Retaliation
A bit back, a tea party had their lawful protest and paid taxes on rights err permit fees. The city didn’t charge those fees to the Occupy Whatever folks. So, the Tea Part asked for a refund. Soon after, they get a notice they’re going to be audited.
November 29th, 2011 at 10:35 am
Selective enforcement of the law and the use of government power to harass and intimidate political opponents?
I seem to recall you saying something about “the first signs of tyranny” that may be relevant here.
November 29th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Rope
November 29th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Looks like it’s time for war, like it was for the original Te Party.
November 29th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Tar. Feathers. You know what to do.
November 29th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Our local talk radio DJ, Doc Thompson (He subs for Glenn Beck) is all over the city council and mayor. He speaks at every Tea Party rally so he feels that this is personal.
I’m so enjoying my popcorn…..
November 30th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
After looking around for more info on how they can get away with such a blatant abuse of power, I think we should invoke Hanlon’s razor here.
“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
The Richmond Tea Party got audited because they failed to file any of the monthly returns for admissions, meals and lodging taxes the city requires for business license holders for all of 2010 and most of 2011. The city had recently completely a review of tax records and the Richmond Tea Party was just one of 700 businesses that got an audit letter.
Owens’ article claimed that the Richmond Tea Party treasurer filled out the forms every month, but the city only had records for January and February 2011 (and nothing for 2010). In a WaPo article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/richmond-tea-party-audit-retaliation-for-complaints-about-preferential-treatment-of-occupy/2011/11/28/gIQAQBcq6N_story.html) dated a few days before her article was posted Owens was quoted as saying that their group “would be glad to fill out the forms.” Again, this contradicts her article.
All of this doesn’t really matter, of course, since the Richmond Tea Party won’t owe any taxes because it doesn’t charge anything for the annual Tax Day rally it holds. So all of this boils down to a lazy treasurer who couldn’t be bothered to fill in one form a month (which the city provided in a handy coupon book) with zeros.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Well, then, it’s time to sue the government officials personally under the Bivens Act and for official oppression as well as filing a civil rights complaint with the Civil Rights Commission and the FBI.