So there is this tony little area just outside of Philly called Lower Marion. It's where Kobe Bryant played his high school ball, and it is the start of what is known around here as the Main Line. Which, around these parts, is the zip- code with the most dollars.Anyway, as is always the case with these types of communities, a Negro sighting can quickly send the local police into action.
"Lower Merion's median income is $115,226, and the township of 58,000 is 85 percent white. Saldana, who grew up in the township, is Hispanic; her family hails from Peru. Her work as a translator takes her into constant contact with minority communities, and she thought she should make the incident public after her 10-year-old son's reaction to seeing the shovelers sitting in the snow.
"My son asked me, 'Are they in trouble? Did they do something wrong?' And I didn't know how to answer him," said Saldana, 49. "That question from him really left me perplexed."
The description she posted to the Lower Merion Community Network forum on Facebook prompted outrage, with more than 600 people commenting, many concerned about the incident's racial overtones.
The other shovelers questioned by police were also black, Walsh said.
Race had nothing to do with police conduct, Walsh said, and enforcing the ordinance, which requires any adult conducting door-to-door solicitation to obtain a permit, is commonplace. In the last year, police conducted 140 such stops, he said.
"There's a really good reason for that, because, business or not," he said. "Residents can be assured Lower Merion police have checked them." [Source]
I am not sure how many of you reading this live on the East Coast. But there is a long standing tradition here of folks going door to door and offering to shovel your snow after a big storm for a small price.
For those of you who don't think that racism and "color arousal" issues still persists in America, ask yourselves this question: Do you think if those folks going around and offering to shovel snow were from the majority population, they would have been held and told to sit in the snow, while theGestapo police stood over them and checked them out?
If you do, I have a wonderful antique bell here in Philly with a slight crack on the side that I would love to sell you.
But I want to be fair, so I will give you the response from my friends in Lower Marion, Township.
"My son asked me, 'Are they in trouble? Did they do something wrong?' And I didn't know how to answer him," said Saldana, 49. "That question from him really left me perplexed."
The description she posted to the Lower Merion Community Network forum on Facebook prompted outrage, with more than 600 people commenting, many concerned about the incident's racial overtones.
The other shovelers questioned by police were also black, Walsh said.
Race had nothing to do with police conduct, Walsh said, and enforcing the ordinance, which requires any adult conducting door-to-door solicitation to obtain a permit, is commonplace. In the last year, police conducted 140 such stops, he said.
"There's a really good reason for that, because, business or not," he said. "Residents can be assured Lower Merion police have checked them." [Source]
I am not sure how many of you reading this live on the East Coast. But there is a long standing tradition here of folks going door to door and offering to shovel your snow after a big storm for a small price.
For those of you who don't think that racism and "color arousal" issues still persists in America, ask yourselves this question: Do you think if those folks going around and offering to shovel snow were from the majority population, they would have been held and told to sit in the snow, while the
If you do, I have a wonderful antique bell here in Philly with a slight crack on the side that I would love to sell you.
But I want to be fair, so I will give you the response from my friends in Lower Marion, Township.
"A woman who witnessed police interacting with two men her father hired to shovel snow Tuesday worried they were questioned because of their skin color."
No mam. The police have an explanation for what you saw.
"Anti-solicitation ordinances like Lower Merion's are common and cops say they are a useful tool.
The 1964 ordinance, most recently amended in 2009, restricts "sale of goods, wares or merchandise," including magazines, home repair devices and services and contributions to some groups. When the ordinance was written, door-to-door vacuum-cleaner salesmen and magazine peddlers were common irritants.
The ordinance does not apply to teenagers or to religious, political or nonprofit groups. Anyone trying to make money by knocking on doors must acquire a permit, valid through a calendar year.
There are 18 approved permits in Lower Merion, said Mike McGrath, police superintendent.
"As far as profiling that's a bogus argument," said John Norris, police chief in Cheltenham Township, which has a similar ordinance. "It's all about public safety."
It helps protect people from criminals who pose as solicitors to case out burglary targets.
Legal experts agree the law serves a purpose.
"You also have to realize there is a history of fraud and other criminal activity associated with door to door salesmen," said Mary Catherine Roper, senior attorney with the Pennsylvania ACLU.
Police noted anti-solicitation ordinances are popular with the public.
Several lawyers, though, believed Lower Merion police may have stretched the ordinance beyond its intent. Jeff Garton, who served as town solicitor in several Bucks County municipalities, said such ordinances aren't typically designed to apply to services like snow shoveling.
Mark Portella, a Haddon Heights, NJ, attorney who represents clients accused of violating municipal law, said it was unfair to conclude police were profiling, but asked why the men were approached even though cops had received no complaints.
"It causes me some concern," he said. "They're just canvassing the neighborhood and they're going to ask them a question?"
The witness, Deborah Saldana, said police questioned the shovelers as they shoveled. Police say officers witnessed them soliciting. A picture posted by Saldana showed the two shovelers sitting in the snow while talking to police, but a township spokesman said the interaction was cordial.
Police do not need a justification to engage in a conversation with people. McGrath noted the shovelers were not detained and were free to refuse to talk with officers." [Source]
Did I mention that the bell I would like to sell you has some great historical value?
No mam. The police have an explanation for what you saw.
"Anti-solicitation ordinances like Lower Merion's are common and cops say they are a useful tool.
The 1964 ordinance, most recently amended in 2009, restricts "sale of goods, wares or merchandise," including magazines, home repair devices and services and contributions to some groups. When the ordinance was written, door-to-door vacuum-cleaner salesmen and magazine peddlers were common irritants.
The ordinance does not apply to teenagers or to religious, political or nonprofit groups. Anyone trying to make money by knocking on doors must acquire a permit, valid through a calendar year.
There are 18 approved permits in Lower Merion, said Mike McGrath, police superintendent.
"As far as profiling that's a bogus argument," said John Norris, police chief in Cheltenham Township, which has a similar ordinance. "It's all about public safety."
It helps protect people from criminals who pose as solicitors to case out burglary targets.
Legal experts agree the law serves a purpose.
"You also have to realize there is a history of fraud and other criminal activity associated with door to door salesmen," said Mary Catherine Roper, senior attorney with the Pennsylvania ACLU.
Police noted anti-solicitation ordinances are popular with the public.
Several lawyers, though, believed Lower Merion police may have stretched the ordinance beyond its intent. Jeff Garton, who served as town solicitor in several Bucks County municipalities, said such ordinances aren't typically designed to apply to services like snow shoveling.
Mark Portella, a Haddon Heights, NJ, attorney who represents clients accused of violating municipal law, said it was unfair to conclude police were profiling, but asked why the men were approached even though cops had received no complaints.
"It causes me some concern," he said. "They're just canvassing the neighborhood and they're going to ask them a question?"
The witness, Deborah Saldana, said police questioned the shovelers as they shoveled. Police say officers witnessed them soliciting. A picture posted by Saldana showed the two shovelers sitting in the snow while talking to police, but a township spokesman said the interaction was cordial.
Police do not need a justification to engage in a conversation with people. McGrath noted the shovelers were not detained and were free to refuse to talk with officers." [Source]
Did I mention that the bell I would like to sell you has some great historical value?
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