Not sure if this pic attaches. Best sign of the evening!
Posted on 04/08/2009 5:17:56 AM PDT by abb
http://rustmeister.blogspot.com/2009/04/memphis-tea-party_08.html
Memphis Tea Party
Not sure if this pic attaches. Best sign of the evening!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2224767/posts
Kentucky Tea Party just getting started
http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2009/04/08/louisiana-tea-party-roundup/
Louisiana Tea Party Roundup
http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2477:tea-party-protest-april-15th&catid=60:st-lawrence-news&Itemid=69
“Tax Day” Tea Party in Gouverneur
http://quotesandcommentary.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/tallahassee-fl-tax-day-tea-party/
Tallahassee, FL Tax Day Tea Party
http://blog.freeny.org/?p=3845
Western New York Tea Party April 18th
http://lehighvalley.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/lehigh-valley-tea-party-protest-taxation-federal-spending/
Lehigh Valley - Tea Party - Protest taxation, federal spending
http://www.times-gazette.com/news/simple_article/4562664?page=0
Ashland TEA Party Set, Make It A Wholistic Protest
http://www.tricitytimes-online.com/Articles-i-2009-04-08-193518.112113_TEA_Party_planned_for_tax_day.html
TEA Party planned for tax day
http://thesunnews.typepad.com/politicktock/2009/04/tea-party-planning-tea-party.html
Myrtle Beach Tea Party
http://www.wwaytv3.com/emotions_high_monkey_junction_annexation_hearing/04/2009
Emotions high at Monkey Junction annexation hearing
http://www.pharostribune.com/local/local_story_098113739.html
Tax revolt to be held in Winamac
http://wokv.com/localnews/2009/04/first-coast-tea-party-1.html
First Coast Tea Party
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2009/4-8-09/Fraser-TEA-Party-protest.asp
Resident hosts ‘TEA Party’ protest in Fraser
http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x1931065218/Peoria-Tea-Party-Thousands-expected-at-downtown-tax-day-protest
Peoria Tea Party: Thousands expected at downtown tax day protest
http://yonkersinsider.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/westchester-tea-party/
Westchester Tea Party.
http://bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com/2009/04/talk-radio-rallies-around-tea-party.html
Talk Radio Rallies Around the Tea Party Movement
http://www.blogofages.net/2009/04/tea-party-call-to-arms.html
Tea party — call to arms?
By Patrick Gannon Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.
Hundreds of protesters at City Hall Tuesday evening apparently didn’t weaken the resolve of Wilmington City Council to annex about 3,900 people in the Monkey Junction area. In fact, none of the council members polled Wednesday said the public hearing changed their minds.
They said they understand the ire of annexation opponents, but the law leaves them with few options to maintain the long-term financial health of the city.
Tuesday evening, sign-wielding and slogan-chanting protesters packed City Council Chambers during a public hearing on the annexation proposal. Others who didn’t get in because the room was full stood on the City Hall steps and chanted and cheered loud enough to be heard inside.
Opponents argued mainly that involuntary annexation is a form of taxation without representation, that they should be allowed to vote on the issue and that now is the wrong time for governments to add to residents’ tax burdens. They also complained they would have to pay city taxes and fees but would receive few services beyond what they get as county residents.
Dozens of uniformed and undercover officers, as well as a number of firefighters, showed up to keep the peace. Police sharpshooters watched the protesters from downtown rooftops. Police had met with protest organizers beforehand to try to ensure a safe evening.
After the meeting, police escorted council members to their cars. Inside council chambers, Mayor Bill Saffo had to ask the crowd to be quiet several times so the hearing could continue. And after one anti-annexation speaker, the crowd cheered for about 10 minutes until the mayor motioned to police officers to remove them so the show could go on.
Most protesters left peacefully. Two men, who police say didn’t want to leave after being asked to, were charged with disrupting an official meeting. In 26 years as city attorney, Tom Pollard said he’s seen no City Hall protest quite like it. “I cannot remember a crowd, I guess, as boisterous as the one that was there last night,” he said.
The drama, however, apparently didn’t change the minds of council members, who passed a resolution of intent to annex the area in February. Councilman Jim Quinn said the hearing reaffirmed what he already knew: That no one would vote to increase their taxes and that now is a tough time for the city to ask people for more tax dollars. But Quinn remains resolute in his plan to vote for annexation.
Without annexation, taxes will have to go up, city residents will move away and the city will decline, Quinn said. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. “It’s not a happy thing, but I think it’s the right thing.”
Councilman Ron Sparks said he kept a vigilant eye on the crowd, especially those with hands in their pockets, to ensure nobody got hurt. “We have no protection up there on council,” he said. Sparks said the “soccer hooligan” behavior of the crowd overwhelmed the legitimate concerns of those most affected by annexation, such as older residents on fixed incomes. The crowd, he said, seemed determined to intimidate council members into changing their minds.
“They could not have believed that that behavior could have swayed anybody’s opinion,” Sparks said. Sparks said he remains open to finding ways to help those most affected get through the transition.
Councilwoman Margaret Haynes said she is still leaning strongly in favor of annexation. While it has its faults, she said, annexation is the method the state devised to keep cities strong. Without it, the tax rate for existing city taxpayers would have to go up, she said. “My understanding is that this is really the best thing for the people in the city, and that’s who we’re representing,” Haynes said. She added that she was disappointed about what she perceives as a lack of information in the public about the benefits of annexation. “We’ve tried so hard to put it all out there,” she said.
Councilman Earl Sheridan said he has to do what’s best for the taxpayers he was elected to represent. “Nothing I heard last night really changes my mind as far as that is concerned,” he said, adding that annexation is important for maintaining the city’s good bond rating, which allows the city to borrow money at lower rates.
Councilwoman Laura Padgett, who also plans to vote for the annexation, says she empathizes with those on limited incomes who would soon have to pay city taxes. But everyone who benefits from city services and amenities should share the cost, she said. “For each one of those people, there are many people in similar circumstances already paying city property taxes,” she said.
According to city estimates, the owner of a $250,000 property currently pays $1,490 in taxes and solid waste fees. After annexation, the same person would pay $2,305 a year in taxes and fees, or about $814 more. Council members also came back to the sales tax distribution issue. According to city figures, 83 percent of taxable sales in New Hanover County occur within Wilmington city limits. Yet city government, city officials say, receives only about a fifth of the sales tax revenue, with most of the rest going to New Hanover County. That’s because the county decides how sales taxes are distributed, and city officials have been unsuccessful in convincing county officials to change the formula.
Saffo said Tuesday that some council members might think differently about annexation if the city received more sales tax dollars. Meanwhile, some of the Wilmington area’s delegation in Raleigh still hopes to slow down or stop the annexation. Rep. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, supports several bills introduced in the House that would adversely affect the city’s plans. One would place a moratorium on annexations in New Hanover County. Another would require approval by the county commissioners of any annexation. McComas said he hoped to “slow (the annexation) down and maybe derail it.”
The final vote is scheduled for the May 5 council meeting. Barring legislation or some type of legal challenge, residents in the annexation area could be city residents as soon as June 2010.
Patrick Gannon: 343-2328
patrick.gannon@starnewsonline.com
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090408/ARTICLES/904089966?Title=Wilmington-City-Council-undeterred-by-rowdy-annexation-protest
http://mediamatters.org/items/200904080025?f=h_popular
“Fair and balanced” Fox News aggressively promotes “tea party” protests
http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=10152943&nav=0RY5
Brewing unrest: local “Tea Parties” planned
http://www.midlothianexchange.com/index.php/news/article/richmond-tax-day-tea-party-set-for-april-15/18969/
Richmond Tax Day Tea Party set for April 15
http://www.sonorannews.com/archives/2009/090408/frtpgTeaParty.html
Cave Creek Tea Party
http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6273&Itemid=1
High Country Residents to Hold a Vintage Protest
http://seymourherald.com/news/2009/apr/08/diner-to-toss-tea-in-protest/
diner to toss tea in protest
http://www.whiznews.com/article.php?articleId=25447
Zanesville will be one of 2,000 communities around the country to participate in a Tea Party Rally.
http://www.alvinsun.net/articles/2009/04/08/opinion/editorials/doc49dce3d8ab26f582198751.txt
Americans are TEA’d; Rush Limbaugh
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10152145
Tea party protests coming to Great Falls, Helena
http://www.blancocountynews.com/news/article/14323
Tea Party to be Held on the Courthouse Lawn
Tea Party to be Held on the Courthouse Lawn
TEA Party set for April 15 at courthouse
http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2009/04/08/story-tax_day.html
Tax day Tea Parties planned nation wide
They are accustomed to the planned and canned protests by the leftists. Having the tax payers show up pissed off is a new experience. They best get used to it.
http://truepoliticsusa.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-party-news.html
Utah Tea Parties
http://pasadenasubrosa.typepad.com/pasadena_sub_rosa/2009/04/el-segundo-tea-party.html
EL SEGUNDO TEA PARTY
http://www.heraldstaronline.com/page/content.detail/id/518840.html
Tax Day tea party planning continues
http://www.trussvilleteaparty.com/2009/04/lee-davis-alabama-tax-day-tea-party/
Radio Talk Show Host Lee Davis Joins the Fight
http://rutherfordteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/thanks-marilyn.html
April 15, 2009 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Rutherford County Courthouse
229 N. Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC
http://starkville-now.com/2009/04/08/starkville-tax-day-tea-party/
Starkville Tax Day Tea Party
http://arlingtonteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/conduct-reminders.html
Arlington TEA Party
They’re scared, which is good. They need to be scared of us instead of the other way around.
http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/the-revolution-has-begun/
The Revolution Has Begun
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