Thursday, October 27, 2011
Leland Yee Calls on Ed Lee to Stop Wasting Tax Dollars Threatening Occupy SF with Police Raids
SAN FRANCISCO – Senator Leland Yee issued the following statement in response to threats from interim mayor Ed Lee to raid the Occupy San Francisco encampment and his decision to organize police in riot gear last night:
“Ed Lee needs to stop wasting tax dollars threatening San Franciscans with a police raid. Last night, he directed hundreds of police officers to organize in armored riot gear to raid the Occupy San Francisco encampment. Threatening a raid of this peaceful protest is wrong and it is also wrong to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay for unnecessary law enforcement personnel.
Throughout the evening and morning, I proudly joined the 99% awaiting police action. While hundreds gathered, there was not one incident of violence. If the interim mayor thinks there are health issues, I certainly didn’t see them. And the proper response is not to engage the Police Department but instead the Department of Public Health.
We are a city that respects individuals’ right to assembly and we need our top executive to stop threatening law-abiding citizens and wasting precious tax dollars that could be much better spent to improve our communities.”
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