Two petitioners were unagressively collecting signatures for the Recall of Speaker Andy Dillon in front of the Redford Post Office. A fancy car pulls up and out jumps three well dressed men. They go into the post office and register a complaint. An interested observer asked who made the complaint about the petitioners and was told by security that it was none other than the R. Miles Handy the Redford Twp. Supervisor. I did not see him, so this is hearsay. I suggest that you call him at 313-387-2705 and find out if it was really him or you can email him at supervisor@redfordtwp.com . The petitioners left the post office and called me, as they were told to do.
I then took up their position. I wasn't there very long before two police cars showed up and parked next to me. Being the hardened criminal that I am, I ignored them. The policeman in the first car got out of his car. I pulled out my video cam. He says he does not want to get filmed. Keep in mind he was filming me. I told him I would not film him if he left me alone. He repeated the request and I gave him the same answer. He finally said I had to leave. I told him that I was exercising my first amendment rights on government property and the only way I was leaving was if he told me what law I had broken and arrested me. I put my camera away and after some discussion, he went back to his car and called someone.
The second policeman got out of his car and repeated the same thing. Then he tried sympathy. "I'm just trying to do my job." I told him I was too. I repeated that the only way I was moving was if they arrested me.
Then the third cop car showed up. I told him I was waiting to be arrested. He asked if they said they would arrest me. I told him they only hinted that they would. At least he smiled at me before he left.
The first policeman then approached me again and said he was going inside to give me enough time to leave. When he came out, I was still there. People coming in and out of the post office looked frightened. Some people yelled from the parking lot and asked what was going on. I yelled back not to worry and that it was only about me.
Then the forth police car came this was the official postal police. The officers in the first two cars were making phone calls. They then went and talked to the postal policewoman. She went inside through a side or back door and not much later came out and told me there were complaints and I must leave. I told her the same thing I told the other police. This is public property because it is leased by the government. I was asking a question, which is my right ,and not harassment and that I was twenty feet away from the people I was talking to. She went in and was never heard from again. The whole time this was going on, one of Dillon's thugs (I got a pretty nice one) was walking in front of me with a sign that said "don't sign the petition it will cost tax$$$". What it should have said is that it would cost Dillon dollars.
While you are calling the supervisor's office, ask him why the township felt it necessary to station two police cars next to a woman almost sixty years old who just wanted to exercise both her federal and state constitutional rights for about two hours. Also ask if Redford is crime free except for the post office. Who do you think was doing the harassment? The police? Dillons thugs, which usually show up in numbers? How about a sweet old lady (me)?
Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.
Treasurer
Taxpayers to Recall Andy Dillon
23 comments:
You have a right to your opinion, no matter how wrong I think it is.
Your recall is a sour grapes attempt to remove a Democrat from the office he was elected to.
I wonder how you would react to someone who carried a Pro-Life petition around the Post Office Parking lot?
I am sorry to admit that I voted for Rep. Dillon twice. This is not sour grapes. It is the future of this state and the effect high taxes has on job creation and the exodus of people from this state.
As for the pro-life petition, last time I looked they have the same rights as I do. If I agree or not with any issue, people have rights under the law. I can agree or disagree but I would not obstruct them.
I was not going to sign the petition....but I am now.
I was not going to sign the petition....but I am now!!
I say use you time and effort in an organization that can truly use your kind of energy. MANY people voted and the results are the results. Use your time effectively, and find a needy organization that you can help!
Aside from recalling officials, do you have a comprehensive solution to the State's Crisis?
I'm a good listener and would welcome, as would many politicians I'm sure, a plan that balances the budget and provides the revenue to run the State.
It's always easier to fix a blame than fix a problem.
I would like to comment about the Mr. Anonymous who would like to know if Rose has a solution to the state's crisis. Mr. the blame has been rightly placed and Rose is trying to fix the the problem. Do you really like paying more dollars to fix other's mistakes?
Get with the program and make Michigan a better place to live. Just as Rose is....Hello!
You go girl! It's really ridiculous to read about all the money wasted trying to intimidate an honest citizen and deny you your constitutional rights. 3 Thugs and 4 squad cars huh? Sounds like Andy's pretty nervous Rose...
Rose,
You are trooper for the people. Keep up the sensible work. If there is no law against collecting signatures at the PO, then you are free to do so.
I happen to agree with your cause, but even if I did not I would defend your freedom to act in a lawful way anytime. Even if you were prolife.
Don Armstrong
Troy, MI
Perhaps the pro-Dillon guy had a point. Why spend all of this money campaigning for Recall... more importantly, why spend taxpayer resources by forcing a recall in an election year. Why not just campaign to NOT re-elect Dillon? I have read estimates that recall elections cost the county clerk roughly $100,000 per recall, just in signature verification and validation and administrative expenses. This is a huge waste of taxpayer funds from folks who claim to be the guardians of wasteful taxes.
Why don't you folks just admit that you are partisan hit men, working under the guise of taxes.
I defend your RIGHT to peacefully demonstrate/collect signatures for WHATEVER you believe to be best for MI. Obviously most politicians in Lansing are out of touch with the state's economic dilemma (along with a majority of THEIR constituents).
GO ROSE & THANK YOU!!! If I lived in your county I would be honored to stand next to you and collect signatures. GO GIRLFRIEND GO!
This is sooooo not right. These ARE the freedoms I joined the military to defend. What is going on here? My god people this is the United States of America!!! Not some third world nation where people get terrorized for exercising their constitutional rights. People need to speak up and do it now before things get more out of control. Call your elected representatives, Federal & State. Let them know you will not tolerate this type of behavior from your government or its officials, and that something needs to be done today.
As for this incident, someone needs to investigate the involvement of law enforcement, local government and postal employees. If this is allowed to go unchecked what will happen next time?
Thank You for standing up for your rights. I am sorry to hear this happened to you and wish you the very best.
"I would like to comment about the Mr. Anonymous who would like to know if Rose has a solution to the state's crisis. Mr. the blame has been rightly placed and Rose is trying to fix the the problem. Do you really like paying more dollars to fix other's mistakes?
Get with the program and make Michigan a better place to live. Just as Rose is....Hello!"
Thomas, don't act the dolt. My question is legitimate.
Before you tear down the house you have to have a plan to remodel. My question is if you don't like the plan implemented what is your solution to replace it with?
And Tommy, I've lived in other states where taxes are quite higher than Michigan, and you get less for it.
Re: Granholm's Communist Dictatorship...
What an appalling disgrace. As if it isn't shocking enough that the Governor and her minions will stop at nothing to prevent our Constitutionally protected activities, the fact that anyone could support the utter incompetence and wildly out of control spending of this Legislature is simply stunning to me.
Make no mistake-this is a conspiracy to deprive people of their constitutional rights, and whether you agree or disagree with Rose and the recall effort, this is something we should all be gravely concerned about, and should stand behind her right to undertake it.
Despite the fact that these recalls may cost some money, it sends a message that the people have the power to remove politicians from office if that is their wish. The shocking part of the complaints about the cost is that it pales in comparison to the over $2 BILLION dollar increase in the state budget over the last two years.
What paid for that increase? Granholm's gargantuan tax increase to perpetuate her big government welfare state. Why is nobody howling over the State Police HQ boondoggle that is going to cost the State over $100 million dollars and enrich one of her political cronies?
Although I leave my comment under the 'anonymous' identity for expediency, I proudly sign my name here in support of Rose, good government, a successful recall effort, and the Constitution...
Bill Cheek
I certainly can't make my case to an anonymous person in a blog. What I will say if you want suggestion go to the Mackanac Center for Public Policy website. They showed them a way. The fact is that the legislature didn't even try. Your budget is cut,should I tell you what to cut?
Speaker Dillon gets paid $106,000 plus a $1,200 a month expense account. Don't you think he could have thought of something that didn't raise taxes $1.4 billion dollars per year.
Heck the even raised their egislative budget by 7%.
Dear Mr. Anonymous
What in the heck are you talking about?
Remodel plan before you tare down??? Oh I get it, fix up the pile left by poor workmanship, aha
Rose, what does it matter how my alias appears? Anon or otherwise, it still addresses the point.
State your case. It's what started this blog, correct? What is your plan after you remove these legislators? If you have a convincing plan I'd be happy to sign your petition.
Tom, you are boring and blovious. Getting with the program is getting all of the facts before making a decision. Unfortunately you seem to develop opinions that if someone doesn't buy right into your idea they must be against you. A shining example of partisanship, which is what the REAL problem is in Michigan!
Sounds like another civil rights complaint in Redford! This isn't the first time officials have had to be reminded about that little paper called the Constitution and probable cause. Why do certain officials and their friends have soooo many problems with independent women?
Another, and you'll recognize this! "Pin Head"
Thomas, thank you for validating statement.
Rose,
I will offer you a responsible and ethical resolve. It's time to eliminate most legislators and their staff completely.
Nebraska has a unicameral state government. There is not a seperate house and senate. It has one house and the representatives are senators. Reconfiguring the state government to one senator per county would drastically cut the funding need for the government itself.
Here is a simple explanation of the Nebraska process:
http://www.hometownsource.com/capitol/1999/july/0712nebraska.html
The majority of pork would all but disappear. The only ones who would lose in this constitutional amendment would be politicians. Many would be out of work, like far too many forgotten Michigan residents.
I'm not against your effort, Rose. I think there are more effective means to achieve the solution.
I was sent this link by a neighbor who seems to be obsessed with all things Miles Handy. Rose, while I support your rights, and would fight to protect those rights, I would be equally vigilent in protecting the rights of the majority who has elected both Dillon and Handy. Not trying to stir the pot here, but she stated she was more than 20 feet from the people she was speaking to, thats not speaking...its yelling. I also take exception to the term "thugs". Were you taken into an alley and beaten? Physically theatened? Abused verbally? I mean its a sad day in the underworld when we define "thugs" as anything less than violent. Again, let me state I am 100% behind your right to express your opinion, but to someone who new nothing of any of this, you sound like a typical nut job, who's opinion (review your definition of Thug) is based outside of not only logic, but sanity. Theres an election coming up, and another after that, and another after that. VOTE! Express your view! RUN FOR OFFICE! If you think you can do better. I dont say that sarcastically, but seriously.
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