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    Is the Trump projection still on Hanson’s water tower?

    Mars Posted on

    HANSON – The spotlight will remain trained on the High Street water tower from dusk until dawn as the city’s ongoing effort to stop a property owner from projecting a “Trump 2024” sign onto the tower continues.

    At least one threat was also made against a city official, according to a statement released this week by the select committee and city administrator.

    The problem began on Friday, October 11, when the city discovered that a High Street homeowner living across the street from the tower was projecting the political image. The city said political messages are not allowed on municipal property, making the property owner’s actions a violation of city signage bylaws.

    “This misleads the public into believing that this activity is sanctioned or condoned by the city,” City Administrator Lisa Green said in a statement last week about the screening. “The Town of Hanson does not support any political candidate, party or program in any election.”

    Hanson owner warned of fines

    A cease and desist order was issued to the owner on Saturday, October 12. The city also said it would fine the owner $100 for each day the floodlight remained on. The city then took it a step further by installing large generation-powered floodlights to obscure the view of any projections on the tower.

    A statement from the select committee and Town Administrator Lisa Green released Tuesday, Oct. 22, says the homeowner has not operated the projector since receiving the letter.

    Despite this, the lights continue to shine at night on the tower, which Green said the city will continue to do unless it gets assurances from the owner that he will not turn his floodlight back on the moment the city turns off the lights. spotlights.

    “This has locked the city into an unfortunate impasse, and to avoid a cycle of back and forth, the special committee has decided to leave measures in place to mitigate the projection until further notice,” the 22 statement said. october.

    A threat and “inappropriate and vulgar” calls and emails

    The decision angered people beyond Hanson’s borders. The telephone threat mentioned to the city official does not appear to have been issued locally, the city’s October 22 press release indicates, but nevertheless qualifies it as concerning.

    The statement also describes “inappropriate and vulgar phone calls and emails to city employees who are just doing their jobs.”

    “The City has informed and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities in this matter,” the Oct. 22 statement said.

    Green has said in previous statements that she and other city officials respect citizens’ First Amendment rights to free speech and expression, but that a violation of the bylaw is a violation of the bylaw and therefore is liable to citations and fines.

    “City government officials find themselves in the often unenviable position of objectively and impartially enforcing regulations put in place by its citizens,” the Oct. 22 statement said. “This is a deeply unfortunate and unnecessary situation that the Town of Hanson, its residents and government officials did not ask to be placed in.”

    Hanson voted for Trump in previous elections

    The majority of the city’s registered voters voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, according to election results posted on the city’s website.

    A notable rally organized by the group Massachusetts For Trump was held near Shaw’s in Hanson this weekend. The group has held and continues to hold such events across the state and chose Hanson because of the attention the town was receiving in response to homeowners’ support for the former president, an organizer said.

    The city met twice in executive sessions – once during a regular meeting on October 15 and a second on October 22 that had not been on the agenda for the past two weeks – to discuss steps to take next, This includes the possibility of taking further legal action against the owners to recover the cost of overtime and other expenses associated with the operation of the lighting.

    GoFundMe created for Hanson owners

    Whatever that total is, the homeowner will have it a little easier if he foots the bill after two separate online fundraisers raised nearly $7,000 in donations to help him get there. One of the fundraisers more than doubled its $2,500 goal, with about $5,907 raised.

    Hanson officials reiterated that which direction the situation takes will ultimately be up to the owner.

    “The Hanson Select Board is eager for this individual resident to agree to bring this matter to an end without delay.”

    Mars
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