NIMBY on Display: Former politician not happy about new neighbor, so he tries to change laws to displace him.
Brian Pepin, a former California Councilmember and political consultant, recently took to the podium at a St. Johns County (Florida) Commission meeting to advocate for stricter sex offender residency restrictions. His reason? A man convicted of possessing child pornography in 2007 moved across the street from his house. That man has served his time, been off supervision for over a decade, and, from all appearances, has done nothing wrong—except exist.
Pepin’s remarks make one thing painfully clear: this isn’t about protecting children. It’s about Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) panic wrapped in emotional appeals and political theater.
The man across the street committed his crime nearly two decades ago. He served prison time, completed supervised release, and has lived without incident since. According to every tenet of our justice system, he has paid his debt to society. Yet to Pepin, this man’s mere presence is enough to justify reshaping local law. There is no allegation that this individual has done anything threatening or illegal. No lurking. No inappropriate behavior. Nothing beyond setting up a Ring doorbell camera on his own house—a common device used by millions of homeowners for security.
But because of who he is, because of the label he carries, that camera becomes a sinister surveillance tool in the eyes of a neighbor. His existence becomes a threat. His address becomes a problem.
Residency restrictions are a political reflex, not a public safety solution. Over 25 years of research—including studies from the U.S. Department of Justice—show that residency restrictions do not reduce recidivism. What does reduce reoffending? Housing. Employment. Support. Stability.
We get that Mr. Pepin doesn’t want the stigma of a neighbor on the registry any more than his neighbor likes being registered. But NIMBY cannot be the basis for policy. The law must be grounded in fact, data, and justice—not public shaming, moral panic, or the politics of exclusion.
The man across the street has done everything the system asked of him. He has followed the law. And now, the message he’s receiving is: “That’s still not good enough.” What’s happening here is not about public safety. It’s about creating a class of untouchables—people who, no matter what they do or how long ago they did it, can never be neighbors, citizens, or humans again. That is persecution.
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I commented. You don’t have to join anything or sign up for a newsletter to comment. (How refreshing!)
Please, everyone take a few minutes and do the same with thoughtful, well-written and reasonable comments.
Thanks!!
Our son lives with us. In the 11 years since he was forced to register, property values have risen with the market and are now in slight decline with the market. Our son living with us has had no impact on home values.
A home on our street sold last year at full market value as have all the other sold homes in the last several years. The selling broker also lives on our street. We talk and text all the time. The new owners are very kind and we text and talk whenever we have time for a visit.
We were friends with the former owners and they wrote a very nice letter to the buyers and told them we are good people. The former owners were retired deputies in our county and they bought their home knowing our son is forced to register. She said it didn’t bother them. Not everyone is a judgmental hateful hypocrite.
I was a realtor for 18 years. I never saw home values be negatively impacted by a PFR. I showed homes to people who knew there were several PFR’s in the community. They had two small children. They were still interested in the homes.
@We are stars
Not going to say exactly where, but there is a street that a guy who was smart and had some money, started buying up houses on one street and then renting them out to other registered persons. The sheriff office said they loved that because they could come and knock out all the compliance checks on one single street.
The last that I knew only one or two people on the street had not wanted to sell but would expect with that many registered folks, maybe they would. Or maybe they didn’t care who lived there and it did not bother them. The guy also owned a van and brought the group to their registration appointments. (Not everyone has the same months to register so not sure how many trips he has to make each year)
This is a wonderful idea and an example that must be followed. We must buy up properties – whole neighborhoods, if possible. We must start businesses and employ fellow PFRs. We must become wealthy as a group. Wealth = power. And money (power) is (in my opinion) the only way we are going to defeat this Salem-like hysteria.
I have many camera’s up, not to deter people from causing me problems but to prove they are the provokers when I handle the problem. This politico trying to change the laws is just another example of why cameras are a good thing.
“I have many camera’s up, not to deter people from causing me problems but to prove they are the provokers when I handle the problem. This politico trying to change the laws is just another example of why cameras are a good thing.”
It won’t be long before cameras are everywhere, on every house, every street, so on. Even TV cable companies are installing them as a pitch to get HBO. Raccoons have been the subject of my camera recording searches usually, damn pesky critters destroying whatever they can.
Cameras are here to stay, and have been for a while. Never be stupid in public, and I’ll tell you to not be stupid in private.
In most cases, even if the lawmakers change the law, it would be very difficult to retroactively make someone move, especially if they are a home owner. They tried that with me and failed big time. So the guy he is trying to move, would still be there, despite of any new law. (There are always sneaky work arounds though that are disgusting but does happen)
In many neighborhoods with high-cost homes, I think it’s sometimes just a question of whether the PFR’s presence is perceived to be bringing down neighborhood property values. The registry takes away from our society much more than it gives back.
@Rayo
And tears apart families. My Mother still gets upset when I won’t go on vacation with them. I do not want the risk of somehow getting trapped by law enforcement by them making up some violation I committed while in such and such city.
Funny thing. I own the largest most expensive house on my block. So yeah. Im brining the value up.
@Grown
Good for you.
Do not let anyone get you down.
The haters only have power if we allow them to.
Going to prison changed my life in both a bad way and a good way.
Once I survived prison, I realized I could do anything. I have traveled to 9 different countries (Before they stopped us going out of the country)
and I am on my third house I have owned. AND, the one I own now is paid off.
It is good I do not have a mortgage because I am disabled now and have very low income.
My home insurance bill tripled this year and really hard to keep up now. They are blaming it on hurricanes and risks in Florida. I have never made a claim so whats the deal, I am paying for those who did make a claim?
Cherokee, are we not allowed to leave the country now???
Let’s not advocate wrong narrative here..No hate here
“What’s happening here is not about public safety.”
In nice neighborhoods, it is about property value. Nobody is afraid of the guy, let’s be honest. It is about having a criminal’s face on a map on your block means your home value might be less.
When do we get that island I have been hearing about for almost 30 years? I’m ready to be part of a thriving community where we are free to be our best potentials selves.
O have same situation in my neighborhood, sex predator constantly watches us on camera and records. We don’t feel safe with beeing around
Ben
I also have a camera and it is because I have had so much vandalism and hate towards me. Now they get caught on camera because they do not see the camera. I have had several people arrested for damaging my property. They lie and tell the cop that I am lying, then the cop shows the jerk the video evidence. Busted!
Cameras are legal so do not walk down the street naked and you will be ok. Why be so paranoid? Other thing you can do is to move. Problem solved as maybe you were the problem all along? There are male Karens.
Cherokee
PI was hired and unlawful devices were located. You guess what the outcome was ?
Nothing, because the PI could not lawfully obtain a search warrant.
Beng
My cameras were put in by a security company professionally and they explained all the rules of privacy. I can have 10,000 cameras on my property if I was, as long as I obey the laws. Aiming 15 cameras at the neighbors back yard where they use the swimming pool would be creepy. I am in full compliance.
I did spot a bigfoot on my camera once though, but no one believed me LOL
Security cameras are side gig of mine, and I have the very best around my home. Great demos to any client looking! (NO, I won’t share here.)
The local cops love them and anytime they are looking for something on my street or where a client’s camera captures a crime they knock on my door, I invite them in and we poke around at the recordings. “WOW! You have great cameras!”
I cannot imagine being a RSO without cameras around my home. Still get thieves and crazies, but a relief to know who it is not sometimes.
I have Nest at my front door and get a text when Amazon delivers or anybody comes to the door. The yearly fee to record a time period (month?) is cheap. Plus I see on my phone before I even think about answering. I could actually speak and listen, but if I don’t know who it is I ignore. If I am in a grouchy mood and it looks like a salesperson, I call the local non-emergency cop number and tell them a solicitor appears to be making rounds which is not allowed here. They thank me, and nobody around here needs strangers knocking at our doors.
Inside I have a few D-Link cheap cams that I can access and point when I am away. I have used them to check on my dog and my work space freely. If you have someone in your home with disabilities, you should have them. I’ve called 911 when I saw something that was not right.
Outside, my first system was an old HD analog and it still has it’s qualities for sure. But now, high-end IP cameras with the night vision and 4K recording is amazing. Research and call a professional and be honest what you are hoping to achieve. They know about us.
Cheroke
I am not a problem and don’t need to move. On the contrary other party did. Problem solved
Ben, trust me, no one is watching you.
If you have evidence to the contrary, you may file a police report.
If you feel uncomfortable with your neighbor, you may move, it’s a free country.
Jacob
They gone, mowed out.
Very self centered to think because someone put cameras on their property that it’s all about you. It probably had nothing to do with you but you made it about you. So if something every happens to that guy or his property, they’ll be asking you questions first. Never make it about you. You know the guy lives there, so just smile and wave and don’t think every time he mows his lawn he’s working some inappropriate agenda. Just mind your own business if he’s not hurting anyone.
Ben, how do you know he is recording and watching you?
@Anonymous
Because Ben is doing the same thing he is accusing the other guy of, stalking. Yes, how would he know if he wasn’t being a looky loo and not minding his own business. I look out my window a lot too because you never know who is on your property. I catch jerks purposely letting their dogs crap in my yard. Once they leave, I bag it up and return said property to them on their front porch.
One time someone called the cops on me and I showed them the video of them crapping in my yard (The dog not the lady lol). The lady had the balls to tell the cop “It is just natural for a dog to poop in the grass”. The deputy told her, “Then why don’t you do it in your yard?”. She had the gall to tell the deputy “I don’t want that in my yard”.