Drainbows And Other Deadbeats

[Ah Pook]

Like in another thread, not painting with a broad brush...but.

We get to deal with these dregs of society every year. Trashing the forest. Hanging out/begging/stealing in town. Even the local hippies shake their head when the bus unloads.

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2014/07/rainbow_family_stabbing_pit_bull_attack_norman_whe atley.php

Good luck to those dealing with the Red Feather gathering. You'll need it.

[stoner01]

Should be interesting. And riotfest in September. Fun times ahead

[Sawin]

Sheriff Smith was already talking about them on facebook yesterday. ha. Good luck Larimer Co.

[newracer]

From Sheriff Smith


Another Larimer County disaster unfolding?: Yesterday, as deputies were affecting the arrest of the individual we believe responsible for the stabbing at the Rainbow Family Gathering outside of Red Feathers, I took the time to personally visit and survey the site.

We are told this is a seed camp- in layman's terms, this is the site selection committee sent out a few weeks early to determine where the "family" will hold their gathering, which we're told is supposed to begin in earnest around the first of August.

Several things I learned concern me, because I believe they will be a safety and resource concern to area residents, to the county and to the condition of our forest lands.

First, before this event even gets started, we've had a stabbing. That in and of itself is a major concern. While at the "camp" yesterday, I personally witnessed significant tension between different factions who are present. One of the persons I spoke with mentioned another fight that had occurred since- however, he could not provide many specific details or identities of anyone involved. This propensity towards violence is a significant concern.

Second, one of my deputies spoke to an attendee who told him of how they dealt with issues like theft and rape internally, within the group. It would appear that the "family" considers those two criminal acts to be on par with each other and that they are generally accepted as outcomes of their gatherings. It would appear their response is not to report these crimes, but to handle these crimes themselves. The LCSO does not take sexual assault lightly and neither does our community. Further, whether they're stealing from each other or stealing from the nearby business and communities- we are committed to protecting property.

Next, one of the individuals that we spoke with told us that they were hoping to have between 2 and 3 thousand attendees at their gathering (which is supposed to last about 2 weeks). Based on the information I've received on their other gatherings, this results in significant and lasting environmental damage to those lands.

While the USFS regulations require a permit for any gathering of more than 75 people on forest lands (the county's regulations require a special event permit for gatherings larger than 300), we are told that when the Rainbow Family shows up, the group denies they have a leader who can speak for the group and they refuse to sign permits, so oftentimes, high level USFS officials have simply chosen to look the other way. As your Sheriff- that is simply not acceptable. If the USFS expect their ranger to enforce rules on everyone else, they should be equally enforced on the Rainbow Family Gatherings.

I've read recent reports that taxpayers have footed the bill for amounts as high as a half a million dollars to cover the costs of these events. If these folks want to travel freely, that is their business- but if their travels create significant financial burdens on the working, taxpaying local communities, that's our business.

One of the big problems is that while these events occur on federally controlled lands, it the local communities that get stuck with the responsibility to respond to medical emergencies, fires, drownings, drug overdoses, assaults, etc and we also get stuck footing the bill. That simply is not acceptable.

What have I done? So far, I've called several high level federal officials to express our concerns and opposition to allowing these potentially dangerous and destructive events on public lands within our county. So far, I've gotten general words of support- but I am waiting to see if that support actually materializes. I've learned to be skeptical.

Additionally, the LCSO team has been directed to create and implement an operational plan to establish with those already in the area (estimated to be around 50-70 people) that we will expect compliance with all state laws and county ordinances. We're also working with other county agencies and other local entities to assure that they are aware of the potential event and preparing them to respond as well.

We are making sure we know what all of our legal options are and then assuring that we are prepared to implement those options. It's going to cost us a lot of time and money, but I believe it will be a lot cheaper to spend the money up front to save the disaster that appears to be headed our way if we don't draw a line in the sand now.

[cstone]

Romani in America. Maybe if we play loud music, directed at their camp, they will move along.

[Ah Pook]

^ Beat me to it.

What really chaps my a$$ is the USFS's selective enforcement.


While the USFS regulations require a permit for any gathering of more than 75 people on forest lands (the county's regulations require a special event permit for gatherings larger than 300), we are told that when the Rainbow Family shows up, the group denies they have a leader who can speak for the group and they refuse to sign permits, so oftentimes, high level USFS officials have simply chosen to look the other way. As your Sheriff- that is simply not acceptable. If the USFS expect their ranger to enforce rules on everyone else, they should be equally enforced on the Rainbow Family Gatherings.

The campgrounds around here have a 2 week limit. We have people show up and stay, in the same place, all summer. When they leave, there is trash, feces, needles, camping gear, etc. left behind. People complain but little is done.

[Dave_L]

Wow. Good luck with that group. I haven't heard of this until now but sounds like some winners. Oh wait, everyone is awesome in this world and if you don't like rape, don't have one.

[colorider]

Roll in w a giant water tanker truck and fire hoses. Spray the hippies. M or just air drop a lot of soap on them. They hate that stuff

[cstone]

Am I the only one who reads Rainbow Connection and hears the song from the Muppet Movie?

Does that make me gay? Not that there is anything wrong with that. [Coffee]

[Ah Pook]

Am I the only one who reads Rainbow Connection and hears the song from the Muppet Movie?

Does that make me gay? Not that there is anything wrong with that. [Coffee]

Yes
Yes
Maybe
Not my business



[werdo][LOL]

[kidicarus13]

Sounds like a recipe for disaster and lots of overtime for the deputies.

[blackford76]

How much does the permit cost, and what is the bag limit?

[Great-Kazoo]

^ Beat me to it.

What really chaps my a$$ is the USFS's selective enforcement.



The campgrounds around here have a 2 week limit. We have people show up and stay, in the same place, all summer. When they leave, there is trash, feces, needles, camping gear, etc. left behind. People complain but little is done.


Thankfully there is no shooting. Or they'd be tossed out in a heartbeat. We know how folks feel about shooting in state & national parks.

[Danceswithwires]

Just what we need, more dirty hippies, seems like I'm seeing more young hippie types begging on intersection corners lately and that sucks

[TFOGGER]

Thankfully there is no shooting. Or they'd be tossed out in a heartbeat. We know how folks feel about shooting in state & national parks.

Try riding a dirt bike over Rollins Pass. The rangers will go full tactical. Even though by federal law (James Peak Wilderness Act), either the Needle's Eye Tunnel OR the Boulder Wagon Road are supposed to be open.

[Ah Pook]

Technically, the JPWA does not meet the definition of "wilderness". Go figure.

[spqrzilla]

Maybe if we play loud music, directed at their camp, they will move along.

Oh, yeah, they absolutely hate loud music ...

[Great-Kazoo]

Oh, yeah, they absolutely hate loud music ...

Perry Como and some Chairman to top it off.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmQq6yLe2ww

[Jim B]

Maybe if we play loud music, directed at their camp, they will move along.

Slayer. It's the only answer. [rockon]

[Ah Pook]

Y'all are being too nice. Got straight to 11.

Pick one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eso1rKRIr0

[GilpinGuy]

Repulsion

[driver]

I was just reading about the mess they left behind in UT. I didn't know they were headed to CO. I hoped they were headed west.

[driver]

No Vacancy!

http://m.ksl.com/index/story/sid/30557244?mobile_direct=y

[Aloha_Shooter]

The Rainbow Family is like a less political version of OWS. Blights on humanity but there will always be people who seek to avoid responsibility and and live off the fruits of others' labor.

[kidicarus13]

Wonder how the hippie fest turned out?

[Aloha_Shooter]

Wonder how the hippie fest turned out?

Maybe they moved on to Ferguson, MO?

[Ah Pook]

Wonder how the hippie fest turned out?
Sheriff Smith let it be known that there was not going to be a gathering in Larimer Co.