CITY WILL NO LONGER POST DISCLAIMER SIGNS AT PUBLIC EVENTS

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., July 15 -- The city of Port St. Lucie issued the following news release:

The City of Port St. Lucie has determined that city-made disclaimer signs placed near politically oriented booths at the 2009 Freedomfest event should not have been posted, and the city has apologized for any perception created that the city was attempting to limit free speech rights.

At the city's Fourth of July Freedomfest, which is an annual outdoor festival that residents have enjoyed for decades, the city separated food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and political, social and religious-oriented groups into separate areas in the center of the event. The area for the political, social and religious-oriented groups was labeled, "section B," while none of the other vendor areas were labeled in a similar way.

At the entrance to section B, was a large sign that said, ""The City of Port St. Lucie does not endorse, support or condone the views or products of the organizations or individuals in this section. However, we are required to make this space available to avoid the cost of litigation."

Though some people have expressed approval of the signs in the days since Freedomfest, many were offended by them, particularly a group called the Treasure Coast Tea Party, which had marched in the Freedomfest parade, and which had paid to rent a booth at the event. Many people in support of the group contacted City Hall saying they felt the signs were meant to isolate the Tea Party's message from festival patrons.

At the July 13 City Council public meeting, which was televised live on the city's government access channel and on the Internet, City Manager Don Cooper told members of the Tea Party group that the City Council did not approve of the signs and that Council members had no knowledge of the signs prior to the event.

He apologized to the group on behalf of the city and the city staff, saying, "The reason for the sign was to provide the city with protection against litigation if somebody disagrees with whomever is in the Freedomfest. Previously, the city for 20 years had not allowed booths both of a religious nature or a political nature within Freedomfest, but they were allowed to circulate their various information."

Mr. Cooper went on to say that it was not the intention of the city to cast aspersions upon the Tea Party or to restrict their ability to disseminate their information or express their views. He said it was not the intent of the city to prohibit anyone's ability to express opinion.

The City Manager also said that in the future there will be no similar signs on city-sponsored events, no restrictions on people who get booths, and no separation of food vendors, craft vendors, and various social organizations or political organizations or candidates.

Despite the controversial signs, the public did have free and open access to the Tea Party booth all day at Freedomfest, and that the city eventually removed the signs at the request of the organization-although late in the afternoon.

Watch the "public to be heard" portion of the City Council meeting where citizens expressed their views about the signs and the Tea Party organization.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.