By Jim Sack

Prohibition. K-2. The police chief said it would be very hard to enforce. It was explained that banning K-2 would not ban K-3 or J-2, or a substance of slightly dissimilar chemical configuration; the health commission admitted that she had precious little data upon which to base her call for a ban, it was noted to testing for K-2 would cost tens of thousands, but in the end council voted to “prohibit the purchase, possession, sale and offering for sale of the Synthetic Cannabianoid, known as ‘Spice’ or ‘K-2′ and for other purposes.”

How could they do otherwise? Any smart politician can spot bovine fecal matter in the road and avoid it. So it was last night, only Karen Goldner, for a variety of reasons, voted against the ban. Tim Pape, to his credit, asked a series of questions of a witness at the “un-public hearing,” of a woman who identified herself as representing an anti-drug and alcohol consortium, that allowed her to support regulation, as opposed to prohibition, as the better course. After Mr. Pape worked her to her natural conclusion: prohibition didn’t and doesn’t work. She, too, blithely called for a ban.

Many young white men testified that they were users and were quite comfortable regulating the substance, but not prohibiting it. Why not prohibit alcohol, tobacco, and a hundred other substances that are known to injure, that have more than anecdotal data describing their damage to society? No council member had a response. A young man noted one local incident where K-2 was associated with a traffic accident, but wondered why texting and driving, was still legal. Why not ban any act that takes one’s eyes off the road, say applying make up and driving? Blacks all lined up in favor of the prohibition, Glynn Hines nodding agreement with those he concurred and leaving the table or snorting when someone with whom he disagreed spoke.

Nope, the members of council all wanted quickly to get that vote behind them, no one wanted to be labeled the equivalent of a drug pusher by a coming opponent. You can almost see the moment at the town hall meeting, image the negative ad, listen to the talk show hysterics. Let us get this one behind us.

The prohibition was introduced by Mitch Harper, a man who describes himself as a libertarian. Normally, that philosophy would suggest no penalties for private use, but penalties for associated behavior, if that behavior occurs in public. Smoke the stuff at home, but don’t drive or go to work under its influence. The marketplace will regulate your conduct at work, police will pull you over for reckless driving. But, Mr. Harper wants to enact local prohibition of the substance, as is the case, he said, in Europe and eight American states. Tim Pape noted that the Republicans were all, it seemed, for a more intrusive, bigger government. More regulation, more penalties, more work for the PD. So, council voted last night to create a new class of criminals, to divert police resources from burglary, etc, to K-2 regulation and to spend a couple thousand a test to determine if K-2 might be involved. Expect a cottage industry in K-2, K-3, K912, etc, to soon seek a tax abatement while creating a dozen jobs.

Again, last night Council woman Liz Brown showed how irked she could be when the lesser beings at the table were too slow to understand what she had long ago firmly grasped. She interrupted a speaker and was reprimanded by Mr. Pape. She interrupted Council woman Goldner as the latter began to offer an amendment. Ms. Goldner sharply recommended Mrs. Brown wait until she finished the sentence. At one point Ms. Brown wondered out loud why the other members just didn’t get it. She does not suffer fools well, and from her perch the world is awash with fools.

What started a la the Keystone Cops, with arcane discussions over whether a hearing could be held and whether it would be an official public hearing, ended in a 8 to 1 vote. Credit to Ms. Goldner for avoiding ‘lemmingness.” The debate and non-hearing lasted well over an hour. It was punctuated by Tom Didier’s ramblings, humor from Councilman John Shoaff, a couple hurried runs to the men’s room, those shorts and rolling eyes, Mr. Bender’s gentle leadership and a self-destructive outburst from one witness.

To explain the “non-hearing:” apparently, some members of council had invited people to speak on the issue. That’s the Second Amendment with which President Bender is so uncomfortable. City Clerk Sandy Kennedy chided members for inviting the public, but not telling her. Coordination. Was it a public hearing or not? Council president Marty Bender calmly sorted out the mess, including a confusing opinion by the substitute council attorney and allowed everyone to speak in an unofficial hearing. The Redmond Rule, according to Mr. Harper. Mrs. Kennedy was angry (in my 27-years!!!!!!!), Mr. Bender was irritated and Mr. Harper strained to win the right for the public to weigh-in. Noble effort, but a simple “heads-up” would have helped.

The more important matter of the evening was a proposal by the Henry Administration, in the person of the able planner Pam Holocher and the understated Tom Walls, to spend $200,000 to conduct a feasibility study of the railroad crossing at Anthony just north of Wayne Trace. The completed feasibility study will then allow the city to apply for a few million in Federal transportation grants to either elevate the road way, take it under the tracks or find a different solution. Again, Council woman Brown could not restrain herself. She barged into an answer by Ms. Holocher only to hear Mr. Pape say, “Can she answer your question? You have interrupted her twice.” Then, the police chief spoke in favor or the study citing numerous times his officers, in the heat of a run, will find themselves stuck at the crossing, ditto fire runs. Thirty-five trains a day block the road, he lamented. Other than for Mrs. Brown’s usual impatience, council asked very good questions, the city reps had clearly understandable answers and the request passed nine-zero.

Last night was council at its best and not at its best.

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