Law and Order Candidate

Brian Scavo, defeated democratic candidate for Common Council in the 7th Ward, called me a few days ago and left a message on my answering machine. He planned to be on the ballot in November as the "Law and Order Party" and he was asking for my vote. It was on my answering machine so I did not get to talk with him at that time.

I am deeply concerned that anyone should want to be represented as the "Law and Order Party". A number of years ago when inner city people who were poor and marginalized rioted, because of frustration over poor living conditions and other issues, or even made a public statement about rights that had been violated a movement rose up calling for "Law and Order". This was a code word for abusing the rights of citizens and using the police to squash the aspirations of people who had been traditionally disadvantaged in our society.

While there is certainly enough crime around the community we need more neighborhood building, human relations, community policing, neighborhood watching, assertive citizenship...but the suggestion of "Law and Order" smacks of abuse of power, harassment, robbing citizens of their rights, police state, and mis-use of public power. That's what it signifies to me. I suspect that is what it will signify to many minority people. It is not what I want my neighborhood to be known for, or to stand for.