Posted on 04/07/2003 12:14:28 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
Watch out, Americans. The real "Slick Willy" is attempting a money-grab for San Francisco that, if successful, will spread like wildfire across the country – and will constitute a major raid on your federal dollars
This has nothing to do with Bill Clinton, who relished the moniker "Slick Willy" as a measure of his deviousness. For the white guy who was said to be "black" by besotted followers, the title was fun, "deserved" and won him votes.
The "Slick Willy" in this case is Willie Brown, the erstwhile soon-to-be-outgoing, mayor of San Francisco. Yes, California is the home of the real thing – the real "Slick Willy." He is black. His name is Willie. He is slick – and he's a Democrat.
Willie Brown has been in politics so long that anyone under 35 doesn't know how powerful he was when he was assembly speaker in Sacramento for 15 years. Willie was the man. He carried the big stick and, with his Democrat cohorts, ran the state pretty much as he pleased.
So, when Willie ran for mayor, it was a foregone conclusion he would win – which he did. That he would run the city as his own private fiefdom – which he has. And that it would be insider politics as usual – it is. Appointments, appropriations, conduct were all handled on Willie-time and by the Willie-agenda.
So why should you worry about what he's up to now? Because he's aiming at the federal deep-pocket of Homeland Security funds and wants a big cut for the city by the Bay. A cut to the tune of $5 million to $10 million. And they're still counting.
If he pulls this off, it will set precedent for cities across the country. Los Angeles, New York and Chicago are already sniffing around. Ultimately, it means that money that should be spent on real homeland-security issues will be a blank check for cities without the will to handle local police issues and the temptation to fill gaps in the local budget.
At issue are the recent "peace" demonstrations. The San Francisco area is a hotbed of liberal politics. In the '60s and '70s, it was the home of the free speech /anti-war /hippie lifestyle. That mindset still exists.
Liberal demonstrations are tolerated, but police are constrained in dealing with rabble-rousers – they endure a lot of abuse and are under spoken (and unspoken) strictures to go easy on the lawbreakers. Consider that this time, the peaceniks showed their sentiments by vomiting and defecating in the streets and attempting to shut down businesses and the city.
About 2,300 were arrested. Potential weapons found near some of those arrested include steel tools, knives, rocks in socks, bottles and a stun gun. Molotov cocktails were found in a nearby alley.
Those who spent the night behind bars were upset: They didn't like the food, the beds or the treatment. Some said the police were "rude."
D.A. Terence Hallinan was nicer, dropping most charges. Of the 12 felony charges, five were dropped and seven reduced to misdemeanors. So much for supporting the police.
In the first wave of anti-war demonstrations in March, estimates are they cost the city $900,000 a day. Mayor Brown says the city needs help paying for overtime, training, equipment and emergency planning.
Does he expect his city to foot the bill?
Come on – they don't call him "Slick Willie" for nothing.
Brown wants the feds to pony up the bucks because, he contends, it's all part of Homeland Security needs. Since there's money available for cities and states to prepare for terrorism, he says that control of "peace demonstrations" is a security issue. He says the demonstrations could be used as a "cover" to do damage to structures or roadways.
The Bush administration wants $1.4 billion for cities and counties security issues – opponents want $4.25 billion. Either way, it's a nice deep pocket "Slick Willie" is eyeing.
It's especially galling considering that the state of California has over $30 million in federal money – designated for security – that hasn't even been allocated.
Would Willie ask the governor for money? A Democrat mayor asking a Democrat governor? Are you kidding? They don't call him "Slick Willie" for nothing. He's targeting a Republican president, hoping to sneak through his money-grab while the media focuses on the war.
Don't know about you, but I want that money spent to protect us from terrorists, not to clean up after vomiting, anti-American protestors who just want to bring it all down, babe.
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