The second annual Libertarian Party of San Diego Tax Drop was a huge success. No yelling and sign waving in front of the main post office to get the attention of taxpayers, just give them a better way to mail their returns, and they'll drive to you with their windows open eager to accept your literature. It was havoc punctuated by brief respites during red lights on Camino Del Rio that interrupted the flow of traffic into the Glasshouse Square parking lot on the corner of Rosecrans and Sports Arena Blvd., but everyone, including the taxpayers, had a good time.

Our signs directed about 700 cars to the parking lot. Some of the drivers who didn't notice our signs or were unconvinced by them changed their minds after observing all of the cars speeding through our drop. Many made 90 degree turns out of the left turn lane for Midway and crossed three lanes of traffic on Rosecrans to enter the Glasshouse driveway.

This hazardous situation and the fact that the Cal Trans sign on Camino Del Rio was doing too good a job of directing traffic down Kurtz made us devote one volunteer to stand at our first 4'x4' sign on Camino Del Rio just before the Cal Trans sign and use a flashlight to attract attention to our sign. Just before the driveway we had a 4'x8' sign with a flashlight shinning on it. At the driveway we had a '4x4' sign with a street light shinning on it. One volunteer stood at the driveway and used a flashlight to direct the taxpayers into the parking lot. The next volunteer delivered Glasshouse square literature and encouraged the drivers to use one of two lanes.

We had dual floodlights lighting the tax drop area. One volunteer in each lane provided Libertarian literature and instructions. Another floodlight lit our 4'x4' tax drop instruction sign, which was placed low so as not to obscure the wishing well and toilet. It confirmed the drop instructions and promise to deliver.

Separate flood lights lit the wishing well and toilet. At least one volunteer in each lane asked the taxpayers which depository they preferred and assisted their deposit. Some taxpayers refused our help and insisted on getting out of their cars so they could ceremoniously drop their return into the toilet. The toilet got seven times the returns the wishing well got.

Our 4'x4' exit instruction sign helped them return home.

The signs allowed the drop to function even if volunteers were temporarily unavailable to provide information. It and all of the other signs were on a pair of removable A-frame supports, so they could be easily transported Various campaign and tax protest signs were also displayed.

Some people were standing on the center divide of Rosecrans offering to transport returns for $3. They were telling everyone that we charged for our service, so we created and posted two new signs that said "FREE."

We had two mountain bikes and backpacks on hand, but our secret route to the post office worked so well we didn't need them. Steve Curry drove the round trip in under ten minutes.

We teamed with the Association of Concerned Taxpayers, but they provided little support. Bruce Skane handed out NRA literature at the end of the tax drop. Over fifteen Libertarians worked the three-hour shift from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.. Jack Anderson and Bill Holmes worked many more hours arranging for the site and making the signs, props and handouts. They worked from 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 am to pack, transport, set-up and tear-down the equipment and material. John Cheney was on the scene and was so impressed that he volunteered a significant donation to the SDLP. Thanks to all.

The Uptown San Diego Examiner responded to our press releases with the following paragraph in an article entitled "Taxing News" in their "Special All-Taxing All-Financing Issue":

"Adding to the fun nearby will be the annual presence of the San Diego Libertarians. This year, though, they will be helping the Postal Services by collecting last-minute filers' returns from 9 - 11 p.m. in Glasshouse Square, at Sports Arena Boulevard and Rosecrans Street. But they won't be using mailboxes or collection bins; the Libertarians will offer participating taxpayers a choice between depositing their returns in a wishing well and a toilet. Still, flush from their collection, the Libertarians vow they will deliver those deposited returns immediately at the post office."