Mayor Love,
I am a resident of Saratoga Springs and am writing to you on behalf of myself and many of my neighbors as well as members of the 9/12 project, Tea Party movement, and numerous other concerned citizens of Sartoga Springs.
Unfortunately we feel for now the need to contact you anonymously to avoid reprisal from city officials as it has been demonstrated in the past that Citizens of Saratoga Springs are not guaranteed due process or equal protection under the law and that local city officials have acted out of jurisdiction in cases of animal control and landscaping code enforcement.
Recently, several citizens have received what we feel to be harassment from Officer S (Sam?) Beck, "Code Enforcement Officer" regarding landscaping and yard maintenance issues.
In comparing Notice Of Violation forms, we have seen that although each of us share in identical alleged violations, some are not being cited for the same violations that others are being cited for, and others are not being cited at all; thus creating an imbalance in the enforcement of the law and a prevailing sense that some are being targeted by Mr. Beck and other city officials.
There have been no known complaints from neighbros resulting in cofusion over the recent borrage of notices of violation.
As a result of current economic conditions, many Saratoga Springs Residents cannot afford to pay for landscaping nor can they afford to hire a yard care service. For some, time that would otherwise be devoted to yard maintenance is being devoted to working extra hours or holding second sources of employment to prevent much worse things from happening such as utility shut off, vehicle repossessions, and home foreclosure.
These are all REAL ISSUES facing residents of Saratoga Springs.
These issues are unfortunate as they come on the heels of numerous other vocal complaints from citizens and vistors alike against the police department for the apparent "Over Policing" of Redwood Road. Many residents have come to feel as though we live in a Police Community similar to what was seen in east Germany and neighboring Soviet Block countries.
I understand that sounds somewhat extreme. But never the less, many citizens of Saratoga Springs share the same feelings that have been expressed here.
There have also been more serious complaints against the Saratoga Springs Judicial Systems a whole.
When the citizens perceive that the lawmakers and police become too overzealous with taking away freedoms, assessing fines, making unreasonable and unfounded threats, unreasonably inspecting our personal property, taking pictures of our personal property, taking pictures of our houses, having the police follow us for miles all the way to our home to run out license plate, pulling us over just to check us out, and no longer caring about the individual citizens, then the citizens have a duty to stand up.
The citizens then have the obligation in a free society to stand up, be heard, and say "look all these rules may be well intended, most of you may mean well, but understand-all these rules, regulations, fines, police actions, have unintended consequences that many citizens believe in their hearts are Un-American. Instead of adding assaults on our freedom with every governmental and police action, you should work to free us up from all of these impingements. This is your Constitutional duty or the people will rightfully seek to have city officials removed form office through the political process.
I have lived in two other communities in Utah as well as other more liberal states and have never witnessed anything remotely similar to what is currently happening in Saratoga Springs.
Many of us regret our decision to live in Saratoga Springs and yet due to conditions within the real estate market, are STUCK HERE.
In light of these concerns, we the people of Saratoga Springs would like to request a town hall meeting or similar open forum at which time we can safely come before you as our Mayor and share our grievances as well as examine ways in which we can work together as Public Servant and constituency to make Saratoga Springs a more desirable community in which to live.
Should you ignore our request for an open forum many citizens of Saratoga Springs have agreed to unite in a grass roots movement to campaign against your re-election as mayor and or any other public office you may seek to hold.
In addition, our immediate plan is to conduct an independent door to door investigation among the residents of Saratoga Springs as to the nature of all other citations issued by S Beck or other Code Enforcement Officers, after which time we intend to bring the findings of our investigation forward before you in a future town hall or similar forum, the city council, our state elected representatives, and if necessary the attorney general of the state of Utah.
Included in our investigation will be proof that Saratoga Springs City is not being held to the same standards as the residents of the city as there are numerous places throughout city property that are in violation of the same codes that we have been charged with violating.
This amplifies the sense that there exists a prevailing imbalance in code enforcement.
Please send your response and the proposed date and time of a Town Hall Meeting or similar open forum that will be held at or after 7pm on a week day within 10 days of receipt of this email to this email address as all concerned will be properly notified.
Failure to respond will be construed as disregard for the views of your constituency and will result in our collective efforts to campaign against your re-election, which will include peaceful assembly and public demonstration at the Saratoga Springs Crossroads during weekends and rush hour traffic.
This letter has also been sent to each major and minor Radio, Television, and Print News media outlet in the greater Salt Lake County/Utah County areas.
The People Of Saratoga Springs Have Spoken!
Our Voices Will Be Heard!
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizen
(ATTN Media: All response and inquiries can be sent to this email address: concernedsaratogacitizens@gmail.com)..
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