RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 29, 2011, Bellmore Life
Bellmore Chamber: one rule for all flyers
What's right for one but be the same for another.
Animal rights activists from the Hope for Hempstead Shelter assert their civil rights were denied at last weekend’s Bellmore Fair when they were told they could not distribute flyers on the street.
But Ron Maré, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, said “we were only enforcing our rules. No one is allowed to hand out literature on the street. They may get a booth or have a [registered] ‘character’ [i.e. Winnie the Pooh or Barney the Dinosaur, etc.] that may go up and down the street handing out literature,” he said.
The animal rights activists, from Hope for Hempstead Shelter, were trying to distribute literature that criticizes the conditions and policies at the Town of Hempstead’s animal shelter in Wantagh.
“I was approached and bullied at the Bellmore Fair,” said Diane Madden, a member of the Hope for Hempstead Shelter, at the Town of Hempstead’s board meeting on this month. “This is a free country and that includes free speech.”
Michelle Kelly agreed. She told the Town Board “a Bellmore chamber employee put his hands on a grandmother. They are crony thugs. They said it wasn’t political but ‘Team Kate’s’ literature was handed out.”
“I was the one who spoke to them. I didn’t touch anyone,” said Mr. Maré. “We are not a political organization. Both parties [Democrats and Republicans] had booths. Kate Murray [Town of Hempstead supervisor] had taken a booth but so did [U.S. Senator] Chuck Schumer and [county Legislator] Dave Denenberg. You may distribute literature from your booth. If they want to distribute literature, get a booth as many non profits have a booth,” he replied. “They were allowed to hold their large poster boards and were not asked to leave.”
The posters allege that basic services are not being provided at the shelter despite a budget of $7.1 million. “Killing has become a fact of life for the animals at the town shelter,” said Michelle Kelly at the town board meeting.
Town officials have repeatedly pointed to changes made at the shelter over the last year, including appointing new personnel such as a rescue liaison and adoption coordinator, as well as retaining the services of two veterinarians for animal and emergency animal medical services.
But activists say more needs to be done and have taken their cause to the streets. Hope for Hempstead Shelter activists have been attending street fairs throughout the Town of Hempstead, hoping to distribute literature and encouraging people to write to their officials at Town Hall.
“We were told we were disrespectful” said Ms. Kelly. “But they let a certain strip club owner, who is a member of the chamber, promote his business.”
“Billy Dean [owner of the Billy Dean’s club in North Bellmore] is a chamber member,” said Mr. Maré “and he can hand out material from his booth. There is nothing improper about that.”
