See previous story, “LaRouchies Come to Town. They Stir Dust. Will It Blow in Their Faces?”
After an eerie, and drawn out, First Amendment-type of ugly confrontation yesterday in front of her heavily patronized restaurant, the owner of Tito’s Tacos issued a warning this afternoon to copycats who may have heard the news:
“You can’t set up a stand and sell crap in front of my business,” said Lynne Davidson.
One day after two aging, self-identified volunteers for political extremist Lyndon LaRouche put up an umbrella-shaded recruiting stand at Tito’s Tacos — prompting an angry Ms. Davidson to call the police, who made three separate visits — the case remains not quite concluded.
During the nightmarish 5 1/2 hours the LaRouchies were posted in front of the perpetually busy eatery, Ms. Davidson said the recruiters constantly, loudly and profanely harassed some customers and insulted others.
She kept repeating to persons of all ages standing in the queue for food that she is against the “bigotry and racism” that she said LaRouche represents.
Police told Ms. Davidson that without advice from City Atty. Carol Schwab, there was not anything they could do.
With that frustrating response fresh in her mind, Ms. Davidson sent off an email message to Ms. Schwab, who returns to her office on Monday morning.
The letter is reproduced in full below.
Ms. Davidson’s objective:
“I would like Carol Schwab to send a directive to the Police Dept. for training officers so that the next time something like this comes up, they will know how to handle it.”
As for the LaRouche volunteers, “I hope I was horrible enough so they won’t come back.”
Here is Ms. Davidson’s letter:
“At about 11:15 or 11:30, I noticed two men setting up a table on the sidewalk in front of Tito’s Tacos.
“I went out and asked them if they had a car in my parking lot and told them they could not set up a table to sell books in front of my restaurant.
“They said they would move their car when they were finished setting up their things. They said they could do whatever they wanted on a public sidewalk. It was their First Amendment right.
“I then called the Culver City Police Dept. Can’t do anything today [they told me].
“After a short time, two Culver City police officers came to Tito’s Tacos, and knocked on the back door. They told me they could not do anything as it appeared to them that the LaRouche folks had every right to do what they were doing. This was political speech.
“They did try to reach the City Attorney’s office, but could not. Selling books on a large table, shouting four-letter words, large signs, big umbrella, asking for money.
“The police were called again when the [customer] lines reached to their table. When the police came, the lines had shortened. [The police] said they did not see them blocking the side walk. Can’t do anything today.
“Two other vendors showed up during this time, two young men selling perfume, and one man sells watches and belts. The man selling watches and belts took a swing at me when I asked him to leave. ( I ducked. A fist went right over my head.) He was very angry that he should be asked to leave when the people selling books could stay.
“I was out in front of my business, letting customers know that Tito’s did not endorse.
Remarks SHOUTED to my customers over a period of more than five hours included:
“Nancy Pelosi is [Blank] you in [blank Blank].
“Help us stop the government from [Blank] you over. They all belong in jail.
“Tito’s Tacos has gravel in the Tortilla
“We have AK-47’s.” (This was shouted to me and my husband, and reported to Sgt. Stout.)
“Shouting something about “Bush Babies” as small African-American children walked by with their father.
“The Republicans and Democrats are [Blank] you. [Blank] was the word used the most.
“I repeatedly asked them to stop using foul language as the restaurant caters to families.
“I spoke to [Dep. City Atty.] Heather Baker in the afternoon. She promised that they would work on it.
“I spoke to [City Atty.] Carol Schwab a bit later. She said that ‘the umbrella was probably a problem. Did the police measure the space they were using? Asking for money may not be a problem. Shouting foul words was disturbing the peace. Write down what happened, send it to me. We do this sort of thing with barking dogs all the time.’
“I understand that the city does not wish to tangle legally with these people. I don’t, either.
“I do disagree with Carol on one item. She thinks that Tito’s is unique with the number of people outside.
“There are also a lot of people walking around in Downtown as well. Non-taxpaying vendors will be setting up shop all over this city, and my business cannot survive surrounded by unlicensed vendors.”
