Comments on: Are you willing to be arrested? Sign up now!

By: Council unanimous decision: No fees for at least a year for sidewalk dining, with or without alcohol - Locally Grown

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:48:13 +0000

[...] Are you willing to be arrested? Sign up now!, Jun.20 2008 [...]

By: Griff Wigley

Griff Wigley — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:32:29 +0000

See my Comment #29 here:
http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/archives/3335/#comment-62563

By: Griff Wigley

Griff Wigley — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:39:42 +0000

Britt, after a coffeehouse consultation with one of Northfield’s men in blue, it appears your legal analysis is correct. Plus, he thought we’d probably have to imbibe in the street, not just the sidewalk, to get a ticket.

I wouldn’t want to jeopardize the liquor license of a local proprietor so I thought it would be best if we brought our own alcohol (purchased at the Muni, of course).

So might it be worth it to get a misdemeanor ticket for $300 and/or 90 days in jail? Hmmm. Maybe if just one of us imbibed and the rest helped pay for it!

Best location IMHO: on Water St., straddling the boundary between Froggy Bottoms and your law firm, HVMD, where the colleague of yours who’s running for mayor also happens to be the proprietor of Froggy’s. Brilliant, no?

By: john george

john george — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:33:44 +0000

I would really rather just do take-out and eat it at the park than be tied up with this other commitment.

By: Nick Benson

Nick Benson — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:37:53 +0000

Perhaps several of you could hold a protest on the grounds of the hospital? Hold up signs with proposed names, do enough damage for a criminal trespassing charge, keep the tab under $40,000, and everyone wins.

By: Bright Spencer

Bright Spencer — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:58:14 +0000

just kidding

By: Bright Spencer

Bright Spencer — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:57:47 +0000

I like the bribery thing best, at least it’s something you can count on.

By: David Ludescher

David Ludescher — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:50:35 +0000

Britt: The Chamber would certainly advocate for its members (including the NDDC).

By: Britt Ackerman

Britt Ackerman — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:35:31 +0000

I’m all for civil disobedience, Griff. The only thing is that I can’t see how we could get arrested. If we brought alcohol onto the sidewalk we’d be violating the city code and could be charged with a misdemeanor violation of Chapter 6, section 6-3. In Minnesota, you can’t be arrested for a misdemeanor without some exigent circumstance, so we’d receive a ticket and a court date instead. (I’m not about to assault a cop to prove a point.) I would not be willing to do that, because if the business owner knowingly let me take alcohol outside they would be in big trouble and their liquor licenses could very well be suspended. It’s not worth it to me to bring alcohol from home, and that seems to defeat the purpose….

If we were just to set up tables and chairs and sit outside an establishment, and bring food out of that establishment to consume, we’ve got a different scenario. I don’t see how the restaurant owner could be held liable for that, and their liquor licenses shouldn’t be at risk. Again, it’s only a misdemeanor, so the maximum punishment under the law would be a fine of $300 and/or 90 days in jail. But we wouldn’t get arrested. We would only be ticketed. So, it’s not worth it to me…

In response to Anthony’s comment…maybe we could get David L. to distribute some Chamber Dollars to our fine councilpersons, along with the friendly suggestion to make outside dining happen in Northfield.

By: Anthony Pierre

Anthony Pierre — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:06:56 +0000

Why don’t the business owners just give the council kickbacks? Thats how politics works. Then they will get it passed for sure.

Or you could get someone to lobby in the store owners behalf. You know it works in congress with the telecom companies.

Corruption is rampant in all levels of govt. Sorry for the rant.

By: kiffi summa

kiffi summa — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:54:50 +0000

Wouldn’t it be way more effective, as JT suggests, to stage a demo at the council?
Unfortunately there is no open mic at work sessions, John.
The vote is at the council, not the police station; the council is where the protest is most effective, unless you’re just anxious to experience the wi-fi at the jail.

By: John Thomas

John Thomas — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:44:11 +0000

You know… I am growing weary of this, and here is why…

How about the business owners that want this, show up at the council meeting, and speak their mind?

I do not see a groundswell of residents that want this. If they do want it, they can show up and speak their mind as well.

As of now, there is no reason for me to want to go and stage an act of civil disobedience, especially when there are so many more important things that need to be acted upon in the world.

By: Bruce Morlan

Bruce Morlan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:30:24 +0000

Griff,

Well, this post might be considered an “incitement to riot” which is an exception to the protections offered by the 1st amendment. Luckily you have covered your bets twice. By invoking god (prayer) you have (1) ensured a second layer of 1st amendment protection and (2) when they come to take you away you have already laid a good foundation for a temporary insanity plea.