The story in text here:
For 15 years, the Old Bridge resident has put on a massive 70,000 Christmas light show. But, this year, instead of attracting visitors, the display brought out what Tom calls “Holiday Scrooges.”
“I mean, what else can you have? It’s Christmas lights. I mean, who wouldn’t be happy seeing Christmas lights?” asked Apruzzi.
Well, the Township, for one. Mayor Owen Henry, in a recent statement, said Tom will need to pay up – roughly $2,000 a night.
“I have always held the same position stating that the show was a go, but with proper safety measures.”
“I’m not, if you want public safety on the streets, you are going to have to take care of public safety. You are the police. That’s your job,” said Tom.New Jersey has what may be the highest property taxes in the nation, and Mayor Scrooge wants to bill a homeowner for police work because he put up some lights. Oooooh kaaaaay.
I remember growing up in a free country. We stared down the Godless Commies. Now The Man sends you a bill for police work, police work that hassles everybody. Bah, humbug.
Add a sign to the display calling the Mayor a tyrant, and the display becomes political speech. Fining the property owner at that point becomes a violation of the First Amendment.
ReplyDeleteDivemedic, it looks like this is already a 1A case. Religion, not politics but covered under the same amendment.
ReplyDeleteThen again, IANAL