From: *Travis* Date: Tue, Jun 23, 2009 Subject: July 4 Atlanta Tea Party Cancelled ........ Following the money, connecting the dots:
*July 4 Atlanta Tea Party Cancelled* *Jason Lee* *With as many as 20,000 people attendance, the **Atlanta Tea Party*<http://www.atlantateaparty.net/> * on April 15 was one of the largest and most successful Tea Parties in the country. *The Atlanta Tea Party on July 4, 2009 had been expected to be just as large. Unfortunately, plans have changed.* *Simon Property Group has forced the cancellation of the Atlanta Tea Party. The Atlanta Tea Party was forced to cancel<http://www.atlantateaparty.net/2009/06/atlanta-tea-party-forced-to-cancel.html> its Independence Day celebration in Gwinnett, after losing its location due to the objection of Gwinnett Place Mall (a *Simon company*<http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=141921&p=irol-infoReq> *.*) The Tea Party had been scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the old Macy's building at Gwinnett Place *since March*. "It is unfortunate the event had to be canceled," said Julianne Thompson, event co-organizer. She continued, "The old Macy's building is on private property, and *not owned by Simon Malls*, however the mall manager asked the property owner and I to come in the office on Thursday of this week [June 18], and told us Simon does not want political events on its property. They were also concerned about the fact we were using the term "protest." Although the event was on private property, the mall was able to *assert authority on the matter* due to reciprocal property easement agreements. Event Co-Chair Debbie Dooley stated, "Our Atlanta Tea Party team tried for the next day and a half to find an alternative location large enough for the event, and with the proper layout for our vendors, children's activities, and fireworks show, but we could not find anything suitable that would have been available on July 4th. With just a few days left until the Fourth of July Tea Parties begin, this is very *unfortunate* timing! One wonders why Simon Property Group waited until now to interfere. Liberal Atlanta paper's snarky reaction<http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/06/22/the-difference-between-a-shopping-mall-and-the-town-square/#comments> . Following the money, connecting the dots: 1. Gwinnett Place Mall shut down the Atlanta Tea Party. 2. Simon Property Group owns Gwennett Place Mall. 3. Melvin Simon<http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6357/Simon-Melvin.html> (a Forbes 400 billionaire<http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_Melvin-Simon_UIA0.html>) is Co-chairman<http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_Melvin-Simon_UIA0.html> of Simon Property Group, Inc. 4. Melvin Simon<http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Simon&fname=Melvin> has provided large political contributions to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, John Edwards, the DNC and many other Democrats<http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Simon&fname=Melvin> and Democrat organizations<http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/melvin-simon.asp?cycle=08> . 5. Melvin Simon was a major contributor<http://www.muckety.com/Melvin-Simon/82515.muckety> to Barack Obama inaugural committee and has given at least *$1 million*<http://www.indy.com/posts/simons-gave-to-clinton-foundation> to the William J. Clinton foundation. 6. Melvin's wife, Bren, personally donated almost $100,000 to various political candidates, was a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's<http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/articleNew.aspx?id=77262&page=08> presidential bid, and contributed to President Obama's inaugural committee<http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/articleNew.aspx?id=77262&page=08> . __,_._,___ -- *~@):~{> -- *~@):~{> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
