WE DON'T HANKER TO OUTSIDERS IN OUR QUIET LITTLE TOWN, STRANGER!

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

(Ed.'s Note: Backwater and rural folks are by nature suspicious of "flatlanders," city folk, and strangers entering their property and knocking on their doors prying into their attitudes. Ask the political opinion survey workers who have been warned in no uncertain terms by police and city officials in Harlingen Port Isabel, Laguna Vista, etc. The survey takers – often students and young people trying to earn a living – report that they have been threatened with arrest and with citation for allegedly violating  local ordinances against solicitation. A father of one of these workers sent us the following.)

Hello, I’ve been trying to get help with an issue occurring all over Cameron county.

The issue involves city ordinances that attempt to prohibit door-to door-solicitations, but the scope of these ordinances are only allowed to prohibit for-profit with goods or service solicitations. However political block walking and religious groups that are door knocking, are exempt and are constitutionally protected activities. 

My son works for a company that takes political surveys for this upcoming election. He and the group have been threatened with being cited and even arrested in Harlingen, Port Isabel, and other small cities. 

They were threatened with arrest in Laguna Vista last week. I contacted their Town Manager Rendie  Gonzales who blatantly said she’ll have her officers  "do what they have to do” and will have anyone block walking dealt with regardless if they don't have the authority to do so.

She said that there is a permit and gave me the city ordinance numbers, but ultimately she would decide who gets the permits approved and doesn’t want these survey takers annoying people knocking on doors.

I contacted their City Attorney Alan Troy Ozuna and he was somewhat helpful. He took a step back and said he only deals with tickets and citations. He said he would help the group if any tickets were issued because he knows the city ordinance was intended for sales solicitation not block walking.

I contacted a Ranking Police Officer S. Cruz, he said he’d look into the occurrence, but recommended the group get a permit to solicit or peddle. The officers that had initially contacted the group flat out said they would arrest my son and his coworkers if seen anywhere in the City limits that they would trespass them from the city of Laguna Vista.

Is there anyone who can help these workers and young people who are getting involved in our political process and are only trying to make an honest living?