<div dir="ltr"><div id="module-position-NlcwKpx4v1U" class=""><h2 class="">A Southern California city is considering a new policy that would punish residents who repeatedly use "foul language".</h2></div><div id="module-position-NlcwKpwZEzg" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><img class="" itemprop="url" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f6971d504a6d894cb7944de3d383c26c5c6bb869/c=0-0-533-401&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/WUSA/breakingnews/2014/10/15/635490074529380006-635490019508948170--indianwells.JPG-20120405.jpg" alt="635490074529380006-635490019508948170--indianwells.JPG-20120405"><span class=""></span></div><p class=""><span class=""><span class="">(Photo: Nicole C. Brambila, The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun)</span></span></p></div></div><div id="module-position-NlcwKpwRQ-o" class=""><div class=""><span class=""><span class=""></span><span class="">CONNECT</span></span><a class="" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A//on.wusa9.com/1w83jo7&text=%27Foul%20language%27%20could%20cost%20town%27s%20residents%20perks&via=wusa9" target="_blank"><span class=""></span><span class="">TWEET</span></a><a class="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=http%3A//on.wusa9.com/1w83jo7&mini=true" target="_blank"><span class=""></span><span class="">LINKEDIN</span></a><span class=""><span class=""></span><span class="">COMMENT</span></span><span class=""><span class=""></span><span class="">EMAIL</span></span><span class=""><span class=""></span><span class="">MORE</span></span></div></div><p>PALM
SPRINGS, Calif. — A Southern California city is considering a new
policy that would punish residents who repeatedly use "foul language" or
exhibit "disrespectful behavior" toward city officials.</p><p>The City
Council in Indian Wells, a city of 5,000 people in the Coachella Valley,
will vote Thursday on a sweeping civility mandate. If passed, this
policy would punish residents who exhibit "disrespectful behavior" by
revoking perks — such as free tickets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden
and hefty golf and spa discounts — offered to all Indian Wells property
owners.</p><p>But some residents, and at least one councilman, said such
a stringent policy is overkill. Councilman Doug Hanson said the policy
would grant the city manager "dictatorial powers."</p><p>"The proposed
policy goes far beyond what is reasonable or necessary," Hanson said.
"It literally creates something one might expect to see in a police
state."</p><p>The proposed policy gives City Manager Wade McKinney sole
discretion to temporarily revoke a resident's perks. City residents
could also lose their perks if they violate city municipal codes,
including the ones that govern council elections. And residents could
see a lifetime ban from the perks if they are repeat offenders.</p><p>McKinney
said the proposed policy is a response to problems the city has seen in
recent years. The policy was drafted, at his request, by the city's
community activities committee.</p><p>McKinney insisted his authority is
not as encompassing as some believe. Most offenses are "black and
white" and not open to interpretation.</p><p>"If you scammed your way
into the tennis suite and you didn't actually have suite tickets, that
is an obvious violation," McKinney said. "I would be the person to
implement it. Someone has to notify you that an offense has occurred."</p><p>Earlier
this year, a man from neighboring Palm Desert was arrested on
allegations that he falsified a deed so he could pretend to live in
Indian Wells to get free tennis tickets. He was sentenced to three years
probation.</p><p>Ed Doran, an Indian Wells resident, said he felt the civility policy gives the city manager too much power.</p><p>"He
will be the judge and jury in determining whether you assisted in any
violation … and he can , if he chooses, take your (perks)," Doran said
in an e-mail. "No complaint, no defense counsel, no trial, no rights,
just Wade!"</p><p><br></p><p><a href="http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/15/foul-language-policy-california-town/17336037/">http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/15/foul-language-policy-california-town/17336037/</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************
</div>