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Fuck you for picking up my best friend who was riding a bike, for NO reason other than the way he looks, and who is now being deported to Nicaragua.
Fuck you for entering my apartment building on the Fourth of July and coming up to my roof top to try to arrest me for fireworks. For calling my 85 year old father a lier when he denied shooting off firecrackers. For handcuffing me in your pathetic attempt to get me to admit I was guilty. Fuck you for threatening me that you'd arrest us all, including my wife, if I didn't admit. Fuck you for telling me you'd love to beat me up. And remember I Fucked you by not admitting anything, knowing there wasn't shit you could do ,without that admission. You walked away, pathetic, rejected. And I went off shooting off more explosives.
Fuck you for all the traffic tickets I've gotten in the last 7 years, every one of which I beat in court or playing the system.
Fuck you for all the Ridas you've picked up and chose the easy way to deal with them, arrest or citations, rather than discussion and intelligent interaction.
Fuck you for your hypocrisy and manipulation as you inject yourself in this group and Critical Mass for the only intention to control from the inside.
Fuck you for succeeding in manipulating many Ridas into thinking you're here for them.
"Fuck you for all the Ridas you've picked up and chose the easy way to deal with them, arrest or citations, rather than discussion and intelligent interaction."
I am sure that intelligent interaction with you would have been productive. You sound like a total jerk. You basically admit that you behave like an idiot and than blame cops for calling you on your shit.
By the way I rode the last few LACM rides and I can tell you that the LAPD was a welcome presence. While they may have "injected" themselves they were not controlling anything.
Dude there are good cops and bad. There are good ridazz and bad. Your post says more about who YOU are than about the cops you slam.
"Dude there are good cops and bad. There are good ridazz and bad."
But when you are in a position wielding the power to implement, uphold and interpret the law as you see fit, then the severity of what a bad cop really comes into focus. For you to compare bad ridazz to bad cops is unfair and unjust.
Not even telling the truth. Remember that, don't EVER TALK TO A COP. Don't even tell the truth, they WILL use it against you. They are trained to twist your words to admit things totally unrelated, then prove a lie - even the whitest of little lies. Then they'll discredit ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you say in your defense, because of one little lie, even a fib.
Hell mother fucking yeah. This is my kind of thread. Fuck you sherrif for giving me an unjust ticket for Loud and bosterious $1000. Fuck you pig for telling me after you ticket me " the nail that stands out get hammered"... fuck you pig. See u next month in court with my other 4 wittness, pig.......
@indigis! +a zillion. keep the cops out of rides. they do not belong on our rides in any official capacity whatsoever. i'm so sick of all this oh-my-god-i-heart-the-lapd crap.
I am not about anarchy. And the streets do not belong to us. We are entitled to fair use of the streets that belong to all.
Its by behaving like idiots and "taking the streets" that we shoot ourselves in the foot and polarize people against cyclists and our causes. Of course maybe you and indigis have no greater cause and don't give a rats ass about improving infrastructure and relationships. Perhaps you want to be free to drink, smoke, and ride however you want without any concern for others or consequences to yourselves. I am willing to bet that you do not represent the majority of ridazz. In my opinion you are less welcome on the LACM rides then the police.
Dogbone responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
08.15.10 - 11:50 am
I blame joe borfo for the LACM and cops love affair. in a month or two the peeps that invited the cops to the ride dont show up but the cops are still there. watch!!!!
"We are entitled to fair use of the streets that belong to all."
Precisely my point. We do not have this fair use right now because we are treated like second class citizens. I did not say the streets are only ours. I said that they are ours. We are entitled to use them, and we should.
"Of course maybe you and indigis have no greater cause and don't give a rats ass about improving infrastructure and relationships."
Do you know indigis? I do. He's a rad, smart, upstanding dude. I love your immediate assumptions about us. My only greater cause that you need to know about is contributing to and improving the Midnight Ridazz community. And we don't need cops to help us do that.
You're right, I don't care about improving bike-specific infrastructure that much, because we are traffic. People in cars should respect us a human beings, and we should all be able to cooperate together, and the roads together. That's what we should be working towards. Just us, though. Again, we do not need the cops to help us.
"Perhaps you want to be free to drink, smoke, and ride however you want without any concern for others or consequences to yourselves."
If you knew me, you would know that I am all about concern for others, and that I love the Midnight Ridazz community, and have faith in people. That's what anarchy is - the ability to function in society without oppressive forces such as the state and the state's mindless goons (the cops) telling people what to do, precisely because of the fact that people love and respect others as human beings. The one group who has consistently, over and over again, proven that they do not respect and love others as human beings is the cops.
I have more faith the Midnight Ridazz community than you do, because I know that we can take the streets and show love and respect for others without needing cops to help us. You apparently don't have faith in our community and think we need to have baby sitters with guns.
"In my opinion you are less welcome on the LACM rides then the police."
If a revolution is fought with hate, violence, and prejudice it will yield a new paradigm that comes from and exudes hate, violence, and prejudice..
It takes discipline to treat other human beings the way YOU want to be treated rather than the way you expect them to treat you.
Real anarchism has nothing to do with how Critical Mass has manifested in Los Angeles.
A truly anarchist ride would be able to police itself and exist in harmony with the rest of society. LACM has never really done that for a sustained period of time. If cool people come out its fine, if assholes are there, shit goes wrong.
Our rides are public and the police are part of that public.
they are always with us on some level. And personally I'd rather have them in uniform reminding us of their presence than undercover and secretly in our midst.
Some would prefer interactions like Manny's takedown, because it reenforces the narrative they have built up.
It fucks with their narrative if there are police on a ride and see police officers like Officer Krumer, acting professionally, treating riders with mutual respect.
They are sure a devil is hiding in there somewhere.
But they just can't prove it.
So it is necessary to resort to ad hominem attacks.
Fuck logic. These people must be bad people because of their associations.
Because who would become a police officer or join the military unless they had a firm desire to support actions an oppressive state, right?
Judging somebody by their job, work, association, or uniform, is no different to me than judging somebody by their race, class, religion, or sexual identity.
Its a "natural" impulse to be prejudicial, but an impulse we must resist, if we want to live in an evolved, liberated society.
That is the real revolution, even if it doesn't conveniently fit on a canvas patch that's been hand printed in a collective and sewed with dental floss to the back of a crusty black denim jacket with the sleeves ripped off.
trickmilla responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
08.15.10 - 12:22 pm
I do believe that Non-Cm rides do have a much greater ability to function in a truly anarchistic fashion.
Not that those rides never have problems or interactions with the police, but smaller rides, more tight knight rides, and rides that are being, stewarded by people who care about them will, self police, they will handle problems that threaten the viability of the ride.
CM belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody.
That is its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.
trickmilla responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
08.15.10 - 12:30 pm
"Judging somebody by their job, work, association, or uniform, is no different to me than judging somebody by their race, class, religion, or sexual identity. "
This is generally true. However, police officers, when they are acting as police officers, are a different category of person. They are living agents of the state, and legally allowed to use force and restrict the freedom of all other categories of person.
I feel it is good to remember that there is a human being behind the badge. However, it is incredibly dangerous to let that fact distract you from the badge itself.
lackflag responding to a comment by trickmilla
08.15.10 - 1:09 pm
I 100% agree with the idea that ppl should know the laws and their rights and base their interactions with police on sound legal principals like not voluntarily giving up constitutionally protected rights.
One should never forget that when dealing with a uniformed police officer they are dealing with an agent of the state and to act appropriately (whatever that is).
You obviously can't assume that every police officer is a good person, that they are honest, or that they are only there to help you.
What I am saying is that I endeavor to treat every individual as a person, not as a member of a group.
just because there are assholes who go to critical mass and act like assholes
it doesn't mean that everybody that goes to critical mass is an asshole and should be treated like an asshole.
individuals are individuals and should be judged by their own actions.
I think it is lazy and counter-productive to think and act otherwise.
I extend that thinking to any person I deal with regardless of the group or organization they choose to belong to.
"Judging somebody by their job, work, association, or uniform, is no different to me than judging somebody by their race, class, religion, or sexual identity. "
I don't think it right to judge people based on race ethnicity class or sexual identity but I completely disagree that you can't judge someone based on job, association, and religion all of which have very specifically stated principals and ideals. If your job is dolphin harvester that's a specific act you are engaging in. If you are religious you have specific beliefs, if you are part of an association you are choosing to identify with certain principals. In other words you are choosing to do something not born into it. When you make a choice you are subject to critique for making that choice.
Roadblock responding to a comment by trickmilla
08.15.10 - 1:27 pm
yup yup fuck the police and every dead police that has died in the line of duty<-----
i mean look at the history of the police their inception was to catch slaves in the 18th century america........and they continue their tradition of racism and ignorance today even though police come in all shapes and colors now that dont make'em any less of a dangerous gang their the worst gang......and it sucks how many riders here think that by supporting them it will legitamize bicyclists here in lost angeles.......personally i feel we dont need no one to legitamize us especially murderous pigs i mean look into the "christopher commision" and u will see the transcripts of pigs talking their racist rethoric to each other...........so lets ride with out police support cause really they dont support us they support the state and corporate intrests
PC made a comment today at the Mayoral BS that sums up much of my feeling about this. Staff like Krumer and Villegas have truly turned a corner. I challenge Stephanie to talk with Krumer for 10 minutes and come away thinking otherwise. However, most rank and file haven't gotten the message yet - as PC put it some officers really need to go to school because they obviously haven't gotten the message. I had an experience this weekend that typifies that - perhaps my worst experience with LAPD officers on the street to date - and I do think there's still a long way to go. Villegas and Krumer are standing on the bridge of this huge ship pointing in one direction and yelling "thataway", and the ship continues right into a field of icebergs.
PC's question, as I understood it, was "how are you gonna train and direct rank and file to change their behavior?" That question, and trying to answer it, is one reason that I would support substantial funding given specifically to Villegas/Krumers section to expand their staff to work on this. I would reluctant to add funding to other programs/sections/bureaus of LAPD because the trust is not there. But w/ Villegas & Krumer, I have seen enough of their professionalism and character to feel like they should be empowered to do even more. West Bureau leadership has also been great on LACM etc.
To those saying we're selling out Mass? Were you there? Have you been on the ride? The bike officers there are just stoked to ride. It's a different approach and it's a different feeling to ride *together* with LAPD bike officers. It is a different thing to ride and have zero fear of being ticketed for what is, essentially, a big safe group ride that does little harm and great good. If you haven't been on Mass since it changed, and if you have the courage of your convictions, you naysayers will ride the ride.
What happened in Santa Monica was obscene and I watched a ride regularly pulling 200-300 riders whittled down to a handful of people over 18 months with unscrupulous tickets and heavy handed policing. Having been there for that, this relationship is amazing, so much so that it is setting the gold standard in SoCal.
He's got every right to say what he'd like, as afforded in the United States Constitution.
Thing is though... if he were to say that in the presence of our good ol boys in blue... he'd catch more than a few dirty looks. Chances are he'd get a "legal" beatdown.
July responding to a comment by Foldie
08.17.10 - 12:05 pm
I totally understand being trained to hate police
you see people wearing the same costume, and striking the same pose fucking with you and your friends over and over again.
I understand the hate and the anger.
But how do you change the real problems you see with policing?
Is it by demonizing people that choose the profession or is it working with them?
Is it by ending the practice of policing or by fixing it?
If it is to create an entirely new paradigm of civic securit, then how and when do we get there and what do we do in the mean time?
Shall we try and work with the cops to make cycling in L.A. better and encourage them to direct their resources in cracking down on the criminals who put our lives at risk.
Or should we just ignore them except to criticize them when they do something fucked up to people we know?
I understand the anger, but without real solutions its a meaningless waste of energy.
You may not agree with the decision that some in the bike community have made to work with the police, but I challenge you to do more than they are doing to make the streets safer. Go after more hit and run drivers, prevent more negative interactions with the cops, enforce more anti-bike safety violations, do more to educate the public.
Its OK to be angry, it a great motivator.
But are you doing something with it to improve the world.
You can call the cops pigs, but what are you going to do to get the cops you think are pigs to act like people?
Are you going to piss on the wall of the jail right where you stand?
or figure out how to dismantle the wall brick by brick and do it?
If all you can do is sight a catch phrase from an NWA song from 25 years ago ... you aren't getting us anywhere.
@Alex, I'm not speaking just about police interaction with bicyclists. The is a tiny infinitesimal part of what I care about. Even the most egregious treatment of bicyclists I've been around (I wasn't at the cop take-down on Critical Mass, but I was on a Ride With No Name where a cop gunned his vehicle into the main body of riders) doesn't hold a flame to the shit I've seen elsewhere. And what I've seen / been around disgusts me. I can sit down and talk to Sgt. Krumer and I'm sure it would be a civilized conversation, but he can't do shit about what I'm talking about.
@trickmilla, I've tried multiple times to speak one on one with police officers. When I was living in Venice and I stepped up to try and help my neighbors who twice had their constitutional rights trampled physically abused in front of my eyes, because some of the family were associated with the Shoreline Crips, their offensive and immediate attempts to shut me down were so astonishing that I had no idea how to react. It is disheartening and incredibly disempowering to run up against the police like that. It sucks to see complete, even violent indifference in another human beings eyes, but when those human beings are state-supported armed thugs on top of that? Fuck it.
To quote Noam Chomsky:
I was attracted to anarchism as a young teenager, as soon as I began to think about the world beyond a pretty narrow range, and haven't seen much reason to revise those early attitudes since. I think it only makes sense to seek out and identify structures of authority, hierarchy, and domination in every aspect of life, and to challenge them; unless a justification for them can be given, they are illegitimate, and should be dismantled, to increase the scope of human freedom. That includes political power, ownership and management, relations among men and women, parents and children, our control over the fate of future generations (the basic moral imperative behind the environmental movement, in my view), and much else. Naturally this means a challenge to the huge institutions of coercion and control: the state, the unaccountable private tyrannies that control most of the domestic and international economy, and so on. But not only these. That is what I have always understood to be the essence of anarchism: the conviction that the burden of proof has to be placed on authority, and that it should be dismantled if that burden cannot be met. Sometimes the burden can be met. If I'm taking a walk with my grandchildren and they dart out into a busy street, I will use not only authority but also physical coercion to stop them. The act should be challenged, but I think it can readily meet the challenge. And there are other cases; life is a complex affair, we understand very little about humans and society, and grand pronouncements are generally more a source of harm than of benefit. But the perspective is a valid one, I think, and can lead us quite a long way.
Or should we just ignore them except to criticize them when they do something fucked up to people we know?
See, this is exactly why I'm confused about your post /position. On the one hand you acknowledge that this group is bound to do something fucked up, but you expect others to ignore the reality of a groups nature because they either don't have the will to makes changes or because they are unable.
That's kind of unfair in this discussion. For one, the LAPD is not a group that MUST be worked along side. I'm still wondering why the LAPD is a group that needs to be encouraged and held accountable to "do the right thing". None of these are necessities, they are avenues, options and they are backed by an agenda or vision for cycling in Los Angeles. Police brutality should not need to be curbed by a task force -- that makes no sense.
What should be expressed is that working with the LAPD is a choice, and it is an avenue for a end / goal. It may benefit cyclist, but it's not an affair that people must partake in or hold back criticism.
I understand the anger, but without real solutions its a meaningless waste of energy.
Why do you write off rejecting or ignoring or standing against the LAPD as NOT being a solution? Just wondering.
You can call the cops pigs, but what are you going to do to get the cops you think are pigs to act like people?
This is the kind of activist train of thought I don't like. There is this idea that any criticism has to backed up with substantial action, as if being a critic isn't enough sometimes, or even all that can be done. It's hard to take serious that if I criticize someone as acting like a pig, and suggest not interacting with them, that I also need to work with the person to make them more "like people". In a weird way, you pose a difficult scenario: how do you change a pig into a person?
Isn't the real answer the LAPD should not hire pigs, but people? So in a way, I'm doing someone elses job for free. Are you really a capitalist at heart?
overall, I agree that the issue can be divide people and there are people in the middle trying to figure out if the right position to hold. I for one have no problem with the LAPD at LACM because their presence on the ride I went on, was nothing more than presence. The ride was smooth, fun and enjoyable, but not because the LAPD brought the fun. it was fun because it was like any other ride except you "saw" police corking. And if all we're arguing about is "seeing" police, then I'm sort of in trouble doing anything in this city.
I'm against the imagery that the LAPD's willingness to work with cyclist, somehow changes the "culture", "image", or "nature" of the LAPD. We shouldn't paint them as x,y,z, just because they are friendly to cyclist now. The actions outside the cycling community stain their image, so why pretend here?
md2 responding to a comment by trickmilla
08.17.10 - 2:36 pm
That's one of my favorite quotes. That, and Marino's MR profile page - and as soon as cops start coming on rides, the third line becomes false:
Fuck politics!
Fuck appeals to the authorities for more lenient terms of enslavement!
We are forging a new society, right now!
Every Midnight Ridazz ride, every Tren Way ride, every Sins and Sprockets ride, every C.R.A.N.K. MOB ride is a political ride.
Why? Because it's a public demonstration of collective happiness without consumerism, without structure, without hierarchies. It's a demonstration that anarchy is possible AND fun.
What we are talking about is an organization that wields power and is composed of Human Beings.
It will inherently have problems as all organizations and people with power do.
But organizations, and the people in them are not static.
They are susceptible to change.
Culture does not change instantly ... but time and again we have seen people apply energy and attention to improving culture and improving the living conditions of their fellow humans and they have.
"Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."
-MLK
Could you be so focused on the forest that you're missing the trees. LAPD's relationship w/ cyclists is part of the greater whole that makes up citizens' relationships w/ LAPD. Here is a stand of trees over which we now have some influence. If not by motivating reforms here, how do you plan to change the overall relationship?
What would be your ideal response from others toward the LAPD?
Honestly, I think the skepticism and rejection of the LAPD is healthy, even as persons such as yourself, aim to make the relationship more livable.
Since we're imagining this forest, do you think you're being just as wishful, as those who want to live without being policed. Loosely speaking, you may view your stance / work / efforts as engaging a few trees to change the forest. While others like Ms. Steph, may view their stance / work / efforts as working to destroy the forest (given no impact on the environment).
So in all, the competing views are basically due to competing ends (good police force versus no police force). Or if we're focused on the smaller scale, then some good police relations versus no police relation in a given environment (e.g. critical mass, cycling, etc).
And wouldn't you agree both larger visions are equally far fetched or far from happening? It just seems like no one really has the upper hand in this argument, lest we are sticklers for principles. And if both goal are seemingly unattainable, wouldn't principle win out? And that seems to be the stance of the resident anarchist: it's about principle.
md2 responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.17.10 - 4:23 pm
I do not agree that "changing the forest" [a vast improvement across the board in the relationship between citizens and LAPD] is equally far fetched as "destroying the forest" [the destruction of the police force??]. The latter is next to impossible, while the former could happen quite rapidly . . . I think Beck is inclined to improve LAPD's relationship with all communities and I think the proliferation of cellphones w/ video will urge LAPD along.
now we have to get into this weird area about "heart", etc... I don't even know where I brought up judging anyone nor that it is a principle of anarchism.
I think many of us are arguing (as usual) beyond our expertise. The police issue is not about judging a human being, so much as it's about disassociation with a group. Maybe you're reading into comments as if I'm or maybe Steph is saying: All cops are corrupt, Person A, B and C are cops, therefore A, B, C are corrupt.
I've read this issue more as, the LAPD as an symbol or group or entity should not be associated with CM. I don't recall anyone saying who has a point worth reading, "Cop Sally is a jerk, and Cop Bigalow is jackass because they are cops."
It appears you want to frame the issue as, look guys, there officers on LACM are good people looking to make something positive out of this.
Now regarding your comment about prejudice and ignorance:
1) There have only been TWO rides, so the burden of proof is largely on you. But you must admit that YOU'RE giving the cops the benefit of the doubt, which not everyone has to.
2) There is plenty of reason to be skeptical of the LAPD on LACM. Shit, again, there have only been TWO rides, and the first one nobody knew what the hell was going to happen. We were all surprised and happy that it turned out positive. BUT, big mother f-ing BUT -- You cannot just write off the FACT that the LAPD is the kind of group that would generate such uncertainty for that first ride. You would be lying if you said that you were certain LACM + LAPD would be without incident.
You can present all this chicken soup for the LAPD soul stuff, but the reality is that the LAPD has done something to generate an environment of fear, distrust and an image of "don't fuck with us or else" attitude.
And now you want to use grand ideas about "human nature", "heart" and like to suggest that the very reaction the LAPD has cultivated is not justified. That within the human soul there is goodness, which with the right flavor of funnel cake, every person will turn towards justice.
Not really the world I've seen, dude. I doubt even your good officers would suggest you can turn all pigs into people, or whatever you meant by that...
md2 responding to a comment by trickmilla
08.18.10 - 10:23 am
Get him trickmilla! There's a get out of jail card for you after this is over. I'll have one of my officers handle it. I'm sure we'll meet someday though.
Sorry the daily show fucked up the formatting, i was going for the John Oliver quote about 5 mins in:
(sarcastically)
"... Islam, lIke all religions has to be responsible for its biggest assholes"
Yes, that is what anarchism believes in - the dimantling of the state. That would include the destruction of the state's armed goons, the police force.
Also, isn't anyone else uncomfortable with the fact that cops are monitoring this site now? I mean, we were pretty sure they were before as well, but still. Before, the likelihood that my expressing my opinions would result in the LAPD trying to figure out my last name and story was a whole fuckload less likely than it is now. I mean, indigis's post is predicated on the fact that he knows the cops are monitoring this site and that they would read his anger. Seriously? I mean, ugh!
Sgt Krumer is here posting. From what I can tell from a few conversations I have had, he is not a bad cop big brother type of guy. I think he genuinely likes cycling and wants to help the community.
I don't think the LAPD give on fuck who you are. and I certainly don't subscribe to this thug cop taking over our rights mentality. But everyone has a right to their beliefs.
I think Krumer is doing a good job and until he proves otherwise I think it's a good thing he is here clearing up LAPD's position.
Foldie responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
08.18.10 - 3:21 pm
they were monitoring it before... and honestly... even indigis' post wouldnt raise an eyebrow with the cops... they dont care. you use google groups? you use email? you sue the internet? they will find you if they want you. we ride bikes. if the cops are trying to stop people from something so innocent as riding a bicycle... then they can pry the bike from my cold dead legs.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
08.18.10 - 3:32 pm
Um, relating what a friend told me (and she and I were witnesses to police brutality at May LACM and had been giving reports to LAPD Internal Affairs), the LAPD more than monitor MR.com. She tweeted to a friend to meet up at a bar near the start up point for the June mass. When she got to the bar, the same LAPD Internal Affairs cop was there, acting like he had no idea she would be there. And this is a neighborhood bar. She felt certain that after she made her report they monitored her twitter account and showed up there to "police" her prior to the ride.
Cops have raided meetings of the anarchists putting together the anarchist book fair. Why the fuck would they do that? Cops do irritatingly over the top aggressive things to people who don't seem to deserve it all the time. And they wouldn't stop people from riding bikes, they would stop people from riding bikes in particular ways.
Anyways, whatevs. If anyone wants to discuss anarchist theory and practice, I'm happy to do so. In the meantime, I have lodged my distrust and unhappiness with the current state of affairs, as has indigis, coldcut, marino, and others. It doesn't change my love for the Midnight Ridazz community and for the vast majority of ridazz themselves.
Ok LAPD, let's just get everything off our chest so we can move forward with our posts:
In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog...
When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out... But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life.
md2 responding to a comment by danceralamode
08.18.10 - 3:59 pm
cops have and always will be authority figures who keep the population in line by means of imprisonment and murder. they're not here to protect you and me and they never will be. they are only here to protect the elite from the proletariat.
coldcut responding to a comment by trickmilla
08.18.10 - 6:55 pm
As long as Anarchism doesn't sink down to the stereotypical scenes of armed brigands and ruffians taking shit from a Pacifist farm colony during a raid, then cool.
" But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life."
Sounds a lot like this scene from Stand By Me:
@ Steph: I am uneasy knowing that cops are on this here message board doing God knows what, whether they know or think or realize that we are indeed just out to ride bikes. I'm going to be taking a number of law courses in the near future to be able to stand up to some of the more negligent and wanton acts from their behalf. I suggest everyone read a little and really get acquainted with your rights and the laws of the land, and you'll realize that it can go along way in procuring, not only the just but also your expected outcome.
You know who you are but you've gone to the cops with a partial license number of a hit and run driver and the cops were too busy to look it up.
Too busy. But they have time to read these forums. Wow!
How would you people feel if you had a party at your house and a bunch of cops showed up and said; "Carry on. Pay no attention to us. We are just here to make sure everybody's safe."
I think it's fuckin creepy. It's not the job of the cops to monitor civilian activity. Their job is to monitor CRIMINAL activity.
If they want to mingle with the locals they should do it in their own time, like live in the community and send their kids to local schools instead of Simi Valley, Valencia, Idaho, Nevada like they do now with their 3 day workweeks.
I wouldn't mind if the council members and/or their aides came to this forum because their job is to make policy and we could all learn from each other. But cops? Their job is to enforce the law. What are they doing here? We are not criminals.
90% of all cops that I've witnessed or been in contact with such an indifference that it makes you wonder why. When you realize that it's how they've been trained from the minute they set foot at the academy, you'll begin to understand how to approach them as well. I mean, to them I'm sure, everyone is a potential danger. Understandable and with reason, since they're the ones who have to deal with the very low lives of society, who, mind you, dont always come wrapped up in the same dirty looking package. But to have the same mentality and rapport with normal citizens?
They should be better prepared. Have schooling that includes a sensitivity class to help them be more human and not just a badge, along with another class that would focus on helping them determine what kind of perp/individual/citizen they're dealing with: minor offender, high risk potentially dangerous individual, or super-scum-of-the-earth-ready-to-bring-the-apocalypse-down-on-yo-ass type, etc. There is a difference between each type and with that difference a level of interaction that needs to be in place.
It reminds of that scene in Men in Black (part 1) where Will Smith, along with other top notch armed forces individuals, are in a training simulation with a bunch of "real" illegal aliens (of the little green variety) littered throughout a neighborhood, in which the only target he aims at and hits, is the little girl with the books dealing with higher physics. Why? Check out this video:
"and send their kids to local schools instead of Simi Valley, Valencia, Idaho, Nevada."
I could see the first two places being extremely likely, but rural areas of Nevada and Idaho are actually getting tired of being "Californianized" and are pushing many of them back here.
With them it's either, "work local and keep more money", or "fork it over leech."
Bike rides in LA have had various types of interactions with the police over the years.
Some of the cops have been exceedingly cool, others'indifferent, and others complete assholes.
When the incident with Manny happened, it sent up a red flag at LAPD, that they had several officers that have no fucking idea how to deal with a large group of people on bikes in a civilized way.
The types interaction that happened with Manny, has happened several times on bike rides, but obviously, his was caught on tape.
I went to the LAPD bike task force meeting that took place before the next CM and I can tell you that as a whole the police really did not understand what CM was, why it existed, how it worked, or how it was distinct from various bike rides.
I think the goal of that ride was in some ways to put a good face in LAPD, put a show on for the media, put a show in for us, and also to normalize this for the rank and file.
To show them that a ride can interact smoothly.
Whatever you think of that is fine, but best i could tell, those were the main intentions of LAPD brass that decided to get involved with this.
---
You know what's creepy Marino?
Undercover agents and Lurkers.
What is not creepy to me, is Sgt. Krumer answering people's questions here and helping people when they have negative interactions with an officer or their case is unnecessarily being stalled in bureaucracy.
For years, when city employees dumbly wondered how to communicate with the bicycle underground, Roadblock would send them here. If you want to see what cyclists are thinking, if you want to communicate with them, go to Midnight Ridazz.
Its not that creepy,
This is not a party at your friend's house.
This is a public forum that everybody is welcome to check in and out of.
And you are incredibly niave, if you think that over the years, there hasn't been members of law enforcement agencies lurking here and checking in on us. That's creepy.
If there is to be cops coming here or on critical mass I prefer that they are in uniform and look me straight in the eye, than creepin' around behind my back.
Ok, I forgot that I was discussing this with a full blown anarchist who wants to get rid of the police entirely. What's your career in again? Seems like if your job is reinforcing that which you want to destroy, you might reconsider whether LACM & LAPD is the low hanging fruit for your utopian anarchism goal. Since when did LACM become the vehicle for your revolution and precisely why should it remain that way?
You know what is even creepier than cops coming around is fake actor/musicians lurking around and then infiltrating the rides trying to get "free" extras for their ultra crappy concept videos.
Last I remember you participated in that crap. So I blame you for all the wannabe celebrity types that have made MR crappy.
Like my man brad from Fast Times at Ridgemont high said " I hope you had a great piss Arnold"
Foldie responding to a comment by marino
08.19.10 - 10:02 am
"Since when did LACM become the vehicle for your revolution and precisely why should it remain that way?"
That question could be asked of anybody.
As CM as a cultural virus, belongs to all of us.
Since you had a huge role in (literally) influencing the direction of last month's critical mass, that seems like it would be an excellent inquiry for some self-reflexive thought.
Critical Mass belongs to all of us.
We all see in it the things we love and the things we hate about riding with a group of people. We would all like to remake it in our image. We would all like it to be exactly what we want it to be. I think the point of critical mass, is that in some ways it is an Anarchist exercise. Nobody can really control it or own it, so it forces us to work together, it encourages us to work together.
Critical Mass will grow and evolve based what the mass of riders want (in relation to outside cultural and political factors, of course)... and to a certain degree, how well those with strong opinions make their points.
While I agree with you that it is in our interest to pursue any avenue we can to save cyclists lives and bodies, including working with the police; I personally think that trying to use a ridaas' job/ personal life as a way of attacking their political views isn't very effective to make the point.
Ride on.
trickmilla responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.19.10 - 1:14 pm
When a rida's career is in huge & direct contradiction to their extreme political views, the political views they are arguing for in public, I take issue. That's hypocrisy, and it's fair to highlight it. I only alluded to it, and I do think it is fair. If a car dealer came on here and started talking bikes, would you not call that hypocrisy?
Where LACM goes and what it does has always been a matter of ride politics. I politicked to influence the direction of the ride last month and I see no problem with that. I did so successfully, and without undermining the nature of the ride = the ride headed that direction because enough people were persuaded that it was a good idea. It was not compulsory.
The difference comes down to approach and involvement. I persuaded people that LACM going to Beverly Hills Courthouse was a good thing. I also did things to help the mass that had no benefit to my non-LACM bicycle agenda. I worked for the change and, as one of many, I worked to make sure the future relationship w/ LAPD was positive. I think that the comments made by some in this thread who didn't go to the ride in the two months that LAPD supported it are kind of abstract and out of touch. They weren't there and they don't like the relationship because it jives with their worldview and their broader political goals (which I questioned their commitment to.)
So, anyway, to your point Trickmilla - yes, I worked with LACM to further an agenda. The agenda we furthered is bicycle oriented. Whereas the agenda that Ms. Stephanie would like to further is the complete destruction of the modern state. Which of these agendas is more closely aligned with the needs & interests of the mass of riders?
"Where LACM goes and what it does has always been a matter of ride politics. I politicked to influence the direction of the ride last month and I see no problem with that. I did so successfully, and without undermining the nature of the ride = the ride headed that direction because enough people were persuaded that it was a good idea. It was not compulsory. "
actually Alex you arent telling the whole truth. The LAPD came to myself and yourself (and possibly others) and asked that there be a route. That request was successfully resisted the first month but that request came up again the second month. I personally denied the request and spoke with you over the phone suggesting that you do the same but you decided to give in.
In reality you didn't just influence the direction of the ride you set a route for it as per the request of the police and guaranteed it at the LAPD bike task force meeting.. Members present at the LAPD task force meeting reported as such. The fact that you did that was never made clear to anyone riding LACM or in your blog that "humbly" suggested the route. I have a feeling that had you announced it on your blog or made it clear to the crowd what had been negotiated between you and LAPD you'd have been boo'd by quite a few people. In the end going to the courthouse was more "good" than "bad" because it created publicity, but how it was negotiated was not made public for the people to digest...
Next LACM lets get back to normal. LACM has no route, and just like SFPD, the LAPD can work with this like they did the first month the LAPD joined. I actually do love that the LAPD escort the ride and it is useful to help them help the mass along... but we are losing a big part of the sanctity of what LACM is by giving in to their demands to have a route.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.19.10 - 2:46 pm
Wow, and he suffers from multiple personality disorder. This is his new reincarnation, following his jack-ass foot-in-mouth phase when he actually thought he was being funny but caught a lot of flak for it.
considering the the fact that you're trying to speak on the lives of those you don't even know, i can honestly say you're wrong. i can also say you're an awkward psycho.
get off of my cloud, fatty.
coldcut responding to a comment by Foldie
08.19.10 - 4:29 pm
Come on now. Let them settle their differences. No need for you to chime in with your 2 cents now, when you gaise have been getting along so well for the past couple of weeks, just because the opportunity presents itself.
HEY ALEX, FUCK OFF. Am I allowed to grow and change and learn and become? Am I allowed plan and dream and scheme? Am I allowed to start off as someone with no direction other than the upper middle class direction that I am fed and discover something completely different and more right and fulfilling along the way? And am I allowed to struggle with how to move from one place to another in my life? You're a fucking dick, and you need step back take a breath and think about what you're going to say to me next before we have any further exchanges, on the internet or in person. Because you and I just got on bad terms.
Alex,
To be clear I'm actually happy that LACM went to the courthouse last month.
I agreed with the idea to go there publicly before the ride.
I do think its disingenuous to suggest that there was a popular consensus to go there or that that was how we got there.
For 5 minutes that I was at the front of the ride, I saw a handful of people riding really fast alongside the cops and they (the front group) were basically pulling the ride.
The rest had very little choice. We were either on the ride or not.
Route or no route ... as I learned very well last friday a ride goes where the people in front take it. Being in front is usually authority enough to lead any ride,
But I digress.., because that was not really my point at all; only that CM is a public asset and we all use it for our own means and rightly so, it belongs to all of us.
--------
I think you really need to reconsider your criticism of Ms. Stephanie's job as some sort of logical argument.
I was reminded recently that bringing up personal things in a public debate, isn't really kosher and can be very hurtful. It also isn't an effective way to convince critically thinking individuals of a viewpoint or the sincerity of ones motives.
if a car dealer came on here and started talking bikes, would you not call that hypocrisy?
No, I would not.
The very point I have made on pretty much every post in this thread is that I judge people based on their actions, not by what they do for work or what their costume/uniform looks like.
This may surprise you, but there is a legion of car drivers among us.
There are car dealers who ride with us, gas station attendants, cops, soldiers, weapons contractors, truck drivers, cabbies, engineers, mechanics, fast food workers, etc etc.
If they want to talk bikes, peace, veganism or whatever that is their prerogative.
We've all got to make a buck, and we've all got to live, and some us have family to care for... so I don't begrudge anybody, what they do for a living.
As hippified as it sounds I love the legion of ridazz, even the ones I don't want to hang out with. They share something very fundamental with me than only a ridaa can understand ... i really don't give a fuck what they do for a living. I care how people treat me and how they treat my fellow ridazz, how they treat the city we share.
We all participate in the richest, greediest, most wasteful society in the history of the world. I don't think I have ever met somebody that lives completely outside of it. We all participate. All of us who hope, pray, fight, argue and work for something better are hypocrites on some level; and parsing our participatory hypocrisy is a silly waste of time in my book.
trickmilla responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.19.10 - 7:59 pm
"I was reminded recently that bringing up personal things in a public debate, isn't really kosher and can be very hurtful. It also isn't an effective way to convince critically thinking individuals of a viewpoint or the sincerity of ones motives."
the thing about this thread is there is a difference between getting called out for being a fuck up and having someone look out for you. its common sense that if you are doing something someone doesnt like then you should be free to have something you dont like done back to you, and you should expect it to happen at some point. the popo riding cm is more of a friendly thing, i am sure thats the best day of their month because they know they arent going to do their mundane job, all they are there for is to protect us from asshole drivers who might get pissed off at us for holding up traffic, i even see people yelling at the cops and giving them shit. sure there are some cops that would be a better service to the community behind bars. all i am saying is having the cops ride with us is a big fuck you to asshole motorists that think we deserve to ride on the sidewalks. i wish i had a cop ride behind me all the time, i have had fuckers try to push me onto the sidewalk with their car, got yelled at for making left turns legally from a left turn lane, and getting passed too close i am sure we all experience this everyday. if i had a cop to follow me all the time i wouldnt have to worry about shit.
I realize that some folks in this forum have had negative experiances with law enforcement that may have permanantly affected their opinion of police beyond the point of reconciliation. That being said I would like to assure you that I am on this site for the purpose of answering questions and identifying concerns of the cycling community so that the Department can be more responcive. While we have a task force that represents different organizations, the LAPD would also like to reach out directly to cyclists to better faciliatate open communications.
With regards to a route for Critical Mass. We did reach out to several folks and requested that a route be provided so that we can have LESS police on the ride. We made no suggestions as to what route to take as it is YOUR ride. Alex Thompson did not develop a route at our insitance...he made a suggestion for a route on BikesideLA which we also saw. While a route would be appreciated it certainly is not necessary.
Finally, I would like to thank some of you (trickmilla especially) who recognise that officers are people too. I for one have a wife, children, parents and family. Most officers do as well. I can say with confidence that none of them became officers to further any corporate interests or to be agents of an oppressive State. While some officers need work on thier people skills, please keep in mind that we became officers to serve, not to subjugate.
I for one have a wife, children, parents and family. Most officers do as well.
--so did/do the many "people" who are wrongfully convicted. the "people" who are treated less like people when pulled over, when they don't stroke an officer's ego well enough and receive less than "better facilitate[d] open communications." How does that affect your buddies down at the station? Are we really viewed as the same KIND of people?
The police, the police, the police, the police... striving so much to be people because so many want to be perceived as a little MORE than just the ordinary person. Give us a little bit more credit than that as citizens, who have encountered and seen the attitudes, etc, that seem essential to being an officer. Why do most people I know have a story about an officer being such an... to them?
I can say with confidence that none of them became officers to further any corporate interests or to be agents of an oppressive State.
--well, that's all well and good. I'm not really an opponent of the LAPD per se, but there is a difference between "wanting" and "doing". For example many of us "want" to earn a livable income "doing" something honorable, so to speak. Sometimes we have to give into the system (temporarily?) so as to survive.
I don't judge officers for choosing their line of work, but I'm forever skeptical of the reasons for joining. It's quite a bit different "job". It may be tangential to your job that you're furthering objectionable interests. BUT...
I'm not naive enough to ignore that there are some really tough mofo's in this city, that an officer would not be able to be hippie-esque in approach. So it's not so much the extreme tough guy mentality that I'm (personally) at odds with, BUT rather it's unnecessary broad application.
For example, do skinny cyclist NEED to be roughed up? So though you may not want to be associated with the implicit or tangential issues associated with the LAPD, it does not mean that an officer has to DO things to treat citizens as less than human. That seems controllable by EVERY officer.
While some officers need work on thier people skills, please keep in mind that we became officers to serve, not to subjugate.
If you're really about engaging an open communication, I would like to know why this CLEAR and DISTURBING disparity exists between how officers perceive wrong doing by other officers, as opposed to non-officers.
Do you really feel comfortable summarizing the general tone of the comments (assuming you read most) as encounters with police who ummmmm, just need "better people skills"? You might be able to imagine how disturbing this is to the general public.
A police officer does something "objectionable":
Poor people skills
An isolated incident
Not a reflection of the whole force
spin, spin, spin
A cyclist does something "objectionable"
The LAPD needs to curb the larger group (enter LACM)
If the LAPD is going to implicate all mass riders for the errors of some, then we'll do the same in thinking about the LAPD
Look if only some cyclists are doing bad, then why implicate the whole group (i.e. why police the whole group)? LAPD wants to be seen as individuals, WELL SO DO WE!! And really, are we gun wielding gangsters or a mafia on bikes? (Hell yeah, we want to be!!)
Seriously, can you explain the application of the police force?
Because I may use the same wrench for tightening various bolts. But the force I exert on a carbon frame should not be the same I use on steel. If some "people" really became officers to "serve" -- then why is the fucking dish more often than not cold and shoved down a persons throat?
md2 responding to a comment by Sgt. David Krumer
08.22.10 - 2:32 pm
PLEASE LAPD DON'T ASK FOR A ROUTE FOR CRITICAL MASS
Critical Mass never had and never should have a route. If this operation is too difficult for you all to do without a route, then please do not participate.
Please anybody who has relations with these officers coordinating these rides, don't even make a suggestion of a route. You know as well as anybody in this community that it is blasphemous to have a route on CM. DON'T DO IT!
HOW MUCH MONEY HAS/DOES THIS COST TO COORDINATE AND HAVE ALL OF THESE POLICE OFFICER COME ON THE CRITICAL MASS RIDE(S)?
This is a serious question being that our City is in dire financial straits. Everybody should be taking the city financial situation seriously. We have been and are continuously losing valuable city services because of this economic situation. Yes it is fun to have police on the rides to cork traffic for us, yes it feels good, but at what cost! We have for corked ourselves and had great rides without the police. Remember over half of the cities budget goes to emergency service, with the bulk going to Police. We shouldn't be sacrificing response time for 911 calls, road repair service or library hours so we can have this love fest.
LAPD help us by taking our criminal problems with motorist (such as hit and runs) seriously. We don't need babysitters on our rides. If you all want to come on your off hours and ride with us, you as all bicycle riders are welcomed. Having to pay for this during these tough times is a waste of money.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAS/DOES THIS COST TO COORDINATE AND HAVE ALL OF THESE POLICE OFFICER COME ON THE CRITICAL MASS RIDE(S)?
A lot...but you are worth it :>)
While cost is a coonsideration, the Department simply can not ignore a gathering as large as LACM. Any event, protest, or demonstation that gathers the number of folks that LACM does is going to get our attention.
While you may have been corking yourselves in the past...you simply are not authorized by law to do so and we do not have the power to deputize you to continue to do so.
Also, while most riders quite frankly do not need to be policed, there are a significant number of folks that will use your numbers to cover their own illegal activities. We are not present to police you so much as we are there to discourage the bad element from using LACM for thier own ends. We were originally turned on to LACM because of criminal activity and 911 calls that were generated by LACM. Again we recognise that the majority of cyclists are law abiding people who just want to ride.
I'm sorry Stephanie. I shouldn't have made the comment I did. You are allowed to do all of those things, and I don't think I implied that you couldn't, and if I did, that is not how I feel.
Roadblock - what you say is not accurate, and your emails dated July 21st indicate that. You supported the trip to Beverly Hills Courthouse, and that you knew that I was not suggesting a route for the purpose of satiating LAPD. Right from the moment I proposed to bring LACM to the Beverly Hills Courthouse I proposed it in the spirit of giving more people an opportunity to participate in the hit & run protests. Those emails confirm that, and you supported and enthusiastically endorsed that proposal.
Moreover, you have misrepresented what I said to LAPD. You were not at the Cyclist LAPD Task Force in July, but if you were, you would have heard me put forward the same message that I gave to LAPD & media everytime with regards to route and destination for July LACM:
I think it is likely that LACM will follow the route I suggested, I hope that they will, and I will work the crowd to try to get support for it BUT it is political and there are no guarantees - I can't make people follow the route.
I don't appreciate your misrepresentation of my statements and views, particularly given that you supported the proposal to take LACM to Beverly Hills Courthouse - in public, in speech, and in writing on 7/21 - and then now turn it around and say it was all about me satisfying LAPD. Garbage!
Alex there is no email from me that ever discusses my support for having a ROUTE.
In fact I asked you to find that specific email and quote me. Your retort was not a quoted text but that your definition is:
"A destination is the simplest form of a route."
-AT
That's just SILLY. There are many random ways to get to a destination in this town. Sure, we discussed having a DESTINATION but a ROUTE was never supported. When you and I (and whomever else) got the request from the LAPD to have a route you and I disagreed on appeasing that request. You wanted to give in so that your press conference at the courthouse could happen as you planned.
The LAPD to their credit, NEVER made having a route an ultimatum. which is why when you told me of your intention to appease their request, I tried to lobby you against doing so.
They urged for a route but it was never a deal breaker - they would have made do without a route. The first time they made that request was in June, they were denied. the second time they made that request Alex Thompson decided to give in and in fact never made that decision clear to the public that was the process. Once you plotted the route there was NO CHOICE but to follow the LAPD motorcade. I know, I was at the front. We were trapped with Alex Thompson's route being imposed on the mass. To your credit Alex it wasn't too bad of a route... but the point is that you imposed that route without being democratic about it and in doing so you sold out one of the core principals of what CM is around the world.
Tonight, let's just get back to having NO ROUTE.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.27.10 - 3:15 pm
That's not what happened Roadblock. If you're going to draw the line between having a route and having a destination, I call that splitting hairs. I proposed a route with the following two-fold objectives:
- get the ride to BH Courthouse
- have a good ass ride on the way there
Objectives achieved. Ride after BH Courthouse - spontaneous route making restored.
I wouldn't propose going to BH Courthouse without also proposing a route - and for three reasons:
- most Ridazz don't know where BH courthouse is (you didn't) so having the route helps us get there
- I'm not confident enough in my ability to persuade ridazz mid ride to think that I can make sure we get to BH courthouse if the ride ends up heading away from it. A route keeps it headed in the general direction of the courthouse.
- I wouldn't want to take LACM through WeHo (as you did two months ago) because of WeHo's historic hostility to group rides and the potential for conflict and tickets
You supported a destination - BH Courthouse. You were not at the Cyclist LAPD Task Force and your assertions about what I said to LAPD are inaccurate. I made a route suggestion, I made a route proposal, I did it to support the hit and run protests, and I worked hard to get others support the route. LAPD didn't force us to do anything route wise - that is not what happened.
Had I just sat at the front of the ride and persuaded people to follow that route, rather than attempt to persuade them ahead of time, would that somehow be more acceptable?
"Had I just sat at the front of the ride and persuaded people to follow that route, rather than attempt to persuade them ahead of time, would that somehow be more acceptable?"
yes. because you wouldnt have given in to having a set route. simple as that.
"I wouldn't propose going to BH Courthouse without also proposing a route - and for three reasons: "
that's also bullshit. none of your emails discussing a destination ever mentions creating a route. you only talked about it AFTER the LAPD request came in.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Alex Thompson
08.27.10 - 3:52 pm
first let me say, trolls +1 (you cool my blood as i read)
impermanence: not permanent or enduring; transitory.
the LA Bike Community is vast. there are pockets of various "scenes" in every corner, on every street. it is consistently growing and its strength does not lie in numbers alone, but in the relationships forged every time we take our two wheels to the streets. therefore, it is impossible to compare LA's bike culture to NY, Portland, Austin, Philadelphia, SF, etc.
i have sat in these LAPD cycling task force meetings. i have talked with Sgt. Krumer and Commander V on many occassions. and let me remind Roadblock of the most significant moment at the meeting the day before LAPD first rode side by side with us. because, Roadblock, it gave me chills the moment the words came out of your mouth. and to this day, in fact tonight, as i was having dinner 3000 miles away from LA retelling this story to my father, i got chills all over again.
as we were sitting there, the few cyclists and few LAPD in the room, talking about what would happen the next night at LACM, the tension was high and then someone asked if LAPD would be riding with us every month and Commander V said that they would see how tomorrow night went, but that it was very expensive.
and then, Roadblock said (something to the nature of this): well, we would like it if LAPD would come in plain clothes on their own bicycles. the silence that filled the room - you couldn't cut it. it just hung there like humidity.
because what is the point of LACM?
1. no leader (none has come forth - just a few recognizable faces because we have led rides in the past, because if we said, "hey, let's go here." we could probably get a couple 100 to follow)
2. a mass that takes over the streets.
but why? what is the point? to create havoc against LAPD and hatred towards us cyclists by people in cars. no.
because we as a collective are excercising our right to take to the streets.
but why?
because once a month we remind drivers and pedestrians and whoever else, that we are "traffic" and when they see us randomly throughout the week, they respect us individually.
the fact that the top teer of LAPD has been working with us and at the level they are working with us is extrordinary. however, the LAPD web throughout the city needs education.
it's kind of like the sharrows on Abbott Kinney: good job for putting them down. but they didn't do it correctly. so what do we do, yell and scream and get angry and fight amoungst ourselves? or do we educate so that they can be fixed and the next set that is laid down is done properly?
and the way you start that conversation is thanking them for making the first step. you don't go in there guns blazing.
so with LAPD, we thank them for making the first step (and yes, this comes after they tore cyclists off their bikes) but all great movements come from somewhere, do they not?
and us fighting here amoungst ourselves in a such a public forum as this (though it may be entertaining to a point and get us through our work day) it's just bad.
bad. (i'm shaking my head because you know as well as i do, that i'm right)
and the LACM that went to the Beverly Hills courthouse. good. i'm glad it did. because Louis "birdman" was hit and left for dead. and the driver that SUV was given 90 community service and didn't have her license taken away. replace yourself with Louis BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF US. and it was. it was Louis.
and what good is LACM if it can't stand up for a cause (other than the cause it stands up for every month) every once in awhile?
but what do i know? who am i to have such an opinion?
i want to add that i am still not a fan of police. they scare me. i'm always afraid i'm doing something wrong in their eyes. and that is because many officers have taken their power of authority and used it wayyyyy out of line. BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
so let them make the first step and lay down the sharrows.
so let them make the first step and join us in uniform on LACM.
now, we have the chance to educate them. but they won't listen to us if there is anarchy within our own community. they will just wait for us to burn out. and we will. because ROME didn't fall in a day.
i'd like to know that while i am 3000 miles away on a personal trip home, that the LA cycling community isn't burning, but uniting.
sara bond (i love you guys and miss you very much)
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
to all the popo haters
"individuals are individuals and should be judged by their own actions.
Oh no you di'int.
i know. i had something much better. im going back to work now.
It's just the internez not serious business.
bike scene politics. what a fucking joke.