and now...back to 'baggy pants'
the citizens and city of alexandria, louisiana made fox news (see link) the other day.fox reported how: "Alexandria's City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to ban the baring. Its ordinance allows some sag, but 3 inches or more can bring a fine of $25 to $200 and a requirement for community service."
when news finally broke on 23 august 2007 about how cities like delcambre, louisiana had passed and cities like atlanta and alexandria, louisiana were considering passing the same or similar ordinances -- the executive director, ms. debbie seagraves, of the american civil liberties union immediately went on record to remind everyone that "this is a racial profiling bill that promotes and establishes a framework for an additional type of racial profiling," seagraves said.a normal minded person would take this to mean that the american civil liberties union is going to eventually sue any or all of the municipalities that put 'baggy pants' laws on the books. so why would you unnecessarily put your city in harms way of a very likely federal civil action against it. not to mention the damage to your cities reputation after the american civil liberties makes a fool of it? of coz thoughts of the massive attorney and legal fees the city i.e. taxpayers will have to foot is never talked about. we see that in the city of pineville, louisiana's seventeen thousand and counting dollar legal fees to bring a suit thats not even provided for in the law.three councilmen in shreveport, louisiana had the good sense to vote no, yet alexandria's seven councilmen including most curiously haberdasher harry silver unanimously voted the ordinance in. this shouldnt be surprising when just this past january they voted in the so called 'abandoned car' ordinance which like 'baggy pants' is promised, went down to court challenge and defeat. so when the attorney general's office comes to instruct the city council on louisiana open meetings law they need to throw in courses on common sense and the constitution. by the way we wonder what councilman silver's attitude towards this ordinance would be if the city was trying to outlaw a popular type of clothing that he sells?we're told that a search was done of all the state and federal and appeals courts in the land and so far there are no 'baggy pants' cases been heard. this would seem to make it most ripe for an aclu challenge.the citizens ought to demand a law that says that when a governmental body willfully and knowingly passes laws that the courts eventually strike down as unconstitutional they should have to pay the attorney fees court costs out of their own pocket (like was needed here for instance and would have helped here too) or better yet resign.32) To consider final adoption of an ordinance adding Section 15-128 to the Alexandria City Code relative to appropriate dress for persons in certain public places; to prohibit public exposure in certain attire; to provide for fines and civil penalties. (LEGAL 8/28) Charles Frederick Smith
fortunately, mayor roy went on record and said that the 'baggy pants' ordinance is "overly broad in scope" and "vague"
