August 21st, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Speakers at the Cumberland City Council meeting on Tuesday spoke against the permit ordinance for events in downtown.  One citizen, Kit Pepper Lesscallette, said that where protests and other impromptu gatherings are concerned, it needs to be spelled out…

   

“Your assuring us that this doesn’t apply to our first amendment right to politically protest things is not good enough. It needs to be in the ordinance. You may be honest in thinking you don’t think it applies, but you’re not always going to be sitting in those seats.”

Mayor Ray Morriss talked to WCBC about the ordinance, saying people are not understanding its purpose…

   

“They are misconstruing the ordinance and thinking it applies to them. This does not apply to the little lady on the corner with her signs. It has nothing to do with that.”