TV news media packed the Gardena City Council chambers Tuesday night to hear their discussion about saggy pants. It's the most non-crime related news coverage I've seen in the city this year, and residents and council members lapped it up. There were many passionate appeals on both sides of the issue -- on kids whose pants hang down, revealing their underwear.
The council squashed the ordinance, but asked staff to meet with residents and possibly write a resolution.
We will have a story in the paper tomorrow, but here are some of the comments from last night:
City Attorney Steve Fischer said he looked at municipal dress codes historically, and found a number of examples: "It went from 16th century China and Russia to modern-day Afghanistan where the Taliban are in charge."
Resident Kay Winter said: "I think the baggy pants and underwear is disgusting. I find it a safety issue. I've seen people being chased by a group and - because of their baggy pants - the trip and fall."
Judith Casteneda said: "I believe in our right to freedom of expression. How one chooses to dress should not be dictated by any authority."
Terry Kennedy: "I think this is the stupidest, most ridiculous, assinine ordinance the staff has ever considered."
Deborah Reid: "This sagging of the pants is someone outside of the community reaching in and telling them how to dress. The ones reaching our young people are those taking them astray."
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