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 Sad that an attorney as well versed in the law as Jesse Corum doesn't immediately know that it is a basic constitutional right of Americans to peacefully assemble. While the State can regulate to a certain degree (time, place, manner) so that, for example two demonstrations are not in the same place at the same time - basically all citizens can freely stand around and assemble. You can go look it up. Try the FIRST amendment.
In fact, if enforcement is as described in iBrattleboro, I would suggest that any youth or other aggrieved person IMMEDIATELY call the Vermont ACLU. Their number is 223-2604. If the voters are happy about paying Mr. Martin a quarter of a million dollars, and paying off protesters and taser victims, I guess voters will similarly be happy paying off parents and children, whose basic,fundamental constitutional rights are dissed and dismissed by the police and Selectboard in Brattleboro. Maybe $1000 per kid per incident.
Note to Barbara Sondag - the idea that it is acceptable to arrest the innocent and the guilty - straighten it out later - is about an unAmerican as you can get. It is what totaliarian societies do. It is also illegal if it could be proven as a policy of this Town. And it is really sad that Attorney Corum hasn't pointed this out. As a former Deputy Prosecutor, I am sure he knows the United States Supreme Court precedents. And I thought that conservatives believed in enforcing the original meaning of the Constitution. Silly me!
I agree that there is a problem with drugs, including alcohol, in the downtown area.However, destroying our village in order to save it is neither good social policy, nor, apparently, particularly legal. Good police work on individualized cases and Neighborhood Watch will accomplish a lot more than unleashing the police indiscriminately on our children, good and bad. After all, they are our children.
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The police are put in a terrible bind here, forced to enforce what they know is essentially benign, as if it were a elevated security risk situation. The fault lies with town leaders for not fast-tracking a sensible interim solution, and instead holding the scepter of wrath over the heads of kids doing basically what kids do.
Barb simultaneously calls for a task force to look at the ordinance, says the crack-down will continue unabated, and claims no solution has been brought forth. How is this not the same shell game?
You want solutions- how about this as a start?
-To preserve safety in town--No skating downtown on Main street or Elliot street, or in any high traffic situations.
-To give skaters options- Flat street, the whetstone pathway, and outlying roads are OK, proceed with caution, yield to cars.
-Rec property facilities, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc- when not in use, are OK to roll on.
-If the town can't trust skaters to practice their art safely in the town-at-large, designate a few parking spots in corners of lots, set up cones. Purchase or build mini ramps, as a temporary measure.
-And again, set a few hours for recreation and social congregation in the upper garage M-TH- 6-10.
It's the threat of youth here that's inflated, and scapegoating is primitive. We can do better, and should do better ASAP.