Couch Enforcer Caught Snooping

Couch EnforcerMy tenant just came by to tell me she saw Couch Enforcer Carl Patten Jr. taking photos of their couch in my yard from inside his car across the street. She pulled out her digital camera and snapped a quick picture of him. (YES the couch is visible in the picture – can you see it? No? Well that’s because it’s actually pretty well camouflaged until you’re right across from it where Carl’s car is.) Remember, Carl’s last known appearance at my property was on 8/26/08. It’s now 9/17/08. What happened to the weekly follow-up increased fine ($200, $400) tickets he threatened me with? I don’t know, but it appears he’s not done with me yet and is using his “investigative skills” to perhaps “build a case”.

Additionally, according to my tenants, they know the across the street neighbors well and if the neighbors had a problem with the couch, they are certain that something would have been said as opposed to them calling the Blue Light Gang. That plus the fact that the couch has been there for a long time tells me this is clearly the government people targeting me. Stay tuned to the blog here at FreeKeene.com for the latest and feel free to discuss on the Forum.

More About the Couch Enforcer and the Conflict of Politics

Here’s a comment left by an inhabitant of Keene about “code enforcer” Carl Patten Jr. on my original video post, followed by my comments:

I am a resident of Keene who (reluctantly) filed a complaint back in April with Keene Code Enforcement against a neighbor for having an unregistered truck on our property line, as well as running a business out of our quiet, residential zone…not to mention filling up our deeded right of ways with his unused camper and business equipment. My complaint was passed to Carl Patten who called me on the telephone and in a very condescending manner told me that our neighbors were within their rights to park as many trucks as they wanted and that he ‘didn’t see’ the engine block sitting in the driveway, or the pallet of bricks and stone that are strewn about the driveway…nor did he notice the unregistered truck in their yard. Next thing I learned, Carl is FRIENDS with this person who is clearly violating our deeded rights. Our Realtor was told by code enforcement last week that I called to have the file closed a few months ago(which I did not). So….now that I hear about your situation, I can clearly see that Mr. Patten brings favoritism into his work ethic…hmmm, perhaps he would allow you to put a couch in MY front yard and you and your tenants can do all the bird watching you would like because obviously, on my street, this stuff is allowed. We may be on different sides of the political track but we obviously have a similar gripe about how a city employee handles his job…Good luck to you…I am definitely staying tuned.

Tina, thank you for sharing your story. What you are seeing here is not an isolated incident but instead quite typical of government. Because government is funded through coercion, its agents can rule arbitrarily and capriciously, punish their enemies, and reward their friends. If you decide you’ve had it with them and refused to pay a portion of their “property tax bill”, they could try to take your house from you! No business in the voluntary society operates in this manner.

I’m not sure what “side of the political track” you’re on, but I assure you I’m not on either side. I believe politics just leads us into conflict over who should rule the other. It is an endless conflict as multiple interest groups struggle to wrest control of the violence of the state away from each other. (more…)

The Couch Enforcer

One week ago, someone claiming to be from CITY OF KEENE “Code Enforcement” threatened me over a couch in my tenants’ yard. They use the couch for birdwatching and it has been there for longer than I can remember. Now the Blue Light Gang has a problem with it? Whose property is this, anyway?

Today, 08/26/08 he returned and I had my camera ready.


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Couch Court Audio & “ORDERS”

If you have been following the freedom couch situation, you may be interested in the following information. First is “justice” Burke’s explanation for his triple contempt of court ruling against me, called an “ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S CONTEMPT” (.PDF) Second, is his “FURTHER ORDER ON CONTEMPT: FINE PAYMENT ORDER” (.PDF). Despite the fact that I just spent the weekend in jail, which was originally supposed to be in lieu of fine payment, he still demands payment of a $120 fine or 10 hours community service. I have decided that the final card I’m going to play in all of this is to make one last offer. I will offer to pay $240 to the Keene Community Kitchen if Burke’s agency will accept that as satisfaction of the fine payment. Will he be feeling charitable? I’ll let you know what he decides.

Finally, here is audio from the majority of the behind-closed-doors trial that was forced upon me. Sorry I didn’t get the entire thing. I began the recording as the couch enforcer/prosecutor was testifying. By this point, Burke had already slapped me with a second 30 day sentence for “contempt of court” for refusing to answer a question about my “legal name”.

Thank you again to everyone who supported me in so many different ways! To those who would critique me saying I didn’t go far enough for their liking, to them I say, “I look forward to your arrival here in New Hampshire so you can show us how it’s done.” I’d say the same to those complaining I should have picked a better battle. (Of course, I didn’t pick this, the government people did, but I digress.)

Feel free to discuss on the Free Keene Forum!