Progressive Democrat Issue 36: NYC FOCUS

Recently a pro-Bloomberg poster on Daily Gotham claimed that New Yorkers have not lost any rights under Bloomberg. I, of course, pointed out the detentions during the RNC that violated the time limit a person can be held before a hearing and the blanket arrests of Critical Mass bicyclists and the fact that simply publicizing Critical Mass is illegal. But the newest abuse of our rights is the searching of bags in the subway. One question is: is it an effective deterrent? I would argue that this is irrelavent legally beacuse, quite simply, these random searches seem very definitely to be a violation of the Bill of Rights.

Here it is:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Let's repeat the key part there:

"...no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Bloomberg's random searches of our backpacks does not fulfill these requirements! Where is Betsy Gotbaum? Isn't it HER JOB to speak out against such abuses?

We need a new mayor, one who respects the Constitution of the US, and a new Public Advocate, one who actually stands up for our rights. PLEASE get involved in the mayor’s race and the Public Advocate’s race.