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So, what is a "Ghetto Bird" anyway? Well for those of you whom don't
listen to more culturally diverse music, in 1993 artist O'Shea Jackson recorded a
song called "Ghetto Bird". It described a police helicopter that swept
the skies of Compton, chasing the minorities. He described it as a "flying
Nazi".
Not that I would compare Newport Beach to Compton, but I personally can relate to
this song, and share O'Shea's disdain for our own Newport Beach Police helicopter.
Did I say disdain? I meant HATE. In fact, I hate this flying public nuisance so much
that I dedicated a whole page to it!
It doesn't bother me so much during the day, but at night this mechanical beast
sometimes hovers over my house for up to an hour. Now it would be different if
these guys were diligently fighting hard core crime, but do you guys ever read
the police reports? (Calls for Service) This thing is littered with petty theft and misdemeanors.
So they are basically committing an act worthy of a crime against thousands of
sleeping residents, to stop a misdemeanor? Does this seem logical to you? I feel like
I live in Bosnia!
Yes, I said it. They are basically committing an act worthy of a misdemeanor against
thousands of us each night they fly over our heads. How is that? Let me explain...
First we'll do the numbers. According to the City website, Newport Beach has a
population density of about 3,600 people per square mile (I'm sure the Peninsula is
higher). So, assuming that the Ghetto Bird stays within a one square mile path (also
optimistic), then it's only woken up about 3,600 people. Keep in mind that it's 3,600
people per incident. And who knows how many times they send it out each night.
Now, in reviewing their municipal code, it's clear to me that if I were to fly that
noisy hunk of wasted tax payer dollars over the City in the middle of the night, after
they shot me out of the sky, I'd at least be cited with violating the City's
"LOUD AND UNREASONABLE NOISE" code:
NBMC 10.28.010. "It is unlawful for any person or property owner to willfully make,
allow, continue or cause to be made, allowed, continued, any loud and unreasonable,
unnecessary, or disturbing noise, including, but not limited to... which disturbs the
peace, comfort, quiet or repose of any area or which causes discomfort or annoyance
to any reasonable person of normal sensitivities in the area..."
See the irony here?
Everyone should click on the "Fight Back" link to
share your personal "Ghetto Bird" stories, and start getting involved!
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