NANNY-STATE UPDATE

From Eric Dondero:

Muslim men forcing women to wear ugly black burqas from head-to-toe on the streets of Brooklyn and Queens is apparently of no concern to the Democrat lawmakers in New York City. Rather, they're far more concerned about construction workers making catcalls to women passing by.

The Council is considering a law making catcalls, whistles and any welcoming gesture to females, illegal in the City of New York.

From the AP (via NBCNewYork.com) "NYC Considers a No Catcall Zone":

Councilmembers said they are open to many of the ideas, but said they are in the early stages of exploring just what can be done. If there were to be legislation, a key issue would be enforcement, since the concept of no-harassment zones could encroach on First Amendment rights.

NY Democrats declare War on the Working Man

A far-left feminist group called Hallaback is pushing the changes. According to the group, even an overly friendly Hello should be considered "lewd" and punishable by law. Working class men in New York are reacting with surprise. Continuing:

New York men who told the AP they have called out strange women on the street said they were doing it just to be friendly and seemed genuinely surprised that any attention can be unwelcome.

"We say hello, that's all, nothing derogatory," said Tony Alibrandi, 54, a construction worker taking a lunch break with several of his fellow workers. "We see a friendly face, we say hello."

Columnist David Rothkopf of Foreign Policy asks:

What next? Criminalizing bagels? Prohibiting nearly naked faux cowboys in Times Square? Locking porn stars out of the family suites at the Plaza? What would New York be without meat-headed construction workers hooting at Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, and all the other local beauties? If New York outlaws cat calls... is Paris going to outlaw rude waiters? Is Hollywood going to outlaw kissing studio executives' asses with collagen-injected lips? Is Mumbai going to outlaw insane taxi drivers? Is Moscow going to outlaw outlaws? Every city is as defined by its idiosyncratic flaws as it is by its monuments. If not exactly part of their charm, they are part of the character.

The New York Council consists of 51 members, 46 of whom are Democrats. There are 4 Republicans, and 1 Libertarian Party member (Dan Halloran of Queens who caucuses with the Republicans.)

Photos - New York City Hall. Un-named NYC construction worker