RAVE EXTORTION

The city of Racine's blatant attempt at extorting money from the 441 rave
attendees has dissolved into an act worthy of any bumbling blackmailer.
When hundreds of those charged called the bluff of Racine police and
Alderman John Engel and demanded a trial by jury instead of bending over
for a municipal enema, city officials offered to reduce their extortion
demand to a lesser amount of $100.

Yeah, that's the ticket (no pun intended). Just slide us a C-note and we'll
pretend it never happened. Oh, and thank you for patronizing charity events
in Racine, enjoy your drive home.

I hope this pathetic law enforcement charade costs the taxpayers of Racine
enough wasted dollars that they remember it and vote those officials who
supported the raid right out of office in the next election.

Stephen Heath, Clearwater, Fla.