by Ian | Jul 7, 2015 |
Feeling safe yet?
Free State Project early mover and attorney Brandon Ross is once again involved in a “wiretapping” case where Manchester police arrested a man for recording them in his own home. The man is now suing for more than $1 million in damages, as Photography is Not a Crime’s Andrew Quemere reports:
The city of Manchester, New Hampshire and two of its police officers are facing a lawsuit for more than a million dollars after arresting a man for audio-recording the officers as they searched his home.
Alfredo Valentin, 43, was arrested on March 3 after police conducted a no-knock raid on his home in search of drugs that belonged to a tenant and was later fired from his job because of the arrest, according to the lawsuit.
Valentin was never charged with any drugs crimes and, according to the lawsuit, was not aware that there were any drugs in his home.
Police were investigating Christopher Chapman, whom they suspected of selling heroin, and were able to arrest him outside of Hillsborough County Superior Court.
Despite already having the man in custody, the department sent a SWAT team to break into Valentin’s home, “firing incendiary devices through the property’s windows, kicking in the doors, and entering the property SWAT-style with semi-automatic weapons—damaging property, terrifying the two women who were still in the house, and creating an unjustifiable risk of accidental death or injury,” according to the lawsuit (see full article for pictures of the damage). (more…)
by Ian | Jul 3, 2015 |
On the same day the Today show ran their national news package about Robin Hood of Keene, reporter Matt Caron from WWLP-TV in showed up to the Keene Activist Center toting a video camera. Here’s the report he filed that evening on the local NBC affiliate in Springfield, MA:
by Ian | Jul 2, 2015 |
Buzz, of Buzz’s Big Gay Dance Party, beaming at the final party. _Photo Courtesy VICE
In at least their fourth story in the last few years related to the Free State Project, the excellent VICE.com has focused in on the amazing Buzz’s Big Gay Dance Party which had its final of six years this year at the Porcupine Freedom Festival. Porcfest will continue, perhaps with a new epic party – only time will tell.
For now, enjoy Michelle Lhooq’s report on Buzz’s final awesome bash and the photos (then come to Hallowkeene at Keenevention 2015!)
For additional perspective on being gay at Porcfest, visit Joe Jarvis’ blog of his experience at this year’s week-long camping festival populated by mostly libertarians and voluntarists. If you love liberty, regardless of sexual orientation, you’ll probably really enjoy Porcfest.
Here’s the excellent story about the BGDP from VICE.
by Ian | Jul 1, 2015 |
In a four minute segment this morning, the major national morning television news program “Today” on NBC featured Robin Hood of Keene! The package by investigative journalist Jeff Rossen was excellent. Thanks to NBC for the coverage!
Please share this video and if you’re on facebook, “like” the Robin Hood of Keene facebook page. You can also learn more about Robin Hooding here.
by Ian | Jun 30, 2015 |
The “Parking Czar”, Gary Lamoureux has announced he is leaving his position later this summer. Lamoureux had become the “city parking project manager” after retiring from the city fire department, which made him a “double-dipper” – collecting over $90,000 a year in pension payments AND getting a regular paycheck (more than $50,000 per year) for his parking job on top! Don’t forget to count in the sweet government benefits. Must be nice to be in the government gang, huh?
According to the Sentinel story on his resignation by Martha Shanahan, Lamoureux leaves at the end of August and claims that his decision to quit had nothing to do with the city council coming close to eliminating his position. Lamoureux’s legacy will be overseeing the mostly failed lawsuit against Robin Hood of Keene and proposing parking rate and fine increases that have ultimately gone nowhere and have been very unpopular among the people of Keene.
According to the Sentinel piece, Lamoureux will make one final push for parking rate and fine increases before heading off into the sunset to cash his sweet, sweet pension checks.
by Ian | Jun 29, 2015 |
Last week, Porcfest (the Porcupine Freedom Festival), the Free State Project‘s yearly camping festival in the White Mountains of Northern New Hampshire, was already generating headlines across the state, before it had even begun.
Here’s more media coverage of Porcfest 2015:
I may update this post with more entries as I discover them.
