Thread: March will cost organizers a minimum $50K(Ft.Myers)

HA! The invaders are being billed for their tantrum but, true to their sponging nature, they're trying to avoid paying.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 6625&z=3&p

March will cost organizers a minimum of $50K
David Sutta
Last updated on: 4/11/2006 5:39:00 PM

FORT MYERS: Leaders with the city of Fort Myers and Lee County are trying to determine how much "The Great March" cost taxpayers. The city of Fort Myers attorney sent a letter to organizers on Friday stating they would be responsible for all costs involved in the event. The organizers say they shouldn't have to pay because they have a right to protest. For just the city of Fort Myers' overtime costs, the bill is $50,630.

On Friday, the Fort Myers city attorney sent a letter to Luis Ibarra, Director of the United Latin Immigrants of Florida as well as the Mexican Consulate in Miami.

The letter stated, "The city is unaware if you have taken any steps to provide for the event and therefore will incur significant taxpayer dollars to provide what the organizers of the event are supposed to provide. As a result, the city will be seeking reimbursement for these services and will hold your organization responsible to the greatest extent of the law."

Ibarra says he never received the letter and it's the first he's heard about the possibility of receiving a bill for the march.

"We are a non profit organization and we shouldn't have to pay anything to anyone. This is freedom of speech and we have the right to protest and march as immigrants. Who says we have to pay? That's ridiculous," said Ibarra.

The city says it doesn't matter if they are non-profit organization or a corporation. Any organization that holds an event of this size, permitted or not, needs to provide for basic services.

The city of Fort Myers estimates overtime costs alone will run $50,630. That doesn't include vehicle costs, food, water or equipment. They are at least one week from having final numbers.

Lee County says it will be weeks before they will know how much the march cost.

Here is an excerpt from the Fort Myers ordinance regarding processions:

Sec. 17-117. Permit required; fees.
No parade or procession upon any street of the city and no open-air public meetings upon any public property shall be permitted unless a special permit shall first be obtained. Any person desiring a permit under this section shall make written application to the chief of police or some duly authorized member of the police department. Permits issued under this section shall be printed or written, duly signed by the chief of police or some duly authorized member of the police department after approval and shall specify the day, hour, place and purpose of such parade, procession or open-air public meeting. The fee for such permit shall be five dollars ($5.00) if the activity permitted requires no extra policing or will cause no extra cost or expense to the city. If such activity will require additional policing or supervision or otherwise incur additional cost and expense to the city, there shall be charged such fee as will defray such additional cost to be determined by the chief of police.
(Code 1963, § 32-1)

"We are a non profit organization and we shouldn't have to pay anything to anyone. This is freedom of speech and we have the right to protest and march as immigrants. Who says we have to pay? That's ridiculous," said Ibarra.

More proof that they will not respect our laws. Out with all of them.

Sec. 17-117. Permit required; fees.
No parade or procession upon any street of the city and no open-air public meetings upon any public property shall be permitted unless a special permit shall first be obtained. Any person desiring a permit under this section shall make written application to the chief of police or some duly authorized member of the police department. Permits issued under this section shall be printed or written, duly signed by the chief of police or some duly authorized member of the police department after approval and shall specify the day, hour, place and purpose of such parade, procession or open-air public meeting. The fee for such permit shall be five dollars ($5.00) if the activity permitted requires no extra policing or will cause no extra cost or expense to the city. If such activity will require additional policing or supervision or otherwise incur additional cost and expense to the city, there shall be charged such fee as will defray such additional cost to be determined by the chief of police.
(Code 1963, § 32-1)

Go FORT MYERS. If more cities would do this, I wonder how many demonstrations there will be.

They should bear the cost of these marches, police, cleanup and other costs, taxpayers are not going to bear the costs of protests for people who should not be in this country at all. Good for Ft. Meyers

"We are a non profit organization and we shouldn't have to pay anything to anyone. This is freedom of speech and we have the right to protest and march as immigrants. Who says we have to pay? That's ridiculous," said Ibarra.

Hahahaha, someone doesn't understand how to run a non-profit. Non-Profit doesn't mean get everything for free and it doesn't mean you don't have cost of doing business.

Collect donations from your supporters and good luck with that. I guess you know how hard it has been for America to get our dollars back from them. I'm sure they aren't going to give them to you either.

Hahahaha

Just shows those people don't know our laws, and don't care to find out about them!

Out with them all!