Liberty deflated
An inflatable statue of liberty is seen atop Liberty Income Tax in Waynesboro on Monday. (Tony Gonzalez/staff)
The inflatable didn’t last long.
Staunton officials Monday ordered the removal of one of two air-filled Statue of Liberty displays put up by Liberty Tax Service at its Richmond Avenue office for the New Year.
The other inflatable still stands tall at the company’s Waynesboro office on Lew Dewitt Boulevard, where store owner Jarret Gold has posted it each year for the past three years when tax season begins.
“Staunton ... they always give me a little grief about it,” Gold said Monday, joking: “They’re just not as patriotic over there, I guess.”
Officials could not be reached for comment. A law passed in December bans inflatable figures from the “entrance corridor overlay district” of the city.
A message was left for Gold on Sunday about a feature article on the inflatables. Ironically, Gold said, one was ordered down before he could return the call.
Gold was also unsuccessful in reaching officials Monday to discuss code section 18.83.090.
“Last year I did everything within the rules,” Gold said, joking again: “They’re very prudent, or I’m just in their crosshairs or something.”
Gold said he is frustrated by the code but needs to look into appeal fees before he decides if he’ll protest.
“I guess in Waynesboro I’ve never had an issue,” he said.
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Reader Reactions
This is the main reason that I moved to Waynesboro. Staunton Police, the city officials, and even their D.A. Ray Robertson always like to focus on the smallest issues. Heck, a lot of them aren’t even issues at all. It took them 41 years to solve a local murder but a couple days to remove a Statue of Liberty and a couple months to close an adult video store. I praise Liberty tax for their patriotism and support them. I hope an appeal can be brought and it is won. How about Staunton officials focus on issues like gangs and drugs and less about this. I got to where I don’t spend any money in Staunton at all. People with this kind of anti-patriotism is what is wrong with the world today.
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