Posted on 11/16/2011 5:34:47 AM PST by Clive
Perhaps Justice David M. Brown does not live in the vicinity of St. James Park and its stench of outhouses, a burning fire and bongs of marijuana.
However, from the bench of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, he has allowed all of it to continue.
At least for now.
Talk about throwing a wrench into the spokes for all of those hoping to bring the occupation to a rapid conclusion.
“I think the most appropriate way to balance the interests of all concerned is to maintain the status quo for a very short period of time,” Brown said, while granting a temporary stay of the eviction letters taped to tents by bylaw enforcement officers earlier in the day.
He said he will listen to all sides on Friday and rule by 6 p.m. Saturday.
Maybe the judge could invite the campers to his backyard while he mulls over his decision.
Meanwhile, occupiers like Stefonknee Wolscht argue it has been a peaceful assembly and they “have every right to protest.”
But area residents like Edwina Taborsky argue “the bylaws exist. No judge can overturn them. The city bylaws particularly forbid overnight occupancy, tents, fires ... Very specific.”
Others neighbours, who feel they have been let down by an administration too gutless to apply the laws they would rapidly enforce on everybody else, wonder how the judge would feel if this occupation was in the park next to his home.
But don’t blame him. Blame the city officials who have let it go this far.
They had their chance to end this several times. And Tuesday, they should have been down there with garbage trucks, enough police officers to take control of the park and the fire department to put out that goofy fire.
But their supervisors were too scared to let them do it. Gun shy from the G20 failures and with so many socialists supporting the protesters financially, it made things ultra tricky for those in key decision making spots.
When you show weakness, you invite defeat. And weakness is what Toronto authorities showed in St. James Park Tuesday when they came in with paper and words and no back-up strength.
Eviction notices to people who have no right to be there in the first place — many of whom have nowhere else to go?
It was cute but naive.
Whatever happens Saturday, it’s not going well for the city. Make no mistake, you can count that as a victory for the occupiers.
The city had its chance to get rid of the occupiers and instead of doing it, officials dilly-dallied, resulting in a scenario where they may never get this park back.
They won’t be able to say they were not warned. There is no shortcut to dealing with big problems. They don’t age like fine wine. They get skunkier.
One thing that will not change with Saturday’s court decision is a desire for those who now run the park, to stay there. Many of them don’t respect rule of law.
Many were gearing up for police to come charging in overnight and they will be just as ready Saturday night.
“It’s going to be vicious when it does happen,” explains Brendan Harris, who has been in the park for all 32 days.
“People are prepared to fight,” added occupier Christian. “They are gearing up for it.”
Thanks to messing around too long, it seems a showdown is inevitable and the police or Mayor Rob Ford can’t win anyway it comes out. They are too soft if they try to be reasonable and too hard should they just do their jobs.
“I hope the police will be kind and not use pepper spray like they did in Oakland,” said Canadian music icon Gordon Lightfoot, who came down to the park in support, and to check on, his 17-year-old daughter Meredith.
Nobody wants such a scenario but that onus does not just fall on police. If people break the law, their job is to enforce it.
But who knows where this is going?
Perhaps Judge Brown Saturday will tell the police and the city to get out the hell out of the occupier’s park.
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Gordon Lightfoot ... sigh, I guess that this is to be expected from folk music artists but really ...! I presume he is donating ???
The crowd control ZOT!
He’s still alive? Last time I saw a picture of him, he looked very sickly. (He was quite the handsome dude when he was young.)
Heh! Easily defeated by wrapping myself in aluminum foil! So with my normal day wear I’m immune! Plus they still can’t read my mind so I’ve got that going for me too. ;-)
“Like all focused energy, the beam will irradiate all matter in the targeted area, including everything beyond/behind it that is not shielded, with no possible discrimination between individuals, objects or materials, although highly conductive materials such as aluminium cooking foil should reflect this radiation and could be used to make clothing that would be protective against this radiation.”
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