Nearly a hundred years ago, Will Rogers said, “Make crime pay. Become a lawyer.” But even Will would have been at a loss for words to describe a recent decision by the Sacramento City Council to pay the 50 most well-known, trigger-happy gang members up to $500 a month, for up to 18 months, not to nine each other. Continue reading
Dumb, Dumber, and Beyond
San Francisco bicyclist pleads guilty to felony assault; sentenced to probation and anger management
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Want to run red lights, snarl traffic, and watch the police do nothing? Visit this unofficial website for complete instructions.
On August 28, 2015, Ian Hespelt, a 39-year old San Francisco bicyclist, attacked a woman’s rented car with his bike lock, smashing the driver side window, and nearly missing her head. Continue reading
Chicago Police investigative stops down by 90%; Chicago shootings up by 80%. Connection?
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Move along; nothing to see here.
If you look at the colossally dumb videos on YouTube and Facebook, and the off-the-charts sales of Selfie Sticks, you’d think the whole world couldn’t wait to get their 15 minutes of fame. But evidently the 12,000-plus members of the Chicago Police Department feel differently. Continue reading
West Hollywood Mayor revokes Donald Trump’s First Amendment rights
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Lindsey Horvath, 34, youngest Mayor in West Hollywood history
Before I get to the details of this constitutional crime, let me say that America deserves a better conservative candidate than Donald Trump. The tragedy of Trump is that he is saying so many of the right things and is such a total boor in expressing them. I believe it was George Will who first pointed out Trump’s association with Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment, and remarked that Trump is operating on that same dumbed-down WWE level. Continue reading
Mayors compete in flat-out race to bottom
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“Those who wish to destroy were given space to do that” — Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
On April 26, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s now-famous statement moved the bar for responsible city government to an all-time low. What she meant to say was that, in the process of trying to give peaceful protestors the space to demonstrate about the death of Freddie Gray, marauding thugs were given free rein to sack her city. Continue reading
Portland Mayor gives Portland businesses $10,000 tax break to hire felons
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“In the second half of my term, I’m focusing on the “human equation”: the children who should be able to walk safely to a park, even if they live in East Portland; the man who should be able to find a job, even if he’s returning to society from prison; the CEO whose company should be rewarded for operating with Portland values.”
Let’s say you’re a Portland citizen. You were an assistant manager of an auto parts store for almost nine years, and were laid off a few months ago. You have an excellent reference from your former employer, coach your son’s Little League team, and have had no brushes with the law, not even a speeding ticket. You hear a new auto parts store is opening, and send them your resume. Move quickly to the back of the line. Continue reading
NYC Department of Education promotion policy: fail your way to the top
StandardI have a pet theory that some of the worst damage done to our cities is inflicted by local school boards. Recently, NYC Department of Education Chancellor Carmen Fariña tossed my pet theory a large tasty bone. Continue reading
Seattle banishes “evil” legacy of Columbus Day; celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day
StandardOn September 28, the Seattle City Council embarrassed themselves by voting unanimously to search citizens’ garbage and fine them for food scrap violations. On October 6, they embarrassed the entire country.
The gangbangers who couldn’t shoot straight; NYC shootings up 41%; murders down 15%
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Early in the morning of Tuesday, July 1, two rival gangs bumped into each other in the Good Stuff Diner on West 14th Street in Manhattan. Their animosity soon tumbled into the street, where they proceeded to reenact the gunfight at the OK Corral. Continue reading
Who’s the looniest city in America? Introducing The MoonPie Award.
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First Prize. A dozen Original Marshmallow Sandwiches for you, a dozen for your favorite local politicians.
So your city council is going to pass a resolution honoring the 71st birthday of the United Nations, but is too busy to fix a pothole that broke three axles last month. Continue reading