tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492013064573371146.post5097303507041898335..comments2023-05-07T08:40:07.354-07:00Comments on Becky Johnson: One Woman Talking: Sharon Paight Sleeping Ban trial ends in abrupt dismissalBecky Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100626198456326185noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492013064573371146.post-39961155233407874102010-05-19T12:55:33.393-07:002010-05-19T12:55:33.393-07:00Stop the fear...we need diversity...we need nontox...Stop the fear...we need diversity...we need nontoxic homes... The current way of doing things is not working! Love is all there is. Why not just talk to the people living in a vehicle instead of turning a blind eye and calling in mercenaries to do your dirty work. Everyone has something to offer. Being pushed out of our comfort zone is a chance to grow or cling to the past (nonreality). I hope we can one day come together and stop forcing our fears on the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492013064573371146.post-43258236906451150292009-08-29T11:56:09.015-07:002009-08-29T11:56:09.015-07:00It seems pretty clear to me, from reading this art...It seems pretty clear to me, from reading this article, which affirms my personal experience with this Judge, that The Honorable Symons was not doing the job to which she was elected, in her courtroom in front of defendant Sharon Paight. <br /><br />I am often startled to run into citizens/voters/thinking people who are not aware that there is a tendency, almost a system flaw, that causes police officer testimony to sometimes become untrue. When I once talked to an officer about his testimony, he frankly replied, "Do you think I remember YOU from the hundreds of other people I stop during any week I work?" <br /><br />In other words, once they have that badge, their credibility jumps enough for folks in general, that their memory is never truly in question. To my eyes, it's especially true when the courts are faced with poor or low-income people, or when the courtrooms themselves become overtaxed.(scarcity of space) There are plenty of examples of this fact that any honest courtwatcher can share.<br /><br />What is disturbing here, besides the distress and maybe shame the officer's "position", unanswered, may cause defendant: the Judge was ALSO playing "fast and loose". It's one thing when police officers do so. That has become acceptable to socially (and perhaps morally?) for a Police Officer's credibility to be a given (rather than as a function of character, reputation, ability to be trusted, as with a "regular" citizen), <br /><br />However, when the Judge becomes unable or unwilling to perform her job -- without, essentially, having to face the same on-field risks policeman do, and despite being given a much greater income than a cop -- because of Her presumed legal expertise and fairness -- what's the POINT of our Justice System? <br /><br />In this instance, I see no attempt to even play by the rules at all, let alone any illusions of justice. <br /><br />So we continue to have a cruel and irrational City ordinance the tragically needs to become viable, yet it has gotten no closer to even being examined by the courts (since Judge Stevens, long ago). <br /><br />Can't help but wonder if it is fear-based, or just arrogance or incompetence, or even maybe corruption -- and I do not refer to the judge in this instance with my reverie, but to a long history about discrimination and selective enforcement since the camping ordinance was created. It so disgusts me.<br /><br />Will the City's attornies make a statement of concern to the Court? <br /><br />Or are they a part of the mischief, too? <br /><br />If so, the City of Santa Cruz itself should be culpable if Sharon Paight looses her longtime Spa membership or otherwise faces new harrassment on top of having to quite literally hide much of the time. <br /><br />And why Sharon? <br /><br />Because she can't afford housing here even when she's employed full time. The solution will not be simple. Nonetheless, the camping/sleeping ban needs to be taken more seriously throughout that City.Linda's Hearthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00404971799624206082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492013064573371146.post-80745339455012951502009-08-28T01:13:27.374-07:002009-08-28T01:13:27.374-07:00You are a loon.You are a loon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com