A Pastor's Thoughts

I have nothing to hide.  That is what most people say. The hear storied of Google copying everyone’s location and contacts and they are unfazed.  This is because most people say they have done nothing wrong.  They don’t mind if the NSA or other government agency is spying on them, they have done nothing wrong.  I used to think that.  I used to think that I was obeying the law, so who cares if I am watched.  My life is boring, I thought.  Then I came against Alameda County.  Actually my church came against Alameda County’s Assessor’s office.  Our church was doing everything that every other church was doing.  I had told the assessor’s office everything we were doing and they approved.  Then the government changed the law.  I was still doing the same thing, but activities that were legal last year are no longer legal.  Alameda County changed the law and did not tell anybody.  Now my church is being taxed and fined for things that used to be legal.  Things like weddings and quinceaneras.

Today I had a three hour meeting with people from the county.  Specifically James C. Johnson (510) 272-3795, james.johnson@acgov.org and Israel Padilla Villafuerte (510) 272-3767, israel.padilla@acgov.org.  I went there to try and come to a resolution concerning the huge tax bills we have been getting, as a tax exempt church.  Back in 2014, we were thinking of renting our hall for weddings and such.  I called the county and talked to Kristi Roy, who told me that the rentals could not be regular and they could not be repeat business of the same people all the time.  Ms. Roy was functioning as an agent of this government body, so I took her words to be true.  I asked if I would be violating the law or if I would lose my tax free status.  On both accounts she said no.  When Ms. Roy came twice to tour my building I asked her again, to her face, and was told that it would be lawful and acceptable.  Today I found out that Ms. Roy lied to me and that renting our hall is not allowed.  That is

I meet with the Assosor’s Office of Alameda County tomorrow (September 6, 2018).  I will defend Cornerstone Fellowship against the force of government.  When the San Leandro Times reporter called the county, they talked to a Brian Hitomi.  Mr. Hitomi said that I was renting rooms in a commercial way.  People may wonder what evidence or proof the county has for this accusation.  All the county has are some pictures that were posted online.  People said that the event was held at my church and put my phone number for others who might want to hold their event at my church.  My name was not on the pictures.  There was no date on the pictures.  I do not own the pictures.  In a court of law, these pictures would never be allowed as evidence because their origin cannot be determined.   Yet some bored county employees just started googling things and they found some random pictures and that allowed them to accuse me of renting rooms (not one room, but plural rooms) in a commercial way,