09/10/2007: "The Removal Of Illegal Signs"

Letter to the Editor:

It is a delight to see in our local media that the County intends to go after those perps who place illegal signs along our roadways. There are, after all, very specific rules for identification and advertising of businesses or services!

While this enforcement of County Code is going on, might it be appropriate for me to mention that there are some other rules, regulations and, yes, even laws that are being broken and wholly ignored by enforcement agencies? In this context, I think of illegal aliens (you may prefer the phrase 'undocumented aliens' as long as you will also refer to a drug dealer as an 'undocumented pharmacist'), the broadly ignored seatbelt law in force in this state and, even though I personally do not recognize them, the drug deals that appear to go on 'en plein publique' anywhere and any time (as reported to me by a retired undercover narc who now resides on this island).

If the Sheriff were to take the cruiser's key away from one of its deputies and make him or her take position on the corner of Spring and First, a lot of $101 tickets could be written for disobeyance of the seatbelt law. At 90% to the state and a mere 10% to the local department, this action would still more than pay for the deputy's time and, one might think, put some money in the bank.

Many a website will provide data on the cost to the legal tax payer of the support for and maintenance of the illegal alien (the criminal, in my way of thinking). Whatever the correct numbers, the amounts are astounding and disgusting! The politically correct legislature and populace tends to change the subject on this one when that subject comes up, at least in this country, in this state and certainly in this county. Having stated that, I contend that entering the country without the proper documentation, taking or providing a job without the legal requirements and making use of the services that are funded by my tax dollars virtually demands that local law enforcement be pro-active, i.e. work more closely with the INS, even when no other laws are being broken.

I would not know how to get hold of drugs, other than the legal variety to be obtained by prescription and at the drug store, if my life depended on it. Others on the island, however, are, or should be, better versed in the observance of actions involved in the dealing of drugs. Perhaps this, too, requires prying a deputy out of the Ford Police Cruiser ....

Signed,
A local, a conservative, an interested party, a cynic and a Resident Alien (YES!!!!, I DO hold a so-called Green Card)

Ary L. Hobbel
San Juan Island