Today I dropped off a proposal to the city clerk’s office that the council repeal the paraphernalia ordinance. Unlike state statutes prohibiting drugs, the prohibition on paraphernalia is a city ordinance and the city council has full control over ordinances. Will they actually do something? The first step is for the full council to hear the letter and possibly assign it to a committee. The proposal is to be heard at the next meeting on Thursday 9/5 at 7pm at City Hall. Here’s the proposal:
Ladies and gentlemen of the Keene city council,
There has been recent and previous discussion on the council regarding cannabis decriminalization and legalization. It is certainly true that the Keene city council cannot repeal state statutes, however you can send a resolution to the state legislature encouraging them to do the right thing and legalize cannabis in New Hampshire. In addition, you as a councilor can move to order the police chief to issue a directive to Keene police officers to not enforce cannabis laws in Keene.
Also, there is one other thing that the council can do that I am proposing with this letter, and that is to repeal the drug paraphernalia ordinances. This would send a message that Keene is serious about ending the insane war on drugs, which is really a war on our friends, family, and neighbors.
Specifically, the entirety of Keene ordinance Chapter 66, Article II should be repealed and replaced with nothing.
Drug abuse is a personal tragedy, but the drug war only makes it worse for the abuser. (more…)
Local liberty activist David Crawford recently submitted to the city council in Keene a proposal to have the council send a resolution to the legislators encouraging them to decriminalize cannabis. The city council assigned the issue to the Planning, Licensing, and Development committee and it was given a public hearing this week. Several at the hearing spoke in favor of the measure, and none against, including Ken Meola, who did speak, but only to answer a question about legality. Of course, he wasn’t completely telling the truth when he said this is a “legislative issue”. He knows he has discretion and can choose not to enforce laws at will, as I point out later in my comments.
We also learned that it appears the city people may have dropped the ball on sending a letter to the legislature in 2009, when a similar request was brought forth by, of all people, Fred Parsells! No one could seem to remember all the details so city boss John Maclean promised to research the issue and come back with a more accurate version of past events at the next PLD meeting in two weeks. The issue was given “more time” and will be raised again on Wed, September 11th at 7pm at city hall.
Rich Paul is running for mayor – from inside the Cheshire jail. I took his declaration of candidacy down to the city clerk’s office today and filed the $5 fee to get him on the ballot. Thus far the Keene mayoral race only has incumbent Kendall Lane (an attorney) and now Rich Paul, a former flower salesman. Only two weeks remain until the filing deadline – will anyone else enter the race?
Also, when was the last time you wrote or visited Rich? Don’t live near Keene? Did you know you can visit him from your webcam?
Have you sent him mail? Did you know you can do that free via Mail-to-Jail?
“You guys aren’t what this city needs” – Anti-Robin Hood/Free Keene Protestor Jon Cole
This past Saturday, midday, a group with signs opposing Robin Hooding and Free Keene gathered on Central Square. Most of them were from the Facebook group, “Free Keene from Free Staters“. Of the group, Rob Way was the most approachable and was willing to have a conversation. You’ll see that conversation later on in the series of raw videos from the encounter. When I arrived on the scene, as you will see, Kay points her umbrella towards my camera and despite speaking to me, hides behind it and her sign for most of the scene. It’s all very silly. It also seems contradictory. If you are putting yourself out there on Central Square and holding a sign, you clearly want to get a message out, so why would you refuse to be videoed by someone holding a camera?
Here is the series of uncut, raw videos as shot by me, Garret, and James Cleaveland:
Liberty activists, led by Free State Project participants, recently gathered in Concord over the weekend to go door-to-door asking for petition signatures opposing the proposed BEARCAT, the armored “attack truck” the police are currently drooling over. Here, the Concord Monitor reports on the successful petition drive that gathered hundreds of signatures.
Today I dropped off a proposal to the city clerk’s office that the council repeal the paraphernalia ordinance. Unlike state statutes prohibiting drugs, the prohibition on paraphernalia is a city ordinance and the city council has full control over ordinances. Will they actually do something? The first step is for the full council to hear the letter and possibly assign it to a committee. The proposal is to be heard at the next meeting on Thursday 9/5 at 7pm at City Hall. Here’s the proposal:
