Hey there. Mississauga.
Got an email from Donald Barber yesterday giving me one crabby heads up.
Regular readers might remember The PotHole Poet who sent Mississauga Councillor Pat (Mississauga Crime Prevention Association) Saito a poem about potholes that included a suggestion that one be dug large enough to drop her in. He was arrested.
At age 76, Mr. Antonio Batista was found GUILTY of uttering a "death threat".
Then we had Toronto Star's columnist Royson James serve up, "Councillors need lesson on economy" which concluded:
"Councillors should be hanged, one a day, at noon, in Nathan Phillips Square. Charge admission. We'll net enough money to pay off most of our civic bills."
OH THE FUROR! The Dumping on James!
Donald Barber's email with the message header "Injustice" began with "Here is pure injustice", then he tossed me yesterday's Toronto Sun Editorial cartoon.
I mean look at it!
With "CAUTION BE SURE THAT COUNCIL CHAMBER IS FULL BEFORE DETONATION"
Now THIS should be interesting --any fallout, I mean.
There's also this from our MissyNews weekend online edition.
"No criminal record for gun-toting MPP
By: Louie Rosella
April 25, 2008 11:57 AM -Despite admitting to owning a restricted and unlicensed handgun, John Snobelen will not have a criminal record.
Noting that the former Mississauga MPP and Ontario cabinet minister made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it, Justice Steve Brown granted Snobelen, 53, an absolute discharge today in Oakville court."
"absolute discharge" for two firearms-related offences.
A frikkin' "absolute discharge"
Ask yourself, Mississauga.
What if it had been just any 53 year old white guy who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
What if it had been just any 53 year old black guy who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
What if it had been just any Youth who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
As for the question, "What if it had been just any Black Youth who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"? we needn't ask.
I'm reminded of an email I received from Hazel McCallion (Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007). Yes, over a year ago now.
"In any event, please be advised that the City treats all its residents fairly regardless of language or ethnicity."
Yes yes --and so do all municipalities in the Province of Ontario. After all, they are mature, responsible --and above all, accountable governments.
RELATED TOPIC: CHASING SHADOWS
On Friday, I went to the Burnhamthorpe Courthouse to drop down a Freedom of Information (FOI). I tried to FOI "All Trespass notices from 1998 through 2008 issued by the City of Mississauga" over at the Courthouse because I was told that to conduct such a search through the City Clerk's FOI Department would hit astronomical search and severance costs.
I figured that the Courthouse would keep searchable records.
But when the Courthouse guy began explaining how the records are kept there, it all sounded familiar. The data I needed was all on paper, I was told. The Court House guy explained how it was impossible to search for specific charges like Trespass. He gestured how they are just piles of tickets and--
I stopped him and asked, "Is this Mississauga? Is this (gesturing to the floor) in here City of Mississauga?" He said yes, it was City of Mississauga. (I felt like an idiot. I got fooled trying to FOI for records at the Burnhamthorpe Courthouse building because it had big letters with "ONTARIO" on it and I thought it was a Provincial Building. Get this, I didn't even wear my audio recording device for protection because I thought it was "ONTARIO").
All my hopes now hang on Peel Regional Police. Also on Friday, I submitted a Freedom of Information request at 22 Division with wording somethin' like:
"All records of ARRESTS made at the request/called in by the City of Mississauga from 1998 through 2008."
There'll be a lot of blacked-out personal information on the people arrested and there should be for their privacy. Still, Peel Police records are now my only way to chase shadows. (I refer to those arrested at the request of City of Mississauga as "shadow people". Donald Barber is one. So is Antonio Batista. How many are there over the past ten years? How many are Youth? Are there parts of Mississauga with more Arrest-Requests than others? So many questions.)
I had the same types of questions for those receiving PON's (Provincial Offenses Notices) but that area of investigation is now a Needles-in-One-Huge-Frikkin'-Bureacratic-Haystack-Dead-End. I'd have to be a millionaire to afford the search/severance time to follow that shadowy trail.)
It's not possible for regular people to Freedom-of-Information this stuff to even get some idea that their fellow-citizens are treated fairly by their own city governments. (I'm forced to conclude that this administrative "paper black hole" is pan-Ontario...)
Shadow People..."paper black hole"... thousands and thousands of dollars in FOI search time... No Soap Radio.
NO SOAP RADIO
Anyway, on the bright side, I'll be the first to admit-- No Soap Radio is an efficient way to run a Business.
I've only one response to No Soap Radio:
Mississauga's Councillor Pat Saito on: Openness and Accountability.
(Click here to go directly to the this on YouTube or Google Video)
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
PEEL CHILDREN'S CHARTER OF RIGHTS
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"In contrast to the local law enforcement agencies, Corporate Security provides a distinect difference in approach to providing a safe and secure environment within the community." --City of Mississauga Corporate Security 2003 Strategic Draft Plan
"Big Brother has his hand firmly planted in our back pocket – government revenues his lifeline; unaccountability his refuge." (Andre Marin, Ontario Ombudsman --June 27, 2007)
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
Want (or worse, need) to learn more? Link to MISSISSAUGAWATCH.CA
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Comments (1)
The following are two letters that have been faxed off regarding the cartoon that was printed which clearly advocates the terrorist act/attack on Toronto City hall and its elected officials;
1 - William Blair, Chief of Police - RE: Formal request for charges & arrests in regards to a death threat and/or intimidation towards City of Toronto Elected officials, City of Toronto staff and suggesting destroying City hall.
2 - Letter to the Editor - RE: Chief of Toronto police & cartoon death threat - terrorist act.
I would strongly suggest that others make a request to the Toronto police for an arrest so the dangerous legal precedence can be over-turned in the Courts as being anti-Democratic.
1- ****
RE: Formal request for charges & arrests in regards to a death threat and/or intimidation towards City of Toronto Elected officials, City of Toronto staff and suggesting destroying City hall.
In the Toronto Sun, Apr. 27, 2008, the below cartoon was printed that clearly advocates the terrorist act of blowing up Toronto City hall and specifically making sure that the City “Council chamber is full before detonation” of Toronto Councillors. It also shows wires running to other parts of Toronto City hall for what could only be to promote the idea of blowing up the whole building with explosives - killing all inside.
A legal precedence was recently set in Peel, in the case of Antonio Batista a 75 year old man who wrote and did a very limited distributed of a satirical poem suggesting that a Mississauga Councillor who thought pot holes were not all bad, should be buried in one. He was found guilty of the offence of uttering a threat to cause death, pursuant to s. 264.1(l)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. As the “actions of the accused crossed the line from permissible political comment to prohibited criminal conduct.” At the very least the charge of Intimidation towards elected officials should be laid.
2 - ****
Letter to the Editor.
RE: Chief of Toronto police & cartoon death threat - terrorist act.
A formal request has been sent to the Chief of Toronto police. In the Toronto Sun, Apr. 27, 2008, a cartoon was printed that clearly advocates the terrorist act/attack of blowing up Toronto City hall and specifically making sure that the City “Council chamber is full before detonation” of Toronto Councillors were inside. It also shows wires running to other parts of Toronto City hall for what could only be to promote the idea of blowing up the whole building with explosives - killing all inside.
A legal precedence was recently set in Peel, in the case of Antonio Batista a 75 year old man who wrote and did a very limited distributed of a satirical poem suggesting that a Mississauga Councillor who thought pot holes were not all bad, should be buried in one. He was found guilty of the offence of uttering a threat to cause death, pursuant to s. 264.1 (l)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. As the “actions of the accused crossed the line from permissible political comment to prohibited criminal conduct.” At the very least the charge of Intimidation towards elected officials should be laid. The above has been sent to the
As Canadians we know that there is a law for the rich and a law for the poor. That it is likely the Toronto police will be too fearful to take on the media. But it should be noted that Peel police had no such trouble taking on poor old Antonio Batista who fled a dictatorship in his home land of Portugal for a freer & saner life in Canada, where he was a model citizen. In his home land they made up songs to poke fun at the oppressive government, in Canada it is now a crime. It cost the “Pothole poet” and his wife their life savings to fight for justice & found none, in the eyes of reasonable people. If the Ontario government can find the time and Court resources to persecute those it feels can’t fight back, to set undemocratic legal precedence, they should try taking on the media for a real fight, so we will not be losing our rights a piece at a time, in unfair legal contests.
Posted by Don B. thats me | April 29, 2008 8:52 AM
Posted on April 29, 2008 08:52