here was the response...

after several forwards, this is the reponse i got. no refund, but i am going to call. for those who care:

Response to complaint:
Mr. Sean Henry,
During the Mardi Gras season each year the Police Department must
control the large number of pedestrians that come to the 6th St
entertainment district to celebrate. This requires the safety closure
of
streets and towing of vehicles from 6th street between Brazos and I35
and
the 500 & 600 blocks of Sabine, Red River, Neches, Trinity and San
Jacinto.
This is done for the protection of property, to allow room for the
pedestrians and room for the police to operate should the situation
require.

While the temporary NO Parking signs are smaller that the regularly
posted
signs, they were in place before 6:00am on Friday morning, they were
posted
by the Downtown Area Command officers on the Thursday night shift.
You have stated there was a sign when you went out to check on your
car. The
officers did not put up the signs after you left our car.

The temporary signs stated vehicles would be towed after 5:30 pm on
both
Friday (24th) and Saturday (25th). The streets were not going to be
closed
until 6:30 pm and that is why you were allowed to drive past the
motorcycle
officers.

The Police Department will be unable to provide you a direct refund. If
you
wish to contact the City of Austin Law Department, you may contact
Mr.Dick
Wills, an adjustor, at 974-6325.

Lt Darrell Boydston, Special Events Unit, 974-5213

-----Original Message-----
From: Jung, Michael [APD]
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:56 AM
To: Boydston, Darrell [APD]
Subject: FW: apd3 - Abuse

Do you want to respond to this or do you need DTAC to do it?

Michael Jung
Commander, Downtown Area Command[Boydston, Darrell [APD]]
Austin Police Department

-----Original Message-----
From: APD PIO
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 8:46 AM
To: Jung, Michael [APD]
Subject: FW: apd3 - Abuse

For your response please. Thanks.

Toni Chovanetz
Public Information
(512) 974-5336

-----Original Message-----
From: vernor00@yahoo.com [mailto:vernor00@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 8:01 PM
To: APD PIO
Subject: apd3 - Abuse


Date/Time Submitted: Friday, 2/24/06, 2000 hours
From: Sean Henry
E-mail address: vernor00@yahoo.com
Subject: Abuse
Comments:
To those who serve and protect -

why do cops make it so hard to like them?

This is a letter I wrote to the Austin Police Department just a few minutes ago... I'll let you know if I ever get a reponse or apology.

To those who serve and protect -

Please read my whole story, before you continue on to others. Thanks in advance.

I suppose people party tonight (Feb. 24th) on 6th Street. I am not one of those people.

Tonight I simply wanted to take my wife to dinner at Dan McClusky's @301 6th Street. We passed two motorcyle policemen and parked at the restaurant at 5:45PM in the "7am-7pm 2 hr parking" area. This sign was apparently not true, for tonight.

At 7:20pm just before getting the check for the end of dinner, lights flash from a tow truck outside the restaurant. My wife brings this to my attention and to my dismay, the truck is backed up to my car. I ran outside to see what this strange commotion was all about.

7 or 8 cops were gathered around my car, 2 video cameras were taping the "action," and I inquired, "what's going on?" The response was much less than corgial from the police, "Is this your car?" "Yes," I reply. "He's gonna tow your car." "What?" I ask, completely unaware of why this would be happening.

The cop points to a small 8.5x11" white piece of paper that is 5-7 feet below the "7-7" parking sign. Apprently this small sliver of paper negates parking here after 5:30pm on this evening only. THIS SIGN WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE ARRIVED AT 5:45PM! Nor did anyone make my wife and I aware of this evening's policy, even though we passes and were passed by at least 4 motorcycle cops on 6th Street.

The fee for the police calling the tow truck for a sign that wasn't there when we parked was $25 (would have been $150 had we been towed). I didn't have the cash, so I had to use the ATM while the police looked on and laughed at the situation. They acted as if it was my fault that this happened, even though THEY DID NOT POST THE SIGN til after we parked there.

I would like a refund of my $25, please. This is an expense that fallas on the police department's shoulders for being ill-prepared and unapologetic. The APD called the tow truck, they should be required to pay the fee.

As a faithful and law-abiding Austinite, I would appreciate aid from those asked (and bound) to serve and protect rather than the exploitation and belittlement shown towards me tonight.

Please hear my honest plea for the justice you claim to uphold.

Please call when you recieve this email

Thank you for your time -

Sean Henry
(214) 679 7552
1509 Enfield
Austin TX, 78703

______________________

Sometimes you just feel screwed by the "empire" (okay, well alot of times, but even more so now).

Understanding the Truth of Coming of Age Films: lessons learned during the first night in NYC

1 – This is America?
- I’ve been to other countires and felt like a foreigner. That’s normal, things work differently. Systems are similar but different. Languages are cryptic. But that’s how I feel in NYC. A strangely huge-seeming island, but people live here. This is a foreign land. And at the same time – totally “American.”
2 – I am white.
- Our taxi cab driver had a bit of an accent. We thought it might be from some island descent like Jamaica or Haiti. Never got to pleasantries to find out. When we crossed the bridge into Manhattan, we had to pay the toll. Usually the cab drivers have an EZ pass that negates this fee, but for whatever reason – this cabbie’s pass was broke. When Mel inquired about this, he got defensive, turned the station to a hip-hop song detailing the rape of “Mother Africa” by the white man’s capitalism, and then turned up the volume so we would be sure to hear it. From this musical intro, the DJ took the helm and lead the conversation to everyone’s subjectivity to white supremacy and priveledge. Had I been to NY before, perhaps I would have spoken up as I wanted to – but I didn’t want to start out my vacation in any kind of fight. I swallowed by desire to attempt an honest dialogue and apology for my whiteness, and chose instead to simply listen. It really felt like a scene from the movie Crash, in which one character jumps to wildly racist conclusions do to some prior disheartening event in his past. I simply sat amazed that my intro to NY was entrenched in the city’s racial squabbles.
3 - Everyone in NY works an angle.
- “You need a ride. I have Town Car. You come wit me. Where-eva you need go.” “No.” Man in suit says same thing to person beside us.
- Our “apartment” is owned by a “hotel” that runs its business out of the 14A apartment of the building in which we are staying. Yep, sound confusing – because it is. The gum-smacking, hip-hop lyric jamming, “wad-a-ya need?” asking receptionist sent us down to our room on the 4th floor. A bit excited and overwhelmed from the total disorientation of the “check-in” experience, we head towards our room. We enter the key into the lock, only to have the door swing open. Music. Awkward look. Proceed cautiously. Lights switches don’t work. Okay. Ah – a lamp works. Check closets, Shower curtain. Under bed. Whew. Turn off music. Return to lock door from the inside. Dishes – dirty. Towels – three, and all different colors. We did get everything the hotel said we would – nothing more, nothing less. Funny how those little ugly pictures on the wall and carpet make such a difference in how a hotel rooms feels welcoming.
- Umbrella? Fruit? Hot dog? Newspaper? Purse, Watch, Hat? Who knew one could accessorize on the way to work?

NYC – the cultural teacher. What a great trip!

choices

Tis good to be encouraged by the sufferings of Christ. Not because I'm enduring those specific pains or acutal physical wounds - for I most certainly am not. Nor am I the poorest of the poor or the most loving or gentle or kind or meek individual of which Jesus says will inherit the earth. In all of these Christ and many others surpass me as well as the rest of us. But rather the cross of Christ deepens my active pursuit of him and his vision for the world to be perfected in love because I am combatting the same powers and authorities, giving the alternative love offering of Christ to those in need.

I am choosing to look myself in the eye until the tears fall down my cheeks when I'm not seeing at the world through the eyes of Christ.

Choosing to step away from the empire's illuions of grandeur purchased with the blood of classism, Jesus leads my way into the neighborhood where people - whether in want or plenty - need alternatives to the domineering, economically-driven, and politically veiled hyper-modernist social myths of american dreams, violent freedoms, bloody materialisms, justified inequalities, and terrestrial pillage. Choosing to take a slap in the face and turn the other cheek when asked if I am a middle-class American taking part in the rape and self-righteous saving of the world. Choosing to both apologize for myself and my country as the shrouded suppressor of many regions throughout the world that have yet to see the love of Christ from the nation who assigns God's name to its economic stability. Choosing to offer myself as an ambassador for a full life outside the confines of hollow religious myths or dogmatic superiority. Choosing to work and play, learn and grow, rise and fall in harmony with the all of creation. Choosing to embrace the lovely life of Christ replete with all the suffering on the behalf of a fallen world which true love seeks to set free.

Jesus as the light, illumine and guide
Jesus as the strength, sustain and uplift
Jesus as the way, to the right and the left
Towards the Kingdom We ride...