company.

I’ve had to wait in line at the kiosks, even when I simply need six minutes to run an errand. Read more

Sentinel Reports on Upcoming Bearcat Hearing

February 3, 2012 by Ian · 8 Comments
Filed under: Copblock, Corruption, News, Personal Freedom, Police, Update

Sign the online petition to keep Keene Bearcat-free!

Free Keene is mentioned and I am quoted in this latest article about the upcoming public hearing on the BEARCAT by the Keene Sentinel’s Kyle Jarvis:

The public will have an opportunity next week to speak about the Keene Police Department’s acquisition of a new grant-funded armored vehicle.

Last month, the Keene City Council approved the acceptance of a $285,933 federal Homeland Security grant to purchase a LENCO BearCat Special Missions Vehicle. But some residents questioned Read more

Is the Bearcat a rescue vehicle, as was suggested by city councilors?

February 3, 2012 by Ian · 20 Comments
Filed under: Police, Update, Video

Sign the online petition to keep Keene Bearcat-free!

LENCO, the manufacturer of the BEARCAT, has this video on their youtube channel. As you can see, this vehicle is all about making the police feel as militaristic as possible – it’s not a “safety” vehicle as is being touted in the Sentinel. Searching google for “Special Missions Public Safety Vehicle”, as it has been referenced, reveals articles about Keene, but nothing from LENCO or elsewhere. Clearly, LENCO didn’t just go and make up a new model just for Keene, NH, so it’s more accurate to call it by its actual acronym: “Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck”

This is not a rescue vehicle…at least not for you. The “LE”, or Law Enforcement iteration of this armored personnel carrier has on its website as a feature: “open floorplan allows for response and rescue of downed personnel“. (emphasis added)

Please come out this Thursday and speak to the city commission on this matter. They need to hear from as many people as possible that it was a mistake to listen to the cops over the people. They need to get the message that Keene doesn’t want this monstrosity.

Seacoast Paper Reports on FSP’s 1000th in NH

February 2, 2012 by Ian · 25 Comments
Filed under: National, New Hampshire, News, Update

Here’s the piece from the Seacoast Online:

Nearly a decade after establishing roots in New Hampshire, members of the Free State Project are welcoming their 1,000th member to the Granite State.

The milestone member relocated this week and has found a home on the Seacoast, according to local members of the pro-liberty activists group. Read more

NH to Cage Peaceful Nurse

February 1, 2012 by talleytv · 40 Comments
Filed under: Free Keene TV, New Hampshire, News, Update, Video

The Associated Press reports:

New Hampshire’s highest court has upheld a woman’s marijuana-growing conviction, ruling she had no reasonable expectation to privacy in a wooded area of her property from which police observed her house and detected the smell of marijuana coming from a vent.

Patricia Smith of Haverhill was charged in 2009 after police raided her house and found a pot-growing operation and 120 plants. During court proceedings, a superior court denied Smith’s motion to suppress evidence.

In appealing to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Smith’s attorney argued that police violated Smith’s constitutional right to privacy and protection from unreasonable searches when they essentially conducted a stakeout in the woods behind her home.

Watch the following videos produced by myself and Garret Ean of Free Concord. When watching, ask yourself if you want to see Patricia Smith caged for growing her own medicine, in her own home. If you’re a citizen of New Hampshire or the United States this is being done in your name, with your money.

Arpad Toth Speaks Out Against the Bearcat and Fear

January 31, 2012 by Ian · 5 Comments
Filed under: Copblock, Essay, Living Free, National, New Hampshire, Police, Update

Arpad Toth writes the Sentinel this excellent letter about the Bearcat and how fear is hurting us:

Fear leads to BearCat

There is a specter haunting our nation — a specter of fear.

To me, and I know that in this evaluation I am not alone, it is apparent that since Sept. 11, 2001, fear has been the motivating force for change across the United States.

Where do I see fear? For the present I use but one parameter — despair, the need to arm one’s self, seek protection against the “other.” The “other” is too often an illusion than a reality but what a powerful one it is. Read more

Don’t Stop Recording: Cameraman Threatened with Arrest

January 30, 2012 by Ian · 34 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Laugh at the Aggressors, Living Free, Personal Freedom, Police, Shire Society, Update, Video

Nemi is pulled over on the way back from Concord by a statie for her outdated inspection sticker. The statie attempts what is becoming a common intimidation tactic: claiming to a cameraman he’ll be arrested if recording continues. I continue anyway and he backs down from the threat, just like happened to Ademo and Luthor & Derrick recently in other incidents.

Sentinel Reports on Upcoming Bearcat Hearing

January 29, 2012 by Ian · 3 Comments
Filed under: Copblock, Corruption, New Hampshire, News, Personal Freedom, Police, Politics, Update

Nice to see Kyle Jarvis of the Sentinel has been working on a piece regarding the upcoming Bearcat hearing. Free Keene gets a mention:

The public will likely get a second chance to weigh in on a new armored vehicle for the Keene Police Department.

Last month, the City Council approved a $285,933 federal Homeland Security grant to buy a LENCO BearCat Special Missions Public Safety Vehicle. But some voiced concerns about whether such a vehicle was necessary for a small community, and a 144-signature petition was brought before councilors asking for an additional public hearing. Read more

Bearcat Reconsideration Public Hearing is Happening, Thanks to Terry Clark

January 27, 2012 by Ian · 6 Comments
Filed under: Copblock, National, News, Occupy NH, Update

Bearcat No mention of this in the Sentinel, but at last night’s city council meeting it was revealed that councilor Terry Clark has brought up the Bearcat for public hearing at an upcoming meeting. Terry Clark, as you may recall, is the lone councilor who heroically voted against accepting federal money to buy a Bearcat armored attack machine in the first place. According to John McLean, city boss, the city council can re-hear an issue once a year, and when a councilor brings an issue forward, there has to be a public hearing. Unlike when someone recently presented 144 petition signatures asking for a public hearing on the matter, which were gathered over one weekend, and the council blew it off as “informational”.

Here’s a facebook event for the next City Council meeting. Come with signs and show your support for a peaceful, not militarized, Keene police.

Experiences from 4-days in Manchester’s Valley St. Jail

January 27, 2012 by Pete Eyre · 9 Comments
Filed under: Jailed Activist, Noncooperation, Personal Freedom, Update

Former cop-turned prosecutor-turned judge William H. Lyons said I owed “the state of New Hampshire” 248 FRNs. His claim is without merit. I did no harm to person or property. “The state” was not a victim that I was responsible to make whole. But I recognize that if I failed to act, I could be killed.

It wouldn’t happen right away, but if I ignored ever-more threatening letters sent by faceless strangers that I never wronged, their associates with guns would come for me. If I remained steadfast still, they’d use force, including lethal force. And most wouldn’t question their actions. After all, they wore badges. They’re “just doing their job.”

Looking over my shoulder doesn’t sound like a good way to live. So I’m forced to engage in damage control while remaining true to myself. Rather than pay the ransom, I decided I’d sit the time. Using “the state’s” math, 248 FRNs equated to four days and three nights at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections.