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Another City Tries to Quash Tax Day Tea Party Gathering

Submitted by Warner Todd Huston on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 03:30
in

Brendan Steinhuser of FreedomWorks is reporting that another official of an American city is trying to prevent organizers of a tea party tax protest from being "allowed" to stage their protest, this time in Burleson, Texas.

Unlike the the situation in Cape Coral, Florida where it was overburdening regulation that served as a stumbling block to the freedom of the people to assemble, the Texas case proves to be more un-American because it is an unelected city official that is vowing to block the tax protest by abusing his insider power to cajole city officials to deny American's their rights..

According to Steinhauser, Street Supervisor Ray Gonzales is vowing to prevent the gathering.

Mr. Gonzales told organizers that he is on a special events staff, which is under the city manager’s office in Burleson. Gonzales explained to one local organizer that the special events staff had decided this protest was “not in the public interest.” He is telling organizers that David Wynn, the city manager, is his boss, and could overturn this decision. For the record, the city manager’s office told local organizers that they do not need a permit to demonstrate in Burleson, and they are not saying that the organizers need one now.

Can we guess which party Gonzales belongs to? Could it be maybe that party that has a jackass as it's mascot?

For those interested in expressing how anti-American Gonzales is, here is some of the contact info for the good folks in the city government of Burleson, Texas:

Burleson Mayor Kenneth Shetter
mayor@burlesontx.com

Burleson City Manager David Wynn
kmearns@burlesontx.com (817) 447-5400 x 234

Burleson City Council
citycouncil@burlesontx.com

I can tell you that the people will show up anyway, but we need to send a message to the city of Burleson, just like we did in Cape Coral, Florida.

Burleson Tea Party

April 15, 2009
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Across the street from Wal-Mart
951 SW Wilshire Blvd.
Burleson, Texas 76028 (burlesonteaparty@gmail.com)

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Comments

If throwing a tea party is so important.

Submitted by thirdeblue on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:47.

Then waiting for governmental approval seems a bit asinine doesn't it.  Does burning a flag after its been allowed make the statement more or less powerful?

So...

Submitted by NoMoreBlatherDotCom on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:35.

They don't need a permit, and unless he gets TxDOT involved there's probably not a way that he could block the party, and...? Am I missing something?

As for Cape Coral, here's a page on their site that the organizer of the "party" apparently didn't bother looking for. It clearly describes that for events with more than 500 people on city property you need to get insurance. And, the parks director was quoted as saying that their permit would probably be approved if they just submitted insurance. And, FreedomWorks was apparently able to get insurance. So, isn't it clear that Cape Coral was a bogus story?

Not understanding how to do protests or making some mistakes is excusable. Pushing a bogus story in order to enhance a persecution complex isn't.

Did David Axelrod secretly start the "parties" in order to create a toothless opposition that does stupid things like this instead of doing things that are effective?

Oh, it is even worse than that

Submitted by NextRightNando on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:53.

The true stupidity of the Cape Coral "story" is even greater than you imagine.

Here is the Florida news report on the story:

the City of Cape Coral felt there could be more than 500 people attending the tea party.Therefore Rosko needed to get a permit and insurance for the event. Rosko says she's not willing to get insurance and accept liability for something that a stranger could do. Rosko told WINK News, "I have rescinded any organizing or supervision or what ever you want to call it over this tea party on April 1st."

So - clearly, organizer just couldn't be arsed to follow the same rules as everyone else.

Which WTH turned in to "FLORIDA GOV'T CANCELS TEA PARTY FEARING TOO MANY ATTENDEES".

Pathetic.

 

civil disobedience requires a permit now?

Submitted by Ray in TX on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:07.

I'm pretty sure that the original Tea Partiers risked arrest and prosecution in making their protest.

All hat and no cattle, I guess.

The city has released a statement

Submitted by NoMoreBlatherDotCom on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:45.

It's in "City of Burleson is not shutting down Burleson Tea Party":

The event can be hosted in Burleson’s Downtown Historic District adjacent to Burleson City Hall. This area is where the City’s festivals and events are commonly hosted... Alternatively, the event could be hosted at the location requested by the group provided the group is willing to address the City’s safety concerns and ensure fire and police response to the residential area adjacent to the location.

On a wider note, everyone does know that while you're "partying", the Dems are hard at work pushing amnesty, right? Everyone does realize that a million "parties" will never block that, right?

If anyone wants to do something that would actually be effective, organize local efforts to go out and ask politicians the question here. Discrediting one supporter of that bill on video - something that anyone with an hour's worth of research and good questioning skills could do - would have a far greater impact than all the "tea parties" from now to doomsday.

"do something that would actually be effective"

Submitted by Ray in TX on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:57.

I can't believe that video where some guy flew all the way from Texas to DC simply to vent at one of Specter's anonymous staffers. First of all, he's not the guy's Senator. Secondly, he just wasted his time and money that could have been better spent since he just got laid off!

The Tea Parties were envisioned as some kind of growing public revolt but unfortunately the president is very well-liked at the moment so they've fizzled. Bad timing. Now they're reduced to getting press by playing the victim card because they are not being allowed to protest in a convenient location. I mean, you can almost see the testicles being snipped off of these guys as you read their complaints.

The Mayor responds to WTH

Submitted by NextRightNando on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 18:21.

I just received an email from the Mayor of Burleson

Concerned Citizen:

 The City of Burleson is NOT TRYING TO STOP THE APRIL 15 TEA PARTY.

Members of the Burleson Tea Party group have contacted the City of Burleson wanting permission to conduct a demonstration in an area near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard (State Highway 174) and Hidden Creek Parkway. The area is across the street from the location of the Burleson Super Wal-Mart, and adjacent to a residential area. The area where the demonstration has been planned includes right of way for the state highway, municipal right of way, and a city street. The organizer said the event is expected to draw between 300 and 500 people to participate in the demonstration. 

From the beginning the city has made it clear that no city permit is required for the gathering.  This being said, the city has also made it clear that there are a number of safety related concerns that need to be addressed at the originally proposed location. It is one of the busiest street intersections in the city.  The posted speed limit on Wilshire/SH 174 is 50 mph. It is a 4-lane highway with a center turn lane. It is a heavily travelled highway, particularly during the hours of the planned demonstration (3-7 pm) when school is dismissing and evening going home drive-time traffic is at its peak. The original request also included the barricading of four residential streets to keep group members from parking in the neighborhoods. The city’s main concerns are safety of the demonstrators and other pedestrians, traffic safety,  and the ability for fire trucks to get in and out of the residential streets and hook up to fire hydrants. In speaking with representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation, it is clear that TxDOT and the city share the safety concerns.

The city has a special events committee that reviews requests for street closures (for example, neighborhood block parties, festivals). That committee met Thursday to review the request. Due to the topography of the area and the design of the highway, the number of anticipated participants in the demonstration, and the other safety concerns the special events committee has suggested that an alternative site be considered.  In fact, in an attempt to accommodate the group, City Hall, site of many community festivals, was offered as an alternative site. Nevertheless, although the site originally proposed for the demonstration presented numerous safety concerns, the committee was willing to take steps to accommodate the event if certain steps could be taken by the organizers of the event to assure safety for everyone involved.

At the time the attached news release from the city was issued this morning, we had not heard back from the organizers of the event. We since have had several discussions with the organizers and it is our understanding that an alternative site has indeed been secured.  You can contact the organizers of the event for the final location.

There are a few things that need to be made clear.  First, Rey Gonzales, one of the members of the city’s special events committee,  is a good man and dedicated public servant that works very hard every day to make our city a great place to live.  He is not trying to stop the tea party, and from my understanding has worked hard to accomodate the organizers.  Second, our city functions with a Council-Manager form of government.  As such, the mayor is not responsible for running the city on a day-to-day basis, and I have no authority to try to stop a function like the tea party.  Third, a number of people have e-mailed nasty comments about our city and our city government--Burleson is a great place to live, work, learn and play.  The members of our City Council and staff are concerned with one thing only--doing what's right for our citizens.  If you come to Burleson I think you will agree it's a great place, and I hope you spend some time in some of our great stores and restaurants--you might want to check out our "Old Town" area.

By the way, I have read and studied our Constitution--I've even taken an oath to preserve, protect and defend it.  I take that oath very seriously.
Sincerely,
Ken Shetter
Mayor of Burleson, Texas
 

So, WTH, that is twice now you have posted a total piece of rubbish about tea parties. Will you please stop?

I always get a kick out of

Submitted by Warner Todd Huston on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:21.

I always get a kick out of you NotRightNimload. First you get your little panties in a bunch saying that I lied and then you post a comment titled "Mayor responds to WTH."

Hate to break it to you NotRightNimload, but the Mayor probably never heard of me and his letter, such as it is, was addressed to "Concerned Citizen." He was not responding to "WTH."

You might want to check YOUR habit of being a lair before you start attacking everyone else.

And, as always, I invite you to get the day nurse at your mental care facility to stop you from visiting my postings. It's probably better for your obviously delicate mental balance to quit, anyway. Your little obsession, while flattering, is just not good for you.

Maybe it'd be a good idea to give up your turn on the community computer in the day room and instead go play Monopoly with the guy that thinks he's Napoleon?

What an excelant defense you make

Submitted by NextRightNando on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:32.

What an excelant defense you make of your work.

You really aren't that smart,

Submitted by Warner Todd Huston on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:38.

You really aren't that smart, are you? To YOU I see no reason to "defend" anything. I just have fun treating you with the contempt that you merit.

From Freedomworks.org

Submitted by procheinamy on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 19:18.

An update from Freedomworks.org, Brendan Steinhauser:

I just got off the phone with the local organizers of the Burleson Tea Party. They told me that the city’s press statement contained false explanations of what happened, but ultimately the local organizers will be able to hold their tea party.  The city manager agreed to cooperate with the tea party planners to ensure that the tea party is safe, and a success. According to organizers, the city manager said that the city ”dropped the ball” and that he could not get any work done all day, due to the flood of emails and calls.

This just goes to show you what conservative activists can do with one dose of technology, and one dose of Rules for Radicals. Local organizers are ecstatic about the success, and they wanted me to extend a warm thanks to everyone that emailed and called the city manager, the mayor and the city council. If you live near Burleson, be sure to get there and support them on April 15th!