Members of the Harford Property Tax Revolt are hitting the streets of Bel Air again. This time they're celebrating Independence Day — and doing it on property owned by the county government.

From 9 a.m. to noon on July 4 at 220 S. Main St. in Bel Air, the group who recently protested property taxes in Harford County is inviting members of the public to share their stories about America.

The location is the main county office building's parking lot, where people often congregate and park during Bel Air's Independence Day celebration.

"The reason we're doing this on the 4th is it's a celebration of our independence," Patrick McGrady, organizer of the event, said. "We're trying to get people to remember the 4th of July is a holiday not meant for tire salesmen or furniture salesman and good sales. It's a time to remember we fought for independence from Great Britain in 1776."

The Independence Day celebration will take place two months after the tax protesters filled the Harford County Council chambers demanding council members lower property taxes.

"We're trying to carry the momentum forward from previous protests on May 19 and April 15 about large government and spending," McGrady said. "It's also a rally in support of good decisions made by politicians and to support politicians doing the right thing. Everybody wants to pay taxes that are fair."

The tax protesters are not an "angry" group of people, McGrady said.

"What I really am looking forward to is having a bunch of people come out and celebrate their independence," McGrady said. "We really live in a great country and I want people to realize that. We're not all angry people. We love this country and we want to see it be the best country in the world."

The event is free and open to the public.

"It's a family-friendly event that doesn't cost anything," McGrady said. "It's great on the 4th in Bel Air. It's early enough people can come out and celebrate their independence and go home and have a picnic and nap before the fireworks."

user comments (1)

user nebuladan says...

I am such a huge fan of the Tea Party tax protesters. They are truly one of the great examples of knee jerk, group thought, of the "taxes be bad" mentality. Fact is taxes pay for things and I am sure that the same people out protesting County tax rates are the same people who protested the closing of the Fallston Library, and are likely to be the first on the front lines if any service is cut. This have your cake and eat it too mentality is what has driven the American economy off the cliff. We want useless wars at the cost of hundreds of billions, we want schools that out perform all others, water and road infrstructure that never fails and law enforcment to sweep our streets of the evils of skateboarders and marijuanna, yet when it comes time to pay the piper, we want to run for the hills. Unfortunately, because of our shortsightedness, the piper always come calling in hard times. In good times we want to cut taxes so there is no chance of building rainyday funds to help in bad times. This leads to a never ending cycle of tax cuts in the sunshine and tax hikes when it rains. (Seems like we should be doing just the opposite don't you think?) In any case, before you Tea Partiers go out, snarl traffic and genrally cast a cloud over Independence day, you may want to take a look at the attached link: http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Budget/FY10/PropostedBudgetBrief.pdf which will give you some actual knowledge about the Harford County budget, including the cuts that have already been made. Instead of simply jerking your knees in lockstep to the faux news at FOX, please be prepared to enlighten all of us with an actual soluton. What would you cut after you got tax rates lowered. Remember, there are always effects from every cause.

Posted 11:55 AM, 07.02.09

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