Kevin The Geek – Harassed By City Government For Exercising First Amendment Rights

You may recall this story from August, shortly after Obama uttered those famous words about business owners not building that. Kevin Kerwin of Lake Oswego, Oregon, put up a sign in his shop window that said, “Hey Obama … I BUILT MY BUSINESS BY MYSELF YOU INCOMPETENT LOUSY EXCUSE FOR A PRESIDENT … I’m KevintheGeek and I approve this message”.

Kevin has, naturally, experienced the love and tolerance that the professional protesting Left is known for in this country. Not being easily intimidated, Kevin became a local celebrity and hero to Conservatives by adding other messages to his shop window. In an interview on November 26, he told me, “I wanted to shove it back in their faces a little bit, because it’s my only outlet to express my opinion to a lot of folks and show them I’m fed up with the liberal agenda.”

Kevin told his story to local radio host Victoria Taft (reprinted from The Blaze):

Kevin “The Geek” got an interesting customer yesterday at his Lake Oswego based business. A Dunthorpe doyenne entered his store, began berating the businessman for his anti Obama sign, and when he insisted he wouldn’t take it down, slapped him. He threatened to call the cops but she left and then shuffled across the street and lost herself in the stores and parking lot.[…] He didn’t get a picture or see her vehicle and doesn’t know her name so did not report her to police. Here’s what he sent me right after it happened,

Sent: Monday, August 6, 2012 2:54 PM
Subject: I was hit by a woman democrat today

A woman from Dunthorpe came in my shop today and got upset and hit me. things are getting a little tense around here.

Kevin J

Still trying to save the United States from idiots

After the election results on November 6, Kevin was greeted by the Left with a hearty handshake and a let’s let bygones be bygones attitude.

Just kidding. “I had all sorts of obscene letters taped to my window. I had [manure] thrown at my window. I just left it there as a reminder of how these people really are.” I posted one of the signs at my personal blog, 54°40’ Or Fight, here.

Now, the city is bribing his landlord to try to force him to remove his signs.
Kevin posted this on Facebook on November 26, prompting my call to him for an interview:

Look what the City of Lake Oswego is making me sign to stay in business. Looks like they found a way to stop my cause.

TENANT AGREEMENT TO COMPLY WITH WINDOW SIGNAGE STANDARDS
Tenant hereby agrees to comply with standards for window signage as identified in the attached “Exhibit B”.
It is understood that compliance with these standards shall be a condition of occupancy and are incorporated as part of the terms of the lease and a condition that must be met to be able to display Tenant’s business name on Tenant’s awning valance.
In addition, temporary signage shall be allowed for each tenant as follows:
• A temporary sign is permitted for sales (such as grand openings and holiday sales) associated with the primary function of the business.
• The temporary sign is allowed 21 days prior to a sale and must be removed within 24-hours following the sale.
• The temporary sign is permitted in one window and can occupy no more than 25% of the window by itself or combined with other permitted signage.
• Must be of professional quality.
• Must be approved by the Landlord.
Name of Tenant: ______________________________
Agreed to by: ______________________________
Date: __________

Kevin tells me that this is an unprecedented requirement for signage anywhere in the city, and that they will only offer the funds to the landlord for “beautification” of the property if all tenants comply with the requirement that window signs be explicitly for “business purposes only”. Kevin tells me that the amount of attention his signs have drawn has increased his business, so I’m not sure the city actually can make their case.

In any event, knowing Kevin, this bribe is unlikely to be successful.