El Conservador - State & Local Politics

Dealing with Homelessness

Homelessness

Homeless has become a hot topic in many communities from Charleston, WV to Los Angeles. However, the discussion does not appear as honest as it should be.

I served as HUD special assistant to Jack Kemp and as HUD director in Houston and in West Virginia, and I became very familiar with the "homeless" issues. A small percentage of homelessness results from economics, while the vast majority is caused by drug abuse and mental problems.

Drug abusers and the mentally ill are in a "recycling" nightmare caused by liberal politicians and leftist lawyers. These homeless people are regularly picked up by police, placed in rehab, and then released only to fall back again.

A dangerous time for police officers and public safety

War on Police Liberals and leftists are winning the public relations and legislative battles against law enforcement officers, and the worst victims are going be law-abiding citizens and public safety. Race-baiters and liberal/leftist politicians are defending criminal behavior in the name of “civil rights,” and endangering police officers with ridiculous requirements and restrictions.

NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo was fired by the NYPD in the matter of the death of Eric Garner, even though Pantaleo went through two judicial reviews and was found innocent. Liberal/leftist NY mayor Bill di Blasio reacted to the demands of angry emotional race-baiters, rather than respect the legal system.

Also, the liberal press and leftist politicians ignore the facts that Garner was breaking the law, that he refused to follower requests to leave, and that he resisted arrest. They also overlook that Garner was a large, heavy man who outweighed any of the officers involved.

More Villainizing of the Police

SAPD badge Last Thursday, July 18, there was an emotional and irresponsible reaction by “community leaders” to a decision by a Bexar County Grand Jury not to indict a San Antonio police officer for the accidental shooting of a black teen. Sadly, it appeared some community leaders were more interested in fueling the emotions and in revenge than justice.

Any accidental shooting is tragic, and the emotions of the family members of the victim are raw and tender, and emotions always cloud reason and logic. However, "justice" is based on facts, and sometimes it is emotionally difficult to accept.

Out of Control "Young Men of Color"

Police Doused with Water A third incident occurred yesterday, Wednesday, July 24 where young hoodlums doused two NYPD officers, but this time the cops are two black women. The only commonality in all three incidents is that “young men of color” were the attackers.

The behavior of these “young men of color” if reflective of the “thug culture” that is excused and glorified among minority youth. The violent and anti-social behavior, including dysfunctional families, is justified by liberals because these young men of color are “victims of society.”

Leftist politicians and community leaders use the victim mentality to advance their political agenda, and they brand anyone who challenges them as “racist.” However, there is a crumbling sub-society within our larger society that has no self-control but with a deep sense of entitlement.

Julian Castro Continues to Show His anti-Police Views

War on Police Julian Castro continues to pander to leftist, anti-police Democrats in his presidential campaign by proposing national policies that would undercut police officers’ authority, and make them and citizens more vulnerable to criminals. He is proposing to remove “qualified immunity” from the law that shields government officials, including police officers, from personal liability for their actions while conducting their jobs, and it would allow people to sue the officers directly for all and any actions.

Because police officers are public servants and involved in (life and death) decision-making activities, they are protected under law by “qualified immunity.” It is their protection from personal legal liability, and one of the reasons why cities pay for civil settlements to “victims” of police actions.

In Castro’s thinking, by removing “qualified immunity,” it would be easier for people to sue the police officers personally, as well as sue the municipality that employs them. He believes this would force the police to personally more responsible for their jobs and stop “unnecessary police violence.”