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.
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=6625&z=3&p=Link from earlier story.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=904064&mesg_id=904064