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Cedar Falls Bureaucrats to Property Owners: Give us the keys to your property…

If it's government doing it, it must be for their own good...

By: LaborUnionReport (Diary)  |  June 12th, 2011 at 08:00 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA


“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Benjamin Franklin

In late May, property owners in Cedar Falls, Iowa had their city government vote (6 to 1) in the second of three votes (the third vote will be held on Monday) to force owners to place lock boxes on their property giving the Fire Department access.

The lock boxes are located on the outside of a building, and keys to gain entry are located inside the safe-like box. The fire department keeps a master key and can use it to gain entry when an alarm goes off or during a fire.

The ordinance saw little resistance when it was first adopted in 2004 and had only Councilman Nick Taiber argue against the update when the first reading passed two weeks ago.

But on Monday, Taiber was joined by five citizens who protested the lock box provisions, saying it was an expense government was forcing on property owners and an invasion of privacy.

Kyle Baker cited quotes from Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson in questioning whether ease of acccess should be worth the loss of freedom for property owners.

While a version of the ordinance passed in 2004, it required the boxes for commercial buildings and apartment buildings with six or more units. The new ordinance now would require lock boxes for buildings with three or more apartments.

While the council members tried to allay concerns that they keys could not be abused or stolen and that it is not intended for private homes (except for the renters of apartments, that is), property owners were vocalized their displeasure.

Here is a video of the council meeting:



If the measure passes on Monday, it will become law and Cedar Falls will be a little more safe–and a little less free.

_________________

“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

Cross-posted.

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  • Deskpilot

    can’t government get it through their collective head, and understand the basic tenant that they continually impoeded liberty.
    The local government might rather have made it a VOLUNTARY program with some incentives attached, say, a 1/2% reduction of business taxes for participating owners.
    EVERY government program is subject to abuse and fraud.

    • BigRedConservative

      The disregard for liberty is an ingrained problem embedded in society by “progressives” to facilitate their thefts of liberty. If we want to end this sort of stuff, we’ve got to change the view of society

  • gpclaw

    As a society, we seem willing to grant the authorities leeway in areas of public safety. When we grant the government authority to make only minor encroachments on liberty, we are giving the thumbs up to any broader encroachments that come with the eventual expansion of that power.

    The time for the residents of Cedar Falls, was back in 2004. No doubt, the members of the community probably paid the issue no mind, because the ordinance applied to others, and not to themselves.

    The power of government is black and white. What the government has the authority to do to others today, they have the authority to do to you in the future.

  • Tbone

    trying to find the right key as opposed to just busting down the door.

    This just proves that the majority of people who run for office are idiots.

  • boonerdan

    What’s next, the quartering of law enforcement or military in our homes? Any American who supports or adheres to this should be ashamed of themselves and should not be allowed to call themselves an American! The sheep keep lining up for the slaughter.

  • partyof1

    If I’m on fire, I’m ok with the FD breaking down my door.

    • Deskpilot

      To a major extent, remember that Fire Department now employ paramedics for medical assistance. In a simple case of, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up,” (R), or a heart attack, the destruction of a door for acces could be seen as overkill. For a raging fire, yeah, Master Key as above is FINE w/ me.
      In concept, the idea isn’t necessarily a bad one, but it’s definitely a ‘slippery slope.’

  • johnt

    Coffee, soft drinks, finger sandwiches & cookies mandatory. Sleep over provisions, bathroom privileges and financial consideration for Department inconvenience, also to be required.
    Bowing and other forms of supplication will not be required Mayor states, “after all, we are a free country”.

  • freemanja1991

    Cedar Falls is a liberal college town, but a couple of those members might loose their election on Novemember 8th.

  • determined

    Just creepy! It does matter what a large part of the population thinks. It will particularly matter when election time comes around.

  • cirby

    Now, the criminals only have to steal one key, one time, to have free access to every apartment and business in town.

    Lovely.

    • http://pocketchangeproductions.net/ anotherindyfilmguy

      Once the keys are out there anyone can use them…
      the SWAT team at 4:00AM or thieves, or worse…

  • jiminga

    Before retiring I was involved with operatiog some rather large retail chains and whenever this issue arose we simply put a old unused key in the lockbox. Lots better than fighting city hall and raising suspicions about firefighters’ integrity.

  • renny

    either through health (or medical care) or safety (where helmets, yadda) and if we keep accepting those propositions, the redistributionists will NEVER have an end of ways to help us get improved by progressive standards.

    • johnstoirvin

      “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the
      pretense of taking care of them.” –Thomas Jefferson

  • renny

    “wear helmets”–it comes from teaching too many students who think green is grene.

  • pantera

    if 1 master key goes missing does everyone then have to change their lock?

    • ronaldbeebe

      Not too long ago, our local state prison lost track of a set of keys. They claimed it was only to the admin areas and no prisoner security was compromised. (I hope they were right). According to my neighbor (who is an officer there), the loss was treated very cavalierly. If one arm of the government can have a problem with key control, they all can.

  • standingonthewall

    If this is not insanity…??

  • blogan2

    I think it was, “If you want, you can give us a key and we’ll use it if your alarm goes off. It the alarm goes off and we don’t have a key, we’ll just break a window. Your choice.”

  • pgrossjr

    “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” – Benjamin Franklin

  • twiny1

    Wisconsin court upholds GPS tracking by police. . .

    Michigan’s ‘Financial Martial Law’ in Action – Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Strips Power from Elected Officials. . .

    Both fought for by republican administrations, both egregious violations of our constitutional rights, both apparently fine with the republicans that supported them. . .

    You conservatives were utterly unconcerned with the Bush presidency that gave itself unlimited powers in an unlimited war: the power to seize citizens and non-citizens at will without due process under emergency laws, the power to torture victims to procure rationales for future warfare and retroactive casus belli, and the power to ransack anyone’s private property. You were all oh, so blind to these tactics used to circumvent the constitution because they were essential for national security.

    Now you’re here squalling over whether or not the fire dept. should have a key for multi dwelling buildings.

    You people have no common sense. . .

    • gunslingr45

      people you refer to on here troll are not the same ones you describe. We here at redstate know them as RINO’s or dem lite as some call them.
      So if your just looking to pick a fight, go pick your nose instead. You will get more for your effort.

      So many RINO’s, so little time.

  • gunslingr45

    Does their ax and feet not work anymore?

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