An important aspect of "broken windows" policing is the enforcement of public order laws, such as the prohibition of public drunkenness. It appears that San Jose is about to take a step backward. Sean Webby has this story in the S.J. Mercury-News. "City officials agreed Tuesday to explore ways to cut back the San Jose Police Department's aggressive use of the public-drunkenness law, following a public hearing at which hundreds of residents turned out to protest city policy."

Why, one might ask. Well, it seems we have "activists" at work, playing that good old reliable race card. "During the hearing, about 50 residents spoke out against the city's aggressive policy, which led to 4,661 arrests by the department last year — 57 percent of them Hispanics. There was little community support expressed for the current policy."

I doubt that a lack of turnout at the meeting is a valid indicator of little support for the policy. More likely, the opponents are organizing opposition and supporters have not made an organizing effort.

[Police Chief] Davis said in his remarks that the city's arrest numbers are higher because San Jose does not have a sobering station, as other big cities do, leaving the police little choice but to arrest people who are publicly drunk. The chief's comments didn't note that some other cities release suspects without charges, while San Jose police bring charges against virtually everyone arrested for being drunk.

Other cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles? Yeah, those are great examples to emulate.