FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL TOWN OFFICIALS -
  THE U.S. CONSTITUTION STILL APPLIES IN THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT

This Blog entry is directed to all the Town Officials who regularly read the Post to the "Mount Pleasant Exposed" BlogSpot - and we know that you do!!

There appears to be some serious confusion on the part of the Town's Elected Officials, specifically the Town Supervisor, as to the use of so-called "Town Property".  First, let's be clear - neither the Supervisor, the Town Board, nor, any Town Official owns "Town Property".  They do not gain title to the land through an election!  Therefore, no Town Official has a right, or the legal authority to attempt to prevent any individual resident or group from using said property for lawful purposes.  For example, the Town Hall facility and the property on which it is located belongs to the PEOPLE of the Town of Mount Pleasant; not to Town Officials.  That fact seems to have been lost on some, considering that there are some misguided Town Officials who ignorantly think that THEY actually own the property, and that THEY have a dictatorial right to determine who can and can't utilize the grounds.  Some of these Officials actually think that they have the power to prevent residents from "setting foot on" Town Property, and have been overheard stating just that in conversations among members of their "inner circle". 

As a matter of fact, last year, the Supervisor, in a fit of rage, tried to prevent a candidate for public office from holding a press conference outside of Town Hall, stating that the candidate "couldn't do that" and asking if the candidate had a permit.  The Supervisor further stated that she was going to immediately report this matter (the press conference) to the Police Department, in an attempt to intimidate the candidate and prevent the press conference.  In response to the Supervisor's threat,  she was provided a copy of the U.S. Constitution and told that the 1st Amendment was the only permit that was needed to conduct the press conference.  The Supervisor looked confused when she heard that; she seemed to be ignorant of what the 1st Amendment reference meant; and, she stated that she would take the copy of the Constitution and give it to the Police Department and have them look into it.  This candidate was simply attempting to exercise "Free Speech" and to "Peaceably Assemble"; both rights guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.  One might ask, how can someone hold the position of Supervisor in the Town of Mount Pleasant and be so uneducated about the content of our most sacred of documents?  Her obvious lack of Constitutional knowledge would probably explain why she and other Town Officials think that they can restrict the public from using "Town Property".  Maybe all Town Officials should be mandated to take a refresher course on the Constitution - although, considering their actions, for some the "refresher" might be their initial encounter with our Constitution.  Hopefully, that course would pay dividends, teaching the officials that they are merely elected officials, elected to do the will of the people; that they are not ordained as dictators, with unlimited power and authority; and, most importantly, that the PEOPLE have RIGHTS.         
                
Well, Truthful One wants to enlighten Town officials about the relevant section of the U.S. Constitution that applies to this matter - the public's right to use "Town Property.  It is truly difficult to understand how current Town officials can be so ignorant of the Constitution.  After all, each of these elected officials takes an Oath of Office when they are sworn in to their respective positions.  Contained in that oath is a statement in which they swear to "support and defend the Constitution".  One would then naturally conclude that the individual taking that Oath would at least be familiar with the basic Freedoms guaranteed by that Constitution, if they were going to "support and defend" it.  Obviously, that is not the case in the Town of Mount Pleasant. 

Below, I will provide the text of the 1st Amendment to our U.S Constitution, for the benefit of our elected officials, since they are apparently unaware that this Amendment grants the the right to the PEOPLE to use so-called "Town Property".  I would suggest that ALL Mount Pleasant Town Officials read it and absorb its meaning.  The malicious abuse of power practiced by this group of elected officials must stop! 

                                        1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Elected Officials are not above the LAW.  The PEOPLE have RIGHTS.  It is about time that the Elected Officials of the Town of Mount Pleasant got the message!!