On Church and State

Yesterday I went to the City of Newburgh's City Hall. While conducting my business I noticed, on a radiator next to the Tax Assessor's window a Watch Tower and an Awake magazine. These magazines are published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society which according to their website " is a legal organization in use by Jehovah’s Witnesses." This religious organization's members perform a service called tracting in which they distribute their books, magazines and other publications to the community.

I have no issue with tracting in public or private. I do feel that the distribution of their literature at City Hall is wrong.

I went to the Tax Assessor's window and was greeted by a city employee whom I informed of the magazines on display in the building. She said "I didn't put them there and it's not my job to pick them up." She informed me that if I had a problem I could go upstairs to the executive offices.

I did go upstairs and let them know that I felt that it was an improper display whether authorized by the city or not. The people there agreed and stated that any employee who sees them should remove them.