I was outside in the parking lot of the State's/County's workforce Development Department(employment office) in San Bernardino today and noticed a guy driving around in a little what looked to be a miniature Jeep. I saw him stop in one of the parking lanes and get out of this little Jeepney and proceeded to take out that little pad(the kind the regular city parking enforcement attendants use) and began to write a citation. I approached him and politely asked if he was citing autos in a hugh parking lot, that was not even 1/9 filled to capacity. He never even looked up to acknowledge that another human being had addressed him. He continued writing but somehow managed to reluctantly ooze out a very weak sounding, "Uh HUM", and nothing more. This blog is not about that young city parking enforcement aid at all. I'm happy to see the young man out working and actually doing the job he'd been mandated. This blog is about something far more fundamental.
Now I admit I was a bit hurt by his apparent rudeness but I am not quick to anger nor am I reactionary. I think what disturbed me more than my own wounded pride was the gall of the city to actually send out units to issue unregistered automobile citations to individuals in a public parking lot. Yes I know it's against the law to drive an unregistered automobile in this city and people need to follow the rules. But this was simply too much. Too much because of the reason those cars were parked there in the first place.
This was not the 'Ontario Mills Mall', where shoppers are out spending money many don't have. This was an employment office(better yet, jobless people's office) for God's sake. Weary, scared people who managed to get out and attempt to find employment, any employment they could to try and keep a roof and feed babies. And I don't have to remind you what the employment situation is in this country today.
What saddened me was the gall this particular city's officials assumed With all of the real crime I'm certain is happening in that city on a daily basis, That they can focus on decent human beings out struggling to keep their heads above water by having them come out of the office to their cars to be invited by yet another 'bill'. Where are our priorities as human beings?
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Jeez, I agree with you completely.. what poor judgememt and callousness the young man and the agency he works for revealed in doing this. Why is that victims of such economic distress are so easily victimized again and again as they try to gain a toehold and climb out of the hole they are in? What an abysmal system of capitalist insanity we live in. It is shameful.
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ReplyDeleteI had been meaning to comment on this. I agree too, with you and with Jo.
I had meant to comment on your latest blog but it is gone. And I wanted to say, you shouldn't feel bad about it. We all at times cannot be real open about things. That's OK.
Thank you Linda for your comment. And I did remove my last blog at the request of a follower. Something I'm presently reconsidering. And thank you for giving me a somewhat different view.
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