Properly Subversive/Sherman R. Frederick
The latest cause embraced by the “cops are racist” crowd comes in the California effort to stop police from pulling over vehicles involved in minor traffic infractions.
The theory – advocated in an L.A. Times editorial and then reprinted in the Independent journal here in Marin – goes that once stopped, police can find any number of BS reasons to invoke a search of the car, sometimes resulting in the discovery of drugs, guns etc. That’s “unreasonable,” the theology goes, because too many people pulled over, searched and arrested are of color.
That’s a lot of Kool-Aid to drink in one sitting.
So, without fully engaging every point in the argument (of which, I must acknowledge, there are some points to be made on the civil liberties side of things), may I underline this item that came across my X feed (formerly Twitter) last week.
“Meanwhile in Hayward … This is an excellent example why traffic stops are very important.”
After a stop for a routine traffic violation, “The driver was detained, and a search of the car was completed. During the search, Officer Adami found an abundance of contraband including weapons, burglary and robbery tools, etc., such as machetes, a medieval style club with metal spikes, large fix blade knives, a CO2 arrow gun, a lock picking set, masks (creepy ones, at that), ammunition, and nearly two pounds of unsealed marijuana. This is one example how a traffic stop for an equipment violation can lead to the lawful discovery of other more serious offenses. And one can imagine the harm that could have been done with these items.”
Now look, I don’t know the skin pigmentation of this particular guy.
But honestly, does it really matter?
We don’t want guys like this running around unchecked in a free society. If a legit traffic stop and subsequent search of his car puts this guy behind bars, even for a little while, then I’m all for it.
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me.
MARY JANE LANE
I love this complaint from social media out of Novato:
“Can someone tell us who is stealing street signs in Novato? We live on Mary Jane Lane off Wilson next to the Presbyterian Church. Our sign gets stolen every year or two and sometimes every few months.”
HOMELESS
How frustrated are elected officials with the federal courts giving the homeless more rights than other citizens? Well Gov. Gavin Newsome responded to the ruling that blocks the city of San Francisco from sweeping the homeless hordes squatting on streets and sidewalks:
“It’s preposterous and it’s inhumane. It’s incredibly frustrating.”
NIMBY HYPOCRITE
Who sez news can’t be funny? This is from the San Francisco Chronicle last week.
A rich anti-pickleball crusader in the Presidio Heights is protesting a public pickleball court behind her house. She claims the sound of pickleball is grating. It’s altering the “wildlife of our cherished Presidio,” she says, and wants them shut down until a full environmental study can be done.
One little problem with her complaint about pickleball.
Her eight-bedroom house is up for sale for $36 million. Pictures of it online show that her house is complete with a karaoke room with disco ball and a wet bar that opens out into a – wait for it – outdoor pickleball court.
So, the “no pickleball in my backyard” person literally has a pickleball court in her backyard.
You can’t make this stuff up.
BIG GET BIGGER
And now for a little news from our friends to the north: E. & J. Gallo has bought Rombauer Vineyards. Price undisclosed. I’m not a fan of the big getting bigger, especially in the wine businesses.
TRANSPARENCY
The meaning of words have changed. Journalist Matt Taibbi notes that a 1966 use of the word “transparency” meant people seeing the sins of the government. In 2023, however, it is used to mean the government seeking out the people’s sins.
Pretty smart observation, if you ask me.
Be careful what you read on the Internet. Big Brother through Big Tech is watching … and he is concerned you might be reading “misinformation” that contradicts the state approved information on, COVID-19, Russia Gate and overwhelming evidence Hunter Biden took bribes from foreign actors that appear to have benefitted his father.
ONE MORE THING
– Forrest Gump’s password: 1forrest1.
– Grocery clerks make you pick between paper or plastic because baggers can’t be choosers.
– My book on walnuts still hasn’t cracked the Best Sheller’s List.
Could my jokes get any more lame, you ask? Why yes they could, and I’ll prove it next week. Thanks for reading in this little corner of Bay Area journalism. Until next time, remember to laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, the Ross Valley Reporter, the San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick leads Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.) B
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