Dom Giordano Column: Cops And Mayor Split On Sanctuary Stops
By Dom Giordano
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Apparently, some Philadelphia police officers need to be sent to a reeducation center to understand Mayor-Elect Jim Kenney's dictums in keeping Philadelphia as San Francisco east when it comes to being a Sanctuary City.
Cops had the temerity to stop an illegal immigrant woman on the way to a Kenney event for people who are here illegally and because she had no license, registration , or insurance , seize the vehicle. This was done under the city's Live Stop program. It should be noted that the woman cannot have any of the above under state law.
When she reached the meeting and told her story in Spanish, Kenney was outraged and swung into action. Well after hours the Parking Authority had to release the car and Kenney's media consultant personally paid for the registration and insurance for the vehicle. This Kenney operative said he did so because his father was an immigrant and had to hitch rides to work. The woman swore she would not drive the vehicle and would get someone to drive her.
So this story has a happy ending in the Land of Oz called Philadelphia. Or does it? It certainly offers a sense of what Kenney will do when he is sworn in as mayor. The message is that even though illegals can't get a driver's license, cops are to let them drive. The message is that Kenney will pick and choose which laws to follow.
There is no word on how long the vehicle is insured for but under Live Stop suspends the vehicle from operation. The media coverage reports that the media consultant only took out several hundred dollars to pay for registration and insurance. That means that the vehicle will be uninsured in the near future.
Remember if you live in the suburbs that Kenney loves to hate, the woman driver is not going to just drive in Philadelphia. In Kenney's mind , the Sanctuary City of Philadelphia is mobile.