Discriminatory sitting law affects all of us

This week, seven members of the Anchorage Assembly voted for Mayor Dan Sullivan's ordinance to create sidewalk sitting hours and rules. Ernie Hall, who has talked about being independent of the mayor, once again, with his vote, proved he is a lockstep lapdog.

The most surprising, and disappointing, vote was Dick Traini's. Traini most certainly is not the mayor's lackey but he voted like one. The rest -- Debbie Ossiander, Chris Birch, Bill Starr, Jennifer Johnston and Adam Trombley -- voted as expected, right in line with Mayor BurgerMeister MeisterBurger.

Is this an indicator we have no bigger problems to solve in Los Anchorage? So, all the snow is plowed, little white lights strung and violent crime abated? Is there some out-of-control epidemic of sidewalk sitters who are clogging passageways and impeding commerce? Have we nothing more to do than put useless, redundant laws on the books and plan parties? What's next? A ban on toys?

For a crowd that calls for less regulation, telling you where to put your bottom, and at what time, seems like bigger government to me. Supporters of the law can't even pretend this is something other than a personal vendetta for the mayor. Last summer, John Martin, a registered sex offender, protested the mayor's treatment of the homeless. That's why it's now illegal for you and me to sit on the sidewalk.

This entire episode reminds me of the political posturing years ago when President George Bush and Congress interrupted their recess to create a law during the Terry Schiavo situation. One law for one person. That poor comatose woman generated more frequent-flier miles than anyone before or since.

Our laws should protect individual liberties, not take them away in some fake gesture to the greater good. I know, I sound like a tea party member, but I don't agree with curbing personal liberty any more than they do.

Last summer after the ordinance was proposed, the mayor said Mr. Martin needed to take a bath and get a job.

Newt Gingrich said the same thing this week about the Occupy movement.

I guess if you paint folks as dirty and lazy, it becomes easier for the public to give you a pass when you take away their rights. The consequence of not paying attention is that the fresh new laws apply to you as well as whoever you thought didn't deserve protection. And in this case, people were paying attention. It's just that it didn't matter because seven big-government, liberty-squashing members of the Assembly knew better than you.

The night the anti-First Amendment ordinance passed, the Assembly chamber was filled with folks waiting to comment. Not a single person testified in favor of the law. Not one. Nor were any emails received urging passage. Despite overwhelming and unanimous testimony against Mayor Sullivan's ordinance, seven members did not waver.

Mayor Sullivan said, "My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance. My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position ... are in opposition. As elected officials, we are charged with reflecting the will of the community in our decisions, particularly in the absence of compelling data that would supersede that will."

Oh, wait. He said that in 2009, after he vetoed anti-discrimination legislation.

What effect did the worldwide Occupy movement have on passage of this anti-civil rights ordinance? How will this new law, specifically, affect the civil liberties of those protesting with the Occupy Anchorage group downtown?

In Mayor Sullivan's quest to demonstrate mayoral power to a homeless man, did the mayor just pass a law that sets the stage for confrontation between the peaceful and nonviolent Occupy Anchorage movement and the Anchorage Police Department?

Henry David Thoreau, in "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" (1849), wrote, "If ... the machine of government ... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law."

Perhaps we should all head downtown on the day this anti-civil rights ordinance becomes law, sit down and occupy the sidewalk.

Shannyn Moore can be heard weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on KOAN 1020 AM/95.5 FM radio. Her weekly TV show can be seen Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. on KYUR Channel 13.