How much will protests cost Tacoma and Pierce County?
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008A recent article in the News Tribune described the events leading up to the non-event protests in the Port of Tacoma as Stryker Brigade vehicles are off-loaded from ships. The army refused to pay for added security at the ports where military vehicles and supplies are being loaded and off-loaded. That left the city of Tacoma with a bill of about $661,000 for the March 2007 protests. Let me put it another way. That left us, the taxpayers, holding a bill for the added police presence needed for the army and the port to conduct business.
The army can’t be blamed for the protest. They’re a necessary part of the security and sovereignty of our nation. The police can’t be blamed, they’re doing their best to keep the peace. The protestors are certainly to blame, since they’re the ones causing the problems. But I think that there’s some blame that needs to be handed to the city, particularly the City Council and the Municipal Court Judges. The City Council for not pressuring the city attorney’s office to press charges and build better cases against protestors who violate the law. And the judges for their miscarriage of justice in handing out rulings that are less than a slap on the wrist and in most cases a complete dismissal of charges.