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L.B. police have new beat
Long Beach Police announced recently the addition
of a new position among its ranks; Officer Permit Guy, the Weekend Warrior.
His duties ... to travel to and from garage sales in Long Beach and verify
that the proper permits have been issued.
Mark Blackburn
In such a large city,
I would think the police have enough to do other than regulate the crap
people want to shovel out of their garage and slap a price tag on.
For a city that makes more from parking
tickets then almost any other revenue, what is the matter of a few dollars
for a garage-sale permit?
Maybe they are worried about law suits
from people who bought a Picaso for eight dollars only to find it was really
painted by some onesí Aunt Betty in a city collage art class?
I'm also sure that the officer who pulled
this duty will do his best and do it with all the customer service skills
he can muster. But what happens when he goes to his police academy
class reunion and has to explain what he does for a living?
Whatever the reasoning behind this new
post, Iím sure that the money could have been spent more efficiently.
How about a task force to catch the Belmont Shore rapist? Maybe we
could stop the flow of guns and drugs in the local high schools?
I would be happy if they spent the money
on the poor and homeless. That way I could walk down Pine Street and not
be asked for spare change every 20 feet.
So be careful this weekend as you peddle
your trash and broken dreams for a few bucks, because Officer Permit Guy
is on the case, reaching the long arm of the law into your activities,
your backyard and your wallet.
Mark Blackburn is photo editor of the
Daily Forty-Niner. |
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