CM PRESS # 264

SEATTLE--HOLD THE PRESSES! TWO NON-WHITES WHO VICIOUSLY ATTACKED A 16-YEAR-OLD WHITE KID WAY BACK IN MAY HAVE FINALLY BEEN CHARGED WITH A HATE CRIME
Link
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PHILADELPHIA--PACK OF BLACKS SERIOUSLY BEAT TWO ASIAN STUDENTS AND OFFICIALS SAY IT WASN'T RACIAL
Link
Asian American spokesperson disagrees and says it was racial and points to the fact that no one else was beaten.

Once again, we see the racial pecking order at work.
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SANTA ANA POLICE DENY INVOLVEMENT IN KILLING OF 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS SUING THEM
Link
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POLICE UNION HEAD WANTS CITY TO INVESTIGATE DUI CHECKPOINT INCIDENT
Link to DAILY PILOT article.
Link to OC REGISTER article (read this one for a complete picture).

At last night's city council meeting, officer Allen Rieckhof, president of the police association, asked the council to investigate what happened at last Thursday's DUI checkpoint.

Some believe politics is involved in this request for an investigation of what seems to have been a minor incident in which Jim Righeimer, a concerned citizen who is also a planning commissioner and who is a candidate for city council, questioned why a checkpoint was being held during rush hour at the end of a freeway off ramp.

Many in the community believe that the police association would like to see Righeimer defeated in the upcoming election since he has spoken out concerning pay levels and retirement benefits for public employees, which he believes are partly responsible for Costa Mesa's $12 million dollar deficit.

It is also common knowledge that the police association usually gets involved in Costa Mesa politics even though most of the association's members don't live in Costa Mesa and can't vote here.

Since some want to make this minor incident a major one, the city should do a full investigation, including a look at whose idea it was to hold the checkpoint at that time and location, and which officers spoke to the press about this incident even though this appears to be against department policy.

We'd also like to see a report from Peter Naghavi--the city's expert on traffic and streets--about whether, in his opinion, this was an appropriate time and place for such a checkpoint and whether or not the checkpoint presented a danger of collisions as some commenters have said in the DAILY PILOT. CALTRANS might also be asked for an opinion.

Could it be that Jim Righeimer had valid and legitimate safety concerns? Maybe he should be given a Mayor's Award for taking time from his schedule and going out of his way to help ensure the safety of Costa Mesa citizens coming off the freeway and driving on Harbor Blvd.

We'll try to keep an eye on the investigation and we'll report what we learn.
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