FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Well, apparently, about 100 hundred hippies having a picnic on a secluded area of a public beach with no sound system, a few hand drummers and one 30 min. performance by Maracatu Nunca Antes (Brazilian drum group) warranted 5 cruisers, 4 bike cops, a by-law officer complete with truck, a patty wagon and 3 riot horses to bust at ~9:00 p.m.. Not only was this a disgusting misappropriation of public funds (think Double time and a half for all officers) who I'm sure were more needed elsewhere in the city but it raises questions about what rights we have as responsible tax paying citizens to enjoy public property. You can read more/see pictures on http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/showthread.php?t=122054Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffhead77 Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 bruuuuutal. I've been there before with it JAMMING with beats and people and no cops in sigfht...I wonder what the catalyst was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 (edited) Docks vs. Island= well connected, high profile special interest groups with private interests that once again supercede public rights and privileges in a so-called democratic society. Edited September 5, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Well, if the catalyst was a 911 call from a scared individual reporting a large disturbance, the force they sent was justified. Note that I'm not saying the force they sent was justified for what was really going on, but the police (and other emergency services) assume the worst, and they don't get second chances.Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 There was no 911 call, the by-law officer was there all day and the police were there at 6:00 p.m., one officer. They then careful planned their "presentation of force" with the sole purpose of intimidation. Not even a pre-emptive strike since the beach was under constant surveillance from the beginning and absolutely no probable cause was observed by the officers present. There were families having picnics, people playing board games and hanging out at the beach. It was not a teenage keg party.It was clearly a political statement to appease certain individuals. The police who were there were all professionals and friendly and made it obvious that they saw no threat and simply had to do their jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Would it be a stretch to assume there was a bunch of drugs at this gathering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 In plain view, yes. As far as alcohol there would not have been more than any other part of any public beach in Toronto, the only difference being that the individuals at this particular section of the beach refrained from drinking the alcohol they had with them due to the police presence and hence did not violate any laws in the eyes of the police. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 I should add that I didn't see any drugs in plain view and I assume from the general vibe I got from the people I talked with that no one was stupid enough to do so within sight of the police. Maybe they did see something but to my knowledge no one was arrested and I think that the Sargent in charge would have mentioned that to me when I questioned his rationale for removing us from public property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Playing devil's advocate here just for fun, can I assume that, on top of the drugs in plain view, there was no permit issued by the city to have this gathering/concert? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 (edited) If you read more closely what I said (As in yes it would be a strech to assume), there were no drugs in plain view, no drugs. Also there was a picnic permit for the event hence the no amplified music which requires a different more complex permit. Edited September 5, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 You're contradicting yourself in your above posts...In plain view, yes.I should add that I didn't see any drugs in plain view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 If you read more closely what I said (As in yes it would be a strech to assume)Ahhhh.... Gotcha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Ya, I was answering your question with the stipulation, in plain view. I should have said "Yes, it would be a stretch to assume that there were a bunch of drugs at this gathering, in plain view that is." I can't comment on what people had on their persons for obvious reasons. The only thing here that is relevant is what powers the police have with respect to search and seizure. No probable cause, no search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 If you can't see it, don't mean you can't smell it.Anyways, cops bad, hippies good, fuck the gov'ment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Anyways, cops bad, hippies good, fuck the gov'ment.Amen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 I have to defend the police who were there as human beings, they were good guys and gals who didn't enjoy having to do what they did. The problem lies with the all too apparent influence that private individuals with wealth have over the administration of both a public institution such as the Toronto Police Services and in their agenda superceding the rights of a majority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boiler Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 The problem lies with the all too apparent influence that private individuals with wealth have over the administration of both a public institution such as the Toronto Police Services and in their agenda superceding the rights of a majority.Now it's getting interesting.I wonder what the land value is on the Toronto Islands anyway? People certainly have the right to live there, but they try to treat it like they have this inherent right to quiet over there because there's no cars and all the houses look like cottages. If you want to live in a cottage, move to Muskoka.I live on Queen St. and it can get noisy, if I were to call the cops to complain about it (not that I would cuz I cause a lot of the afore mentioned noise) they'd laugh at me. Maybe even tell me to move if I don't like it.Here's a tip to T.O. Islanders, "Noise travels across water...duh" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I don't know if the Islanders have that much power, given how precarious their situation gets from time to time. But I'm sure things are way more complicated than I could suss out. I do like, as you say, that the cops were at least decent about it, in that "just doin' my job, ma'am" sort of way. Makes me think of Bob Weir in Festival Express - "Toronto cops are boss, man!" (which he then goes on to say is a bit of a stretch for the likes of him). (Lest anyone jump on that, yes, some TO cops are total pricks, too.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyBeats Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 I think it's much less the islanders and much more the owner of the docks who has publicly stated, in the Toronto Star, that if he's going down he's taking everyone else with him. (Paraphrased of course). If you want the exact words it was in the paper about two weeks ago.Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Guess that figures. Too sad. And kind of embarrassing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Brutal...And there was even a permit for this??Madness... Definitely victims of something else going on with the whole docks/island fiasco.Shameful... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Is not Cherry Beach in Scarberia , not anywhere near the Islands or the Docks ,those places are central and Cherry Beach is In th East end isn't.Just trying to understand the tie in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 No - think of the Docks, around that industrial-squalor zone by the end of the Gardiner. Still of couple of clicks west of Scarry-borough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokonon Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) Just out of curiosity, how many is 100 hundred? Is it ten thousand? ie. 100x100 sorrry, couldn't resist. I have to admit that the police likely had a very small yet valid reason to be there. In most cites, noise bylaws can be enforced at any time of day, which I found out last week when the police hammered on my door at 2:30 pm for listening to swing music. My "stereo" is not particularly powerful either. I also live in one of the lowest rent buildings in Brantford so I know it's not the political clout of my neighbours that got the police here. Face it, if you're having fun and someone else isn't, it's probably illegal. Edited September 7, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boiler Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Cherry Beach is where you end up, if you travel to the end of the road that the Docks is on. It's about a 5 minute walk from the docks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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