The Hobbs Act defines “extortion” as “the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.” 18 U.S.C. S 1951(b)(2).
Yes. Under color of official right. That would be you Justin Nickels, in my opinion.
On the front page of the Herald Times Reporter from 1-18-2012 I read that the City of Manitowoc is voting on a loan of five million dollars from Manitowoc Public Utilities to cover for the budget shortfall from 2011. Can you guess what one way they thought of to pay this loan back was? They’re jacking up parking tickets. Can you guess who’s idea it was? Our young mayor who obviously hasn’t caught up on his legalese since about 1776. What used to be a forty dollar ticket for parking on the street during winter weather is now, take a breath, two hundred dollars. That is more than parking in a handicapped spot which also went up from fifty to one hundred and fifty. Do you know what that says to me? That says, “Hey people of Manitowoc we need money. What is the most common traffic fine in Manitowoc in the winter? Probably parking on the street when it snows. Here you go silent majority, please and thank-you”. Does anyone else think the punishment doesn’t fit the “crime”?
I thought laws were made to stop criminals from committing crimes and to protect the innocent. I did not think they were made to fund the City of Manitowoc because they can’t complete simple math equations when they have to choose between doing their job and greed, corruption and instituting unconstitutional and unreasonable penalties for parking tickets.
Thank you for playing the part of an uncaring, assuming and seemingly uneducated “representative” of Manitowoc. I believe we were mistaken when we thought having a younger person such as yourself in office would work to the benefit of the people.