Progressive Democrat Issue 92: NYC FOCUS

Awhile back, Bloomberg and the NYPD, in their continuing assault on the civil rights of New Yorkers, tried to introduce a requirement for "parade permits" that was nothing short of dumb, pretty much calling any gathering over a few people or bicyclists a "parade" requiring a permit. Sanity prevailed and the proposed new rules were quickly abandoned.

But now Bloomberg and the NYPD are proposing a "compromise" which, though far better than the original proposal, is still an attack on our civil liberties and, more specifically, is aimed directly at Critical Mass, the disorganized, worldwide, supposedly leaderless movement of bicyclists who gather once a month in major cities around the world to ride through the streets advocating better transportation alternatives. Critical Mass has been around for years and rode undisturbed once a month in Manhattan on the last Friday of every month starting 7 PM at Union Square. Then came the protests surrounding the Republican National Convention. Critical Mass had a presence at those protests and since then Bloomberg has declared a jihad on Critical Mass. They still ride on the last Friday of every month starting at 7 PM at Union Square, but now Bloomberg does his best to harrass them, arrest them (almost all cases have been thrown out of court), confiscate their bicycles, and even to harrass and arrest people who just happen to be passing through during a Critical Mass event.

From the Daily Gotham is a short piece on the new rules, proposed by Bloomberg and the NYPD with the clear intention of further harrassing Critical Mass. From the Daily Gotham:

Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly have brought back a rule (defeated over the summer) to restrict gatherings, protests and recreation by requiring difficult-to-impossible to obtain parade permits. The proposed rule, less Draconian than its previous incarnation, announced in a tiny squib in Wednesday's New York Times would define a parade to mean a group of 30 or more bicyclists. Permits would be required of such a group of riders even if they obeyed all other traffic rules

The rule, clearly aimed aiding NYPD's failed crusade to crush the Critical Mass monthly bicycle rides, would also effectively outlaw outings of the Five Borough Bicycle Club which, from time to time, have more than 30 riders. It appears that Council Speaker Christine Quinn has okayed the proposed rule in advance. Streetsblog quotes her as "pleased" that the NYPD has addressed her concerns. Considering the causual disregard with which Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly have treated the civil liberties of protestors, it is disappointing that Ms. Quinn would agree to such a power grab by the police -- especially without serious prior public debate. I, personally, have begun to regret campaigning for her years ago. While I have great hope that NYCLU (led by cyclist Donna Lieberman) will work to defeat this irrational rule, it would be far better if it were never adopted. Consider calling or writing Ms. Quinn. Also, please contact your own city council person. And, of course, contact the media giving your opinion on the subject. The public hearing for this turkey of a rule is set now for the Holidays: Nov. 27, 2006.