Yesterday morning, I sat down with city attorney (or court jester to use the royal parlance) Thomas Mullins, who was responsible for signing the paperwork filing suit against the Merry (wo)Men allegedly associated with Robin Hood of Keene. I was trying to find out why I was named in a ‘harassment’ lawsuit along with five others. I came only to represent myself and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the city’s position is that the purpose of Robin Hood of Keene is to engage parking enforcement officers in psychological warfare. Mullins used the phrase “emotional violence” to describe Robin Hooding. “You want them to quit. Everybody wants them to quit,” Mullins asserted. “From our perspective, you’re trying to force the termination of these individuals by getting them to quit.”
It seems that city bureaucrats have some gross misconceptions about the goals of Robin Hood of Keene. Over the course of the meeting, there was no specific instance cited in which I had done anything to wrong parking enforcers. For this reason, I offered to agree continuing not to commit any crimes against parking enforcement and suggested others would likely do the same to bring about a mutually beneficial conclusion to the lawsuit. The city’s attorney wasn’t ready to put forward an agreement yet, but suggested that there will be discussion of such. Below is a transcript of the meeting constructed from memory and extensive written notes, as Mullins had refused to engage in dialogue if an objective record was to have been made. (more…)
I don’t know if they can just do it on their own or they’ll need city council approval, but the city of Keene people, according to a Sentinel article, want to raise both parking rates and fines over the next couple of years.
UPDATE: I’m told someone was told by a city councilor that any increase in rates or fines must be approved by city council and public comment must be heard by them. Should make for an interesting campaign issue this year!
Today I took the initiative to do what lawyers do before taking cases before the court — discussing the matter with the opposition. After passing through district court security at City Hall, I headed upstairs to see if city attorney Thomas Mullins was available. We scheduled a time to meet tomorrow morning to discuss the world-famous Robin Hooding lawsuit. While not open carrying my camera at the time, Mullins laid down a non-negotiable prohibition on electronic recording as the condition under which he would be willing to have a dialogue. I find it unfortunate that city officials are not willing to be objectively accountable in dialogues regarding public matters, but I will be permitted to take at least written notes.
It’s worth considering that City Manager Prince John MacLean has regarded Robin Hooding as inherently “harassing” since he made public statements collectively deriding its participants in a Keene Sentinel cover story dated 11 April 2013. Prior to and after this, not once did any representative of the city raise concerns about “harassment and intimidation” to the accused directly as is alleged in the six-defendant lawsuit.
The condition upon which I enter the dialogue tomorrow is that I represent no person except for myself, and that no person represents I but myself. Mullins informed myself that if I were to have paid a lawyer to field the case for me, that he would then be prohibited from having communication with me in any manner but through my attorney.
Despite their building being located downtown and having employees who are constantly being ticketed, the Keene Sentinel continues to support the city’s parking monopoly, in a lengthy Sunday piece by Casey Farrar. In it, she discusses the history of parking meters in Keene and makes excuses for why they are supposedly necessary.
If parking meters are supposed to keep the downtown parking “fluid”, especially at busy times, then why does the city allow an entire week of free parking during the peak of the holiday shopping season in December? By their supposed reasoning, wouldn’t that be the best time to ensure compliance by cracking down? Instead, they take the week off! Things that make you go hmm. Anyway, here’s the Sentinel’s propaganda piece, which while supposedly written by Casey Farrar, uses the term “we”, as though it is an editorial from the editorial staff. Who really wrote this?:
Anti-government types, with coins in hand, have been gleefully keeping a step ahead of city parking attendants looking for expired meters. They’ve gotten thumbs-ups from those they’ve saved from a $5 ticket, and drawn ire from City Hall, which added a fresh element to the subject last week. (more…)
Yesterday morning, I sat down with city attorney (or court jester to use the royal parlance) Thomas Mullins, who was responsible for signing the paperwork filing suit against the Merry (wo)Men allegedly associated with Robin Hood of Keene. I was trying to find out why I was named in a ‘harassment’ lawsuit along with five others. I came only to represent myself and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the city’s position is that the purpose of Robin Hood of Keene is to engage parking enforcement officers in psychological warfare. Mullins used the phrase “emotional violence” to describe Robin Hooding. “You want them to quit. Everybody wants them to quit,” Mullins asserted. “From our perspective, you’re trying to force the termination of these individuals by getting them to quit.”
I don’t know if they can just do it on their own or they’ll need city council approval, but the city of Keene people, 
Despite their building being located downtown and having employees who are constantly being ticketed, the Keene Sentinel continues to support the city’s parking monopoly, in a 
