SubscribeSec. 13-3. Restriction on the use of certain athletic parks.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person over the age of twelve (12) years to use the athletic field in Milam Park in the city which lies contiguous to Norman Road for the purpose of playing baseball or softball.
(b) For the purposes of this section, one shall be considered as playing baseball or softball if he is a participant on a team which is playing or practicing baseball or softball on said field or if he strikes a baseball or softball with a bat while located on that field or throws a baseball or softball on that field; provided, however, nothing contained herein shall preclude any person who is acting as a coach for children twelve (12) years old and under to participate in coaching drills with such children.
(c) The city shall post signs at the subject field to inform the public of the restrictions as set forth in this section.
(d) Any person who shall be in violation of this section shall be punished in accordance with section 1-7 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 167, § 1, 8-6-91)
I read all 8 pages, and the reasoning is basically that he doesn't want to piss off the xenophobic American-born residents, who are the most of the people who can vote, though they are not the majority of the tax payers. (Apartment dwellers pay property tax through their rent - it's not direct, so no one pays attention to them.)
So, no, he doesn't have a good reason. There is no reason that soccer would be any rougher on the field than American football - in fact, in Toronto, we generally have soccer fields as a default and they never needed any special care. This is just plain xenophobia and racism - if not on the part of the Mayor, then on the part of the people he is trying to please.
posted by jb at 12:42 PM PST on January 23 [+] [!]
With two million members, new recruits joining the secret rolls daily, a host of friendly politicians throughout the land and his internal enemies subdued for the moment, Evans wanted to influence the presidential election of 1924. He even shifted his national headquarters from Atlanta to Washington. The Klan had a foothold in both parties since Deep South members tended to be Democrats while Klansmen in the North and West were often Republicans.(Emphasis added.) And here are "artifacts... representative of widespread KKK activity in New York State in the 1920s. An estimated 80,000 New Yorkers belonged to the Klan. In fact, New York had the seventh highest membership in the nation." I don't know what the fuck NASCAR has to do with anything. In short: keep your head up your ass if you like, but spare us the view from in there.
"When Lee Swaney first ran for City Council in Clarkston more than 15 years ago, he did so as an unabashed representative of “Old Clarkston” — Clarkston before the refugees. It was certainly the more politically viable stance. Because few of the refugees have been in the country long enough to become citizens and vote, political power resides with longtime residents. The 2005 election that gave Mr. Swaney a second four-year term as mayor of this town of 7,100 was determined by just 390 voters.The article does go on to point out that the Mayor had acted on behalf of the refugee population by ousting a long-time police chief on grounds that his officers were harassing them. That takes bravery - but it doesn't excuse the fact that he has decided that the refugees are only welcome in his town if they don't do unAmerican things like want to play soccer.
A retarded Georgia mayor. What a fuckin' surprise.Another bigoted MeFite. What a fuckin' surprise.
bigoted adjective: prejudiced, biased, partial, one-sided, sectarian, discriminatory; opinionated, dogmatic, intolerant, narrow-minded, blinkered, illiberal; racist, sexist, chauvinistic, jingoistic; warped, twisted, distorted. (OSX Dictionary)Well, I suppose I am discriminatory, even opinionated and sometimes intolerant. As are we all.
The City of Clarkston has received several emails expressing concern for the
Fugees soccer team stemming from a recent New York Times article. There is
a misconception that the Fugees team and soccer in general is banned in the
City of Clarkston parks. Please be assured that this is not the case and
the Fugees have been practicing on Armstead Field since October 2006.
The New York Times reporter repeatedly confuses Milam Park Field - which is
dedicated to little league baseball and unsuitable for soccer - with
Armstead Field which is where the Fugees continue to play. The only
limitations we have ever placed on either Armstead Field or Milam Park field
are to restrict the usage to children only.
We are deeply disappointed in the tone of Mr. St. John's article. The
report is factually inaccurate and several statements are taken out of
context - apparently to present a more dramatic story and arrive at his own
conclusions.
We are very proud of the Fugee's success which is a positive outcome from
Clarkston being among the most culturally diverse cities in Georgia. Our
population is 55.7 % African American, 19.4% Caucasian, 12.6% Asian and
12.3% representing over 52 nationalities. Our diversity is also reflected
in Clarkston's City Council of six members with two African Americans and a
Vietnamese refugee. I am delighted to see the recognition that Coach Mufleh
and her team are receiving for their impressive success story. The Fugees
represent the best of what the human spirit can accomplish by overcoming
oppressive conditions in their native countries and coming together in their
new community to achieve success through the power of sports and team work.
In October 2006, I encouraged Coach Luma Mufleh to attend a City Council
meeting to request the use of Armstead Field for her soccer program. At
that meeting, the Clarkston City Council unanimously approved her request to
use Armstead Field for the remainder of this soccer season which is March
2007. Because of her program's tremendous success and positive contribution
to Clarkston, I see no reason it will not continue. In fact, Coach Mufleh
will return to the February Council meeting to renew her agreement to use
Armistead Field for another year.
In December, we did receive several complaints that groups of adult men were
playing soccer on Armstead Field. This is a violation of the allowed use of
the field. We tried to contact Coach Luma several times to determine if the
men were affiliated with the Fugees. When she could not be reached, a
letter was sent to the YMCA to put the program on hold until a newly hired
sports coordinator was on board. I was then contacted by Coach Luma and she
assured me the men were not affiliated with the Fugees Soccer Program. I
immediately reinstated the use of Armstead Field for their practices.
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It's the way that we rock when we're doing our thang
Oooh La La La,
It's the natural LA that the Refugees Bring
Oooh La La La La La La Lalala La Laaah,
Sweeeeet Thing
posted by rxrfrx at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2007