Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden

RoyalTea · 07-07-11, 03:47 PM

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news...-20110630-wpms

Quote:

Their front yard was torn up after replacing a sewer line, so instead of replacing the dirt with grass, one Oak Park woman put in a vegetable garden and now the city is seeing green.

The list goes on: fresh basil, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, cumbers and more all filling five large planter boxes that fill the Bass family’s front yard.

Julie Bass says, “We thought we’re minding our own business, doing something not ostentatious and certainly not obnoxious or nothing that is a blight on the neighborhood, so we didn’t think people would care very much.”

But some cared very much and called the city. The city then sent out code enforcement.

“They warned us at first that we had to move the vegetables from the front, that no vegetables were allowed in the front yard. We didn’t move them because we didn’t think we were doing anything wrong, even according to city code we didn’t think we were doing anything wrong. So they ticketed us and charged me with a misdemeanor,” Bass said . . .

City code says that all unpaved portions of the site shall be planted with grass or ground cover or shrubbery or other suitable live plant material. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are what Basses see as suitable.

However, Oak Park’s Planning and Technology Director Kevin Rulkowski says the city disagrees. He says, “If you look at the dictionary, suitable means common. You can look all throughout the city and you’ll never find another vegetable garden that consumes the entire front yard.”

From her blog:

Quote:

our attorney spoke to the prosecutor today. (for the record, my crush on him is totally finished after today.)

his position: they are going to take this all the way.

officially, this means i am facing 93 days in jail if they win.

I hope the person who called the cops gets cancer. If you want to live in a neighborhood free of visible vegetable gardens, move into a neighborhood with a HOA with batshit crazy rules.

I can't believe that in the "land of the free," an American citizen should ever face JAIL TIME for growing a goddamned vegetable garden.

Red Dog · 07-07-11, 03:52 PM

Quote:

"If you look at the dictionary, suitable means common."

Hmmm. I wonder what dictionary he's looking at. I'm not even sure you'd see 'common' if you looked up suitable in a thesaurus.

crazyronin · 07-07-11, 03:52 PM

You can have my Marglobe and Black Krim tomatoes when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

Larry C. · 07-07-11, 03:53 PM

I need pics to determine guilt...

RoyalTea · 07-07-11, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry C.

I need pics to determine guilt...

orangecrush · 07-07-11, 04:09 PM

Not Guilty!

kvrdave · 07-07-11, 04:09 PM

Actually, the code doesn't mention it having to be common (suitable) to the rest of the city. It only has to be common (suitable). If they could argue that they have never heard of tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers, maybe they could argue that they are uncommon (not suitable). But I think those plants are common enough that everyone has heard of them.

At least, that is how I'd approach it if I were their lawyer.

Superboy · 07-07-11, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalTea

That is a nice fucking garden.

kvrdave · 07-07-11, 04:58 PM

One might even say, uncommonly so.

Thor Simpson · 07-07-11, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry C.

I need pics to determine guilt...

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangecrush

Not Guilty!

Where were these front yard garden code violaters when I was growing up?

Hokeyboy · 07-07-11, 05:11 PM

Fucking hippies. Eat a steak already.

The Cow · 07-07-11, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superboy

That is a nice fucking garden.

And that's just the mugshot!

Mabuse · 07-07-11, 06:15 PM

Her garden needs one of these

No garden is complete without one.

Trout · 07-07-11, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalTea

Damn, that looks almost like my garden. And yes Black Krim FTW.

orangecrush · 07-08-11, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superboy

That is a nice fucking garden.

That is what I was thinking. This is really the thing you complain to the city about?

Dr Mabuse · 07-08-11, 08:36 AM

Men fight for freedom, then they begin to accumulate laws to take it away from themselves.

CRM114 · 07-08-11, 08:45 AM

Garden looks great. Replace the vegetables with plants and flowers and no one would ever say anything.

As long as the garden looks like that, no problem. Unfortunately, tomato plants get huge, those beds will fill with weeds, and it will most likely look hideous. But, there is no law against being a slack-jawed yokel so leave the people alone. Perhaps they have room for a couch out there too?

orangecrush · 07-08-11, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

Garden looks great. Replace the vegetables with plants and flowers and no one would ever say anything.

As long as the garden looks like that, no problem. Unfortunately, tomato plants get huge, those beds will fill with weeds, and it will most likely look hideous. But, there is no law against being a slack-jawed yokel so leave the people alone. Perhaps they have room for a couch out there too?

A person who goes to the trouble to create a garden like that in the first place will be out there weeding at least every other day.

CRM114 · 07-08-11, 09:11 AM

I have a big garden that looks like that in my back yard. I'm interested in growing vegetables, not weeding. Plus the plants get so big, it becomes nearly impossible. Those plants in that pic look about 2 weeks old or so.

Bandoman · 07-08-11, 09:38 AM

She should put a flag in it and call it a Victory Garden.

orangecrush · 07-08-11, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

I have a big garden that looks like that in my back yard. I'm interested in growing vegetables, not weeding. Plus the plants get so big, it becomes nearly impossible. Those plants in that pic look about 2 weeks old or so.

Maybe you don't weed because you don't see it every day as you walk into your house

CRM114 · 07-08-11, 10:18 AM

That's the basic reason for laws like this. Sure, it looks fine now in its infancy. But what will it look like in September?

Pistol Pete · 07-08-11, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRM114

That's the basic reason for laws like this. Sure, it looks fine now in its infancy. But what will it look like in September?

It will look delicious!

RoyalTea · 07-15-11, 01:57 PM

Charges have been dropped!

New charges have been filed for not having proper licenses for her two dogs.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...-veggie-garden

Coincidentally, the dog license charges ALSO carry a punishment of 93 days in jail.

Pizza · 07-15-11, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalTea

Charges have been dropped!

New charges have been filed for not having proper licenses for her two dogs.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...-veggie-garden

Coincidentally, the dog license charges ALSO carry a punishment of 93 days in jail.

Your tax dollars at work.

07-07-11, 03:53 PM	#4
Larry C. DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Let's Go Heat! Posts: 6,992	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden I need pics to determine guilt... __________________ Miami Heat Fan since 1987. Lets Go HEAT!!! Miami Heat 2006 NBA Champions! Miami Heat 2012 NBA Champions!! Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 GOLD TRADER!!!!

07-07-11, 04:09 PM	#6
orangecrush DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Formerly known as "orangecrush18" - still legal though Posts: 12,853	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Not Guilty! __________________ Everyone else is bound to leave, but you. And they swear their love is real; They mean, I like the way you make me feel. gamertag: IAMNOTwiththem

07-07-11, 04:09 PM	#7
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,313	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Actually, the code doesn't mention it having to be common (suitable) to the rest of the city. It only has to be common (suitable). If they could argue that they have never heard of tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers, maybe they could argue that they are uncommon (not suitable). But I think those plants are common enough that everyone has heard of them. At least, that is how I'd approach it if I were their lawyer. __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

07-07-11, 04:58 PM	#9
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,313	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden One might even say, uncommonly so. __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

07-07-11, 05:11 PM	#11
Hokeyboy DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 13,496	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Fucking hippies. Eat a steak already. __________________ No big melodramatic goodbye, but my activity on this forum is mostly over. I'll still lurk, maybe even post once in awhile, but I've moved on to greener pastures. But there's still HOKEYBLOG!!!

07-07-11, 06:15 PM	#13
Mabuse DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,426	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Her garden needs one of these No garden is complete without one.

07-08-11, 08:36 AM	#16
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 18,951	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Men fight for freedom, then they begin to accumulate laws to take it away from themselves. __________________ "The moral order is inverted. The criminal class is in power. We are the prey. Bradley Manning, in a just society, would be a prosecution witness against war criminals. Those who committed these crimes should be facing prison. But we do not live in a just society." - Chris Hedges

07-08-11, 08:45 AM	#17
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,933	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Garden looks great. Replace the vegetables with plants and flowers and no one would ever say anything. As long as the garden looks like that, no problem. Unfortunately, tomato plants get huge, those beds will fill with weeds, and it will most likely look hideous. But, there is no law against being a slack-jawed yokel so leave the people alone. Perhaps they have room for a couch out there too?

07-08-11, 09:11 AM	#19
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,933	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden I have a big garden that looks like that in my back yard. I'm interested in growing vegetables, not weeding. Plus the plants get so big, it becomes nearly impossible. Those plants in that pic look about 2 weeks old or so.

07-08-11, 09:38 AM	#20
Bandoman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: a small cottage on a cul de sac in the lower pits of hell. Posts: 27,852	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden She should put a flag in it and call it a Victory Garden. __________________ "...Bando...you are perfect and awesome." - 4KRG

07-08-11, 10:18 AM	#22
CRM114 DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 34,933	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden That's the basic reason for laws like this. Sure, it looks fine now in its infancy. But what will it look like in September?

07-15-11, 01:57 PM	#24
RoyalTea DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: frass canyon Posts: 10,485	Re: Oak Park Woman faces 93 days in jail for a vegetable garden Charges have been dropped! New charges have been filed for not having proper licenses for her two dogs. http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...-veggie-garden Coincidentally, the dog license charges ALSO carry a punishment of 93 days in jail. __________________ A paternalistic attitude that refuses to consider all citizens as responsible is anathema to the democratic ethos.