Court over a Couch, Oct 1st!

by | Sep 26, 2008 | 45 comments

If you’ve been reading this blog for the last month or so, you know that the “City of Keene” has been threatening me over my tenants’ couch in their lawn. First, they sent one of their “enforcers” to threaten me with a $100 ticket. Then, one of the commenters here on Free Keene dug up a little dirt on their “enforcer” Carl Patten Jr. Early last week, my tenants snapped a photo of Mr. Patten snooping around and photographing the couch.

Here is the latest on the situation. The day after Mr. Patten was caught snooping, a letter arrived in my mailbox (more…)

Triple Civil Disobedience Success!

by | Sep 26, 2008 | 7 comments

Today’s triple civil disobedience was a triple success! Watch here at FreeKeene.com for video later, but here’s a quick summary:

  • RidleyReport.com‘s Dave Ridley was informed before the trial that the “judge”, Mr. Burke had reviewed his ordinances and determined his earlier interpretation had been incorrect and that cameras may now be panned by their operator while in Keene “district court”.
  • Additionally, the man in the robe did not publicly acknowledge another major change that occurred today. All entrants are now allowed recording devices. Four video cameras were operational today, as compared to Mr. Burke’s earlier commandment of one camera per court.
  • Free Keene blogger Nick Ryder had an apparent victory in his refusal to pay a speeding ticket. Mr. Burke heard the case, and after Nick made his final statement, Burke said he’d take it under advisement and ended the “trial”. If he were going to pronounce Nick guilty, he’d have done it then.
  • NH Free Press publisher Russell Kanning appeared in front of Mr. Burke to update the “city” on their demand he perform 30 hours community service. Kanning has completed 0 hours and Burke extended the due date out 60 more days.

This morning’s multiple success is still more proof that noncooperation and civil disobedience result in immediate, tangible changes with a large return on investment. Compare this to how difficult achieving today’s successes would have been “working inside the system” by running campaigns and contacting “representatives”, and begging they change the system. How much time and effort would that have taken? Noncooperative activists achieved their goals with a total turnout of 12 activists, a couple hours of time, a few press releases, and some courage.

Please join the peaceful evolution here in Keene. The fun is just beginning! Also, join our discussion on the Free Keene Forum!

Couch Enforcer Caught Snooping

by | Sep 17, 2008 | 5 comments

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.

Civil Disobedience to Occur in Keene District Court on 9/26

by | Sep 15, 2008 | 16 comments

What: Attempted “Illegal camera panning”
Where: Keene District Court, 3 Washington Street, Keene, New Hampshire
When: Friday, Sept. 26, 2008. 7:45 a.m.
How: Videographer will attempt to man, and pan, his video camera during trial of Keene freedom activist. Camera movement is forbidden under
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/rules/dmcr/dmcr-1_4.htm
Judge Edward Burke has said he’ll begin enforcing the ban.

Why: There are two objectives…
1) Document Nick Ryder’s controversial refusal to pay traffic fine (something that can’t be done well without panning the camera)
2) Protest – and draw attention to – an unacceptable, actively enforced court rule that unnecessarily limits freedom of press

Who: Dave Ridley, 42, Manchester videographer

Open letter for Judge Edward Burke
Presiding Justice, Keene District Court:

Dear Judge Burke:

Your restraint and politeness in the handling of David Krouse’s civil disobedience case this spring…turned me into an unlikely fan. It was a reminder to liberty lovers that judges in New Hampshire tend to be less violent than those in other places.

However I’m concerned regarding your stated intent to begin enforcing a bizarre rule against video camera panning. In my fifteen years of service as a TV news videographer, I’ve never seen anything like it. To tell a videographer he can’t pan or tilt his camera…that’s like telling a writer she can’t hold a pen. It violates the spirit of a “speedy and *public* trial.” That’s dangerous.

Apparently this is a district court regulation, but it’s not acceptable and must be openly challenged. (more…)

More About the Couch Enforcer and the Conflict of Politics

by | Sep 4, 2008 | 7 comments

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…)