I realize that a bicyclist was killed. I understand the horrible experience losing a loved one is and how it affects those left behind to mourn. I do not intend to diminish the legitimate feelings of anger and frustration of a loss like that.

Our community must come together to put a stop to the criminal prosecution of accidents. It is simply piling one tragedy upon another. When the DA willfully and proudly announces his successful prosecution of an accident, he does us all a disservice.

I appreciate the fact that Paul Gallegos stands between us, the individual, and the out-of-whack system. At least I am more positive that justice and reason will prevail… instead of the go-with-the mob mentality that is so evident in most of the 57 or 58 Calif. counties.

The Calif. Penal Code defines the job of the District Attorney: To do justice

My definition of justice comes from law school and the State Bar…justice is NOT defined in the common manner..of the ‘outcome’ of a case..Justice is the ‘process’ of the entire case from beginning to end. Basically, You could say that justice is done because we have a ‘proceeding’ or ‘process’..
no matter what the outcome is.

I have great confidence in Mr.Gallegos’ ability to protect the rights of ‘all’ of the involved parties..including consideration of any accused or defendant’s basic rights and constitutional rights.

After all, the accused.. is always ‘us’ People from our neighborhood, school, family, business, our associates and friends..and not-friends.
Our fellow citizens..our fellow countrymen, and sometimes our elected officials and our hired or appointed people..like the policeman.

Thank you Mr.Gallegos for having the courage to stand…where so many have failed us.

George Shieman gshieman@aol.com

Quote of the day..for those who are crazy-mad at city hall: From George Carlin
“They say you can’t beat City Hall, but you can
damn sure blow it up.”

BUT.

BUT he has failed to do so. Consistently. Over and over and over again. No more excuses.

The Humboldt County Grand Jury found that “Weak leadership and poor managerial practices” have undermined the office… Implicit in all evidence gathered by the Grand Jury – including interviews with the D.A. – is the unfortunate truth that the D.A. exhibits a limited understanding of how things are done in the department” Gallegos “lacks the global perspective needed to keep the department operating efficiently,” and quotes an unnamed staff member as saying, “The D.A. does not fully understand the functionality of many of the things we do here”

Those are Daniel Mintz’s words, I believe, writing about, and quoting, the Grand Jury findings in June of 2005.

TS – Grand Jury Findings and Recommendations
ER – 2004-05 Humboldt County Grand Jury Report 6/29/2005
TS – Grand jury issues scathing DA critique June 29, 2005
“However, the informed, well-organized, diligent leadership essential during difficult times is missing,” the grand jury report said. “Operations are neither as efficient nor as effective as they must be.”
The Grand Jury Report on the DA’s office
TS – Gallegos responds to grand jury findings

Weak leadership and poor managerial practices – what has changed? This has been the case from day one.

The last election, the Times Standard opined that he should have yet another chance. Again we find that “a third term will give him a chance to see it through.”

See what through? Further degradation of the office? Lose more prosecutors? Pile more work on already overworked inexperienced hires?

Seven YEARS. And he says “I’m not an administrator, they didn’t elect me to be an administrator,”

WTF?