A few weeks ago, I reported on how the Richmond Tea Party invoiced the City of Richmond for a refund of the expenses incurred from our three Tax Day Rallies in Kanawha Plaza, the same place where Occupy Richmond illegally camped for two weeks without paying a single fee to the City. We figured that in spirit of equal application of the law, a refund from Mayor Dwight Jones was in order. Shortly thereafter, we received a brief letter that promised a timely response to our request. We have since received that response.
Before I get to that, though, let me bring you up to speed on the full story.
Last week, we learned that in addition to the City of Richmond’s open favoring of Occupy Richmond, the City went so far as to even pay some of their bills, including providing toilets and cleanup. (See the invoices here.) The Richmond Tea Party, of course, paid for these same services ourselves during our three events. It should be noted, though, that Occupy Richmond intended to provide for these services as well, but the Mayor went out of his way to pick up the tab at taxpayer expense.
As if that weren’t bad enough, when we showed up to plead our case before the Richmond City Council last week, Mayor Jones walked out of his own meeting the moment our first speaker was announced. Too bad he didn’t stick around to hear Councilmen Jewell follow up by saying he agreed with us 100% and that we should be refunded our money. Apparently Mayor Jones was too busy meeting personally with the Occupiers to address their concerns and offering one of them a position on his anti-poverty commission.
I don’t suppose I’d be fortunate enough to get my own meeting and the same offer. I have done a lot of anti-poverty work in Richmond myself, and I would love to share my experiences with the commission to help craft a wise policy of approaching a serious problem. But considering the Mayor’s response to our refund request, I call it a safe bet that I will receive no such offer.
What was his response, you wonder?
A tax audit, of course!
Nice, eh? Not to worry, though. We are the Tea Party and, therefore, have followed every applicable tax law to this point, including filing all the proper forms. We will file them again, though, to satisfy the audit requirements.
But that won’t be the last the City of Richmond hears from the Richmond Tea Party and the American people.
The City is now openly rewarding and financing lawlessness, while punishing and charging the law-abiding. These actions represent the kind of bullying and abuse of power the American people have come to expect from those in office and are now dedicated to stopping. We stand united in holding accountable every last corrupt politician, no matter which office they hold or at which level they serve.
More will be coming out about this story in the coming days and weeks, but for now, I wanted to give you the quick update and let you know that we, like you, are done taking it from arrogant politicians. The City of Richmond gave us their response—now we have one for them.
Stay tuned.
Cross-posted at redstatevirginia.com
