Hot Spot No Loitering Zones

[leftyjew]

(x-posted to washingtondc)


NOTE! This is now a moot point. Jim Graham withdrew the bill today.

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(x-posted to <lj site="livejournal.com" comm="washingtondc"/">)


NOTE! This is now a moot point. Jim Graham withdrew the bill today.

<lj-cut="for historical purposes">
Councilmember Jim Graham has recently introduced a bill to authorize police to arbitrarily create "Hot Spot No Loitering Zones" where they can arrest any group of more than one person for standing in public. If you'd like to read the full text of the bill, go to <a href="http://www.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20090218163516.pdf">http://www.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20090218163516.pdf</a>.

This flies in the face of the right to peaceable assembly using drugs and gangs as an excuse. It is an affront to civil society and public democracy. If you are as incensed as I am, please write your councilmember to voice your opposition to this bill and cc:<a href="mailto:htseu@dccouncil.us">Ms. Heidi Tseu</a> today to make your opposition public record if you cannot attend Wednesday morning's hearing.

Thank you!
<lj site="livejournal.com" user="leftyjew"/">

The <a href="http://mpd1dpsa102.blogspot.com/2009/02/hot-spot-no-loitering-zone-act-of-2009.html">public service announcement</a> reads:<blockquote>COUNCILMEMBER PHIL MENDELSON, CHAIRPERSON
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE JUDICIARY ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING
on
Bill 18-138, the “Omnibus Anti-Crime Amendment Act of 2009”
Bill 18-151, the “Public Safety and Justice Amendments Act of 2009”
Bill 18-152, the “Hot Spot No Loitering Zone Act of 2009”
on
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
10:00 a.m., Hearing Room 412, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

....&lt;snip&gt;...

The stated purpose of Bill 18-152, the Hot Spot No Loitering Zone Act of 2009, is to authorize the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department to declare a Hot Spot No Loitering Zone, and to prohibit the congregation of 2 or more persons on any public space on public property, within an area currently designated as a Hot Spot No Loitering Zone, for the purpose of participating in criminal activity within the perimeter of the Hot Spot No Loitering Zone.

Those who wish to testify should contact Ms. Heidi Tseu, Committee Clerk, at (202) 724-8038, by fax at (202) 724-6664, or via e-mail at htseu@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Monday, March 16, 2009. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on Monday, March 16, 2009 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.

Witnesses must limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to Ms. Tseu, or to Ms. Cynthia Brock-Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.</blockquote></lj-cut>