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Author Topic: SMCM letter to the editor  (Read 983 times)
Alex Thompson
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« on: July 24, 2007, 05:12:01 PM »

I guess a letter I wrote about the police disruption of SMCM got printed in the SMDP on Saturday - page 4:

http://www.smdp.com/site/archives/072107.pdf

Also here:

http://westsidebikeside.blogspot.com/

By the way - if anyone wants to post to that blog about westside stuff it would be great . . .

Alex
« Last Edit: July 24, 2007, 05:14:50 PM by Alex » Logged

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Alex Thompson
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« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2007, 12:16:12 PM »

Read the world's most childish response to my letter:

http://www.smdp.com/site/archives/072507.pdf

Who writes such crap to a paper?  What an 8 year mentality.
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I'm never in a hurry, I'm just movin fast" - Eagles of Death Metal

http://www.BikesideLA.org/
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Gern
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« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2007, 01:08:28 PM »

I wish I could get my feelings across in a few sentences.
"Wild Biker Gang"?, "Terrorize"?
What a misguided, Probably ENERGY & OIL burning Bush agenda supporter.
As WE ALL have seen with our own eyes, (not by media spinning) All the people in front & to the sides of CM rides, loudly cheer us on & give support(like thumbs up). 
Our stopping or blocking of traffic is soo miniscule compared to other blockages that can & do occur not by bicycles.  It took me 1 1/2 hours to drive from Studio City to home(405&10) last week. 
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Franz
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« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2007, 03:44:21 PM »

Bike Gang, Terrorizing? What the Cubz weren't even there, I swear. Anywho

"That is what the most valued citizens of Santa Monica really want to see."

This is the most telling sentence of her "letter" don't worry about trying to change people like this. The sentence betrays her true feelings, it's pure classism. To be honest I would love nothing more then to prove her right with some good old fashioned class warfare.
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buttrumpus
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« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2007, 04:41:33 PM »

so i normally don't do things like this, but i sent a response in to that bitch's letter. i doubt it will be published, it goes something like this:
I wish I could have read Helen McRoskey's childish response to Alex Thompson's letter regarding police action against Critical Mass and simply laugh it off. In fact, I wish I could simply laugh off every threat motorists throw at me on my daily bicycle commute. Helen's response to the heavy-handed police action against Santa Monica's Critical Mass embodies the opinion of every motorist who cannot display common courtesy and respect to their fellow citizens, especially those of us who seek alternative means of travel in hopes of making life better for everyone.
     No participant of Critical Mass is out to "Terrorize" anyone, and we are not a "Gang," as Helen claims. It saddens me to see anyone slandering their community with such hateful buzz words, especially those who are not the minority, those whose rights are being thoroughly protected by our police force. Just last week, on my recommendation, my girlfriend decided to try biking to work to save time and frustration. When we spoke at the end of the day she was in tears, swearing she would never ride her bike to work again due to the number of blatant verbal and physical threats to her life made by motorists. This is the reality bike commuters face daily in this city, and all for our collective benefit. If the city of Santa Monica, named after the patron saint of patience and abuse victims, wishes to support this illegal, immoral, and highly depraived behavior on the part of citizens like Helen McRoskey, and continue to bully Critical Mass riders, than I am afraid the ethical and liberal standpoint this city is so famous for has been transformed into nothing more than fascism in favor of the upper class, or as Helen referred to them, "the valued citizens of Santa Monica."     
     I challenge Helen and all of those who share her viewpoint to try riding a bike through this city just for one day. I guarantee their opinion will change drastically. That is, of course, if they survive.

Its a little much, but if there is one thing i cannot stand it is the class structure of this city. no one should ever be made to feel like they are less than anyone else, especially for material shit that holds no true value. dammit, i'm all fired up now. i've gotta go rumpus around town...
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Ryan Mallery
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« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2007, 06:11:29 AM »

well said.
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