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[RidleyReport]

Around April 15, Authoritarian Day, my landlord reports she received a menacing demand. Without warning, in the midst of a government mandate to essentially stay at home and shop by mail, the government has...cut off delivery of that very mail. Their postal service has apparently ordered us to to install multiple locked mailboxes before they will resume delivery to our home. They reportedly want a separate box for every person who receives mail here, on the grounds that one of us might steal something from someone else. But here is the crazier part. A month ago, we *did* have multiple mailboxes. Then the local government pressured us to remove all but one! We almost cannot follow one government's demand without violating the demands of the other! Additionally, we are being pressured to pick up mail inside the post office, which of course would mean unnecessary, repeated exposure for both us and THEIR WORKERS.

This thread is intended to serve as a one-stop-shop for information and media articles about the conflict as it unfolds.   Stay tuned.

[RidleyReport]

So as I understand it, the Town of Winchester started messing with our mail setup about a month before the post office took the actions described above.  Around March 2020 they threatened to impose some sort of increased fees  on my landlord for water services, at least in part because my landlord had set up two mailboxes.   This led her to reluctantly remove one of the mailboxes...dropping her down to one mailbox.  This happened just in time for the post office to swoop in and cut off mail delivery on the grounds that.... we only had one mailbox.

I'm now engaged with the town government on camera and vids are starting to appear on RidleyReport.com ; I've made some calls to local and national talk radio about it and will try to post them here on the occasions where there is a recording.

[RidleyReport]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3upq2xjhqLQ

The vid above is me trying to question town officials about the mail issue, and other issues, on their way to their Board of Selectmen meeting April 22.   That night I received a message from one of the Selectmen, who I have met once previously on more friendly terms when she was leading a volunteer trash pickup.  I believe she is considered some sort of liberty activist; I'm not sure if she's a free stater.  Here is the exchange.

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April 22, 2020:  From Gloria Leustek , Selectman, Town of Winchester

"Hi
Just an FYI, I felt like I was ambushed tonight and I'm upset about it
I don't mind answering questions but I don't want to be on record

If you want people to talk to you, that's not the way to do it."

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April 23, 2020: From Dave Ridley, Winchester resident

"This will sound strange, but I appreciate you venting, Gloria. At least you're not assaulting me or calling the cops on me, something that happens about every
fifth time I attend a government meeting. Having said that, of course it feels like an ambush; that's why it's called an ambush interview. This is a litmus test of some importance in determining government openness, and it was good enough for Mike Wallace. One or two of you flunked it today. Whether this is the best way or not, it is my way. And when you are a government official, the press - even the little poor man's press - owes you no explanations regarding any peaceable and accurate examination of public affairs they may choose to undertake.

Would it be appropriate to treat you differently from the hundreds of other govt. officials I've questioned on camera this way, just because you have more of a liberty bent?

This is the most important month since World War Two, when it comes to watchdogging American government and refusing to limit ourselves to "the means the State has provided us for changing it." I hope you are rising to this duty as I intend to, probably at some risk. You can do that in a small way by being transparent on government matters and hell yes on the record!

Speaking of which, Selectman Leustek, To what extent do you support or oppose your police department withholding the name of an arrestee, and under what circumstances if any do you consider the withholding of such information from the public to be legal and appropriate?

Here is the PD quote I was trying to read to your lot as you fled the scene:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3109354202417425&id=571157592903778
"On March 18, 2020 at 19:35 hours, members of the WPD were dispatched to a residence in Winchester for a reported domestic. Through investigation an arrest was made and the individual was transported to the WPD for processing. The arrestee requested the services of a bail commissioner and was released on standard bail conditions pending arraignment on May 6, 2020 in Keene District Court. The name of the arrestee is not being disclosed in order to protect the identity of the reported victim."
On March 18, 2020 at 19:35 hours, members of the WPD were dispatched to a residence in Winchester for a reported domestic. Through investigation an arrest was made and the individual was transported to the WPD for processing. The arrestee requested the services of a bail commissioner and was released on standard bail conditions pending arraignment on May 6, 2020 in Keene District Court. The name of the arrestee is not being disclosed in order to protect the identity of the reported victim.
Winchester, N.H. Police Department"

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April 23, 2020: From Gloria Leustek , Selectman, Town of Winchester
Well regardless of where we stand politically,  your approach will not make friends with the BOS, myself included.  You are only angering us and chasing us away. Just saying.
You catch more flies with honey......
I don't mind answering questions,  just not like that.  I also want to give you an informed answer, not just off the top of my head.
--------------------------------
April 24, 2020: From Dave Ridley, Winchester resident

"Sorry for the slow response; again thank you for being engaged Gloria.  But your institution has harmed my landlord - and thus me - in a stunning manner that has necessitated a reaction.  It is not a "friend."   My landlord has already tried operating "through normal channels." Publicity is the current appropriate reaction, demonstrations and civil disobedience are follow-up options.  But I look forward to a day when it's possible to honorably return to the usual approach...of focusing almost exclusively on government abuses *outside* the town in which I live.

Meanwhile:  The Town of Winchester has interfered with my mail at a time when it is well aware: Mail is becoming almost a matter of life and death for some folks.  Details on our situation - and your institution's active exacerbation of it - are below.   Do you support - and if so under what circumstances - the town government pressuring people to stop using their own mailboxes?  Also do you have an answer for my question, above, about the police?

Regarding your wish to avoid providing answers off the top of your head, that is understandable; no one is asking you to know everything, and you are welcome to become educated about our concerns.
https://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?topic=29008.0"

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April 24, 2020: From Gloria Leustek , Selectman, Town of Winchester
Who told you that you couldn't have more than 1 mailbox and who is your landlord?
Also regarding the police matter,  the victim could have been a minor,  I don't know the details,  so yes I support withholding their name.  They are innocent until proven guilty.