This week's issue of the Whatcom Independent has a front page story on the Bellingham Police targeting WWU students who park their cars overnight - or technically 24 hours - at the curb on city streets. They aggressively ticket them resulting is $20 fines. They say we have a city regulation against 24 hour parking on city streets. And Police Sergeant Richards defends the aggressive ticketing practice.

Well, here is a timely request to our new Mayor Pike and new Police Chief Ramsay. Stop giving friends of city hall the routine break from parking violations. I have watched for years under the old corrupt administration of Asmundsen and Carroll as business friends of city hall get to use our city streets for parking their vans and business vehicles 24x7 and no tickets. There is one business I go by often that parks their huge unmarked vans off season for weeks on city streets - and I've never seen a ticket. The owner has served on city boards. No I won't name the business. But will for any prosecutor who asks. None will ask. They know.

Then there is the Bellingham Housing Authority who allows their subsidized renters to park over 20 of their cars on Fairhaven streets 24 hours a day by 365 days a year - and no tickets. This is a huge contributor to Fairhaven's parking problem - a city government agency being exempt from providing parking for their renters. And no police enforcement of the illegal parking.

There are may more abuses of our parking system by the police. One more example. Cars parked in Fairhaven that have their bumpers even an inch over the sidewalk on one street get regular tickets. But DSHS employees at their office on Ellis Street regularly park with their bumpers way over the sidewalk - and, you guessed it - get no tickets. Indeed, the city double standard for parking in Downtown vs Fairhaven is for another whole column.

I support Mayor Pike's appointment of Todd Ramsay as our new police chief. We citizens have had weeks to comment informally on this process - unlike the blindsiding of us with the less than 24 hours notice of John Carter's appointment. Indeed, weeks ago I contacted the mayor urging that Ramsay be chosen interim chief - and I know he is the best officer in our department. Years ago, David McDonald was the best qualified to become chief but Asmundsen - in what was rumored to be a corrupt deal - appointed Randy Carroll who was unqualified by even the minimal requirements of the job description. Todd Ramsay is well qualified.

So - here is a request to Todd - and our mayor - to now start to enforce our laws with more equality. Stop targeting students for starters. They are just easy targets and they can least afford these tickets. Give them lots of warnings. Contact them. Bring this supposedly super WWU - Community organization to deal with it. But tough talk by Sgt. Richards about students is something we hope Chief Ramsay puts a stop to immediately. Tell Richards to pick on somebody his own size. Like businesses and government agencies that have been getting free passes for years under the old regime.