The Unknown Coast
My differently-abled son and I decided to take a walk the other night to see the full moon in downtown Redway, when the bright lights of a sheriff’s car pinned us against the lights of the local liquor store. The deputy wanted to know who I was and what I was doing. He wanted to see my ID. The reason given: the campaign against transients.
Transient? So what. Would it be a crime if my son and I were homelessly walking the public streets? The deputy called for back-up. Soon we had two CHPs in attendance. Having realized he wasn’t getting any more than “Paul Encimer of Piercy” and a reiteration of my narrative of innocent walking, the deputy told me “You are detained. Let me see your ID.”
I thought that once I was detained I was “supposed to” produce my ID. The deputy seemed confident that detaining me did the trick.. But, in fact, as a pedestrian legal etiquette does not require me to produce my “papers.” Walking isn’t a privilege yet, like driving. The county-wide campaign against transients, or trespassers, or homeless — the name keeps changing — would have us think differently. (Keep in mind: I was detained on suspicion, not of burglary or murder, but transience.)
Mark Twain once said the American people had the genius to produce the Bill of Rights and the good common sense not to use them. As the police state approaches, where everyone, everyone, has a profile, it’s become a question of: Rights? Use them or lose them.
— Paul Encimer
If a police officers down SoHum way are demanding identification from passers-by without legal right to do so, that is indeed disturbing. It’s typical of Encimer that this is his one and only point. To me, though, there’s an equally disturbing corollary: Are you telling me that there’s cops patrolling Redway who don’t know Paul Encimer? That should be its own crime.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent the town dandy
Jan. 13, 2011
The Golden Boy
Dec. 23, 2010
Wish Lists
Dec. 16, 2010
The Train Geeks Return
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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