Talibanization of local government

Red light cameras. Code enforcement fines. Higher driver license and car registration renewal fees. Tickets for garage sale signs.
There’s a simmering undercurrent of resentment against county administrations from Panama City to Key West.
In Sarasota, a local ocean kayak vendor on the beach has been given a notice to appear in court and he faces a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail according to the Sarasota Tribune.
So while city and county commissioners are crowing about economic development initiatives, their minions are trolling the streets for the pettiest sign infraction. While elected leaders want to increase economic activity, they are harassing existing small business with heavy-handed tactics.
While the economy has steadily declined over the past few years, many residents are upset over what they see as heavy-handed enforcement on the part of their local governments. Red light cameras are the poster boy for this Talibanization of local government. Residents are angry about what they see as a shift away from local government trying to improve the quality of life, and moving instead toward local government trying to squeeze every cent possible out of the populace.
There are real people behind every policy. Someone somewhere in government thought up the idea of placing red light cameras on the streets you use. An administrator hired three extra enforcement officers to patrol your neighborhood for those dangerous garage sale signs. There are people responsible for the talibanization of your county or city government. If you don’t like it, your duty is to vote them out.

“Can’t We All Just Get Along?” The Coral Gables Stabbing

Two Miami families have been turned into human wreckage today when Andy Rodriguez allegedly lost his temper, leaving Juan Carlos Rivera dead in a pool of teenage blood at Coral Gables Senior High.

Here’s the deal: kids look to adults as role models. Our children learn their behavior from watching what we do, how we act, how we treat each other. They particularly look to all the folks they see on TV… singers, athletes, politicians. (OK, they don’t look for the politicians, but they surely are exposed to them.) So when Michael Jordan, Joe Wilson, Kanye West, Serena Wilson and Roger Federer all lash out, what can the kids think? Well, they think that’s how it’s done…

Hillary Clinton once said “it takes a village to raise a child.” Unfortunately, sometimes the kids see the village idiot acting out. I’m talking to you, Ms. Important Hurried-Lady-in-the-Grocery-Store, and you Mr. Road Rage, and you Mr. Loudly-Passive-Aggressive-Man-in-Line-at-a-Restaurant. Try to act your age, all of you. You need to be an example for the kids, and I don’t mean a bad example.

Is this Andy Rodriguez myspace page?: http://www.myspace.com/andy_elnica_4lyf

Andy Rodriguez arrest report from Miami Herald

Juan Carlos Rivera Facebook Memorial

And another Facebook Memorial