"Tea Party" @ Dutchess Stadium FishKill NY Wednesday April 15 Tax Day Protest

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090411/NEWS01/904110326/1006

Tax Day 'tea party' to protest economy set at Dutchess Stadium

MICHAEL WOYTON

On Tax Day, Dutchess County residents can turn out to show what they think about the economy, taxes and the federal and state governments.

The Fishkill Tax Day Tea Party of the Hudson Valley will be held from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Dutchess Stadium. Live music at the event will be provided by Chris Cassone.

The event will be held in conjunction with more than 500 other Tax Day tea parties around the country the same day. They are being held to protest the stimulus package, corporate bailouts and the tax structure proposed for the country, local organizer Todd Harvey said.

Harvey said he first became interested in the event after hearing Rick Santelli of CNBC in early 2009.

"He went on a rant about the irresponsible spending of the government and how everyone should throw tea parties to protest," said Harvey, a Republican.

According to the national Tax Day Tea Party Web site, Santelli called for a "Chicago tea party," where advocates of the free-market system could join in a protest against out-of-control government spending.

Harvey said he has received a positive response to the tea party. People have responded from all over the Hudson Valley, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, he said.

The event was originally planned for Doug Phillips Park in Fishkill, across the street from the site of the Fishkill Tea Party of 1776, when more than 100 women protested the British tax on tea.

Harvey said because of an overwhelming response, the event venue was changed to Dutchess Stadium, which can hold 4,000 people. He said he was paying to rent the stadium himself, but declined to say how much it cost.

Bonnie Bartivic of Fishkill is a Democrat who voted for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the last election. She said she has been handing out fliers for the rally and has received a lot of encouragement.

"I'm unhappy the way the country is going," Bartivic said. "I want my voice to be heard."

Reach Michael Woyton at mwoyton@poughkeepsiejournal.com or 845-451-4518.

Comments

[Vivian Hannigan]

We need to have Tea Party locations posted in the newspapers. I know a lot of people in Newburgh, Highland Falls, Cornwall who would be interested.
Thank you for your love of country!