Both sides of the soccer complex issue have been putting up signs. Both sides are complaining that the other is guilty of removing them. In one case, a woman who has been doing a lot of work both leafletting and putting out signs against the soccer complex pulled her car up when she saw a guy pulling one of her signs out of the ground. When she confronted him, he just handed her the sign, got in his car and drove off. No identifying information is available.

In a second case, however, there is some identifying information. In this case the witness emailed:

"I just watched a man take down several opposition signs that were placed near the large “Vote Yes” banners along Metcalf in Overland Park...He was a white male about 5’9” driving a maroon Ford Freestar – this is the best part – MISSOURI Plates 152 TFJ. He was pretty bold when he did it at 95th and Metcalf in front of Jack Stack. He walked right up, folded them in half, and then threw them in the back of his van. The van looked older but it did have an Enterprise Rental Car “E” sticker on the back. They could have rented it for this purpose? "

So, if you happen to know this guy, by all means send me ((phillips@kcnet.com) the information and it will be turned over to the authorities. Enterprise Rental has been contacted, but could not identify the van.

The police also have been contacted to see if this person can be identified.

This sort of thing is not uncommon in Johnson County. During the grass roots campaign for former City Councilmember Dan Carbery, his political campaign signs were constantly pulled down. See this story from NeighborhoodNet: "Ward 6 Candidate Dan Carbery Signs Being Removed Ron Williams Signs Remain, Sometimes Replace Carbery's". Ron Williams was the developer funded candidate. In the end, in spite of his campaign tearing down signs and his huge funding advantage, he was defeated by Dan Carbery.

People on both sides have said they are opposed to vandalizing the other side's signs. However, given the huge funding advantage of the pro-soccer tax side, including funds for both TV and signs, the taking of signs has a greater impact on the grassroots effort trying defeat the soccer tax.

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