Michigan Resident Faces 93 Days in Jail For Vegetable Garden

[FastTadpole]

Quote:Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail For Planting Vegetable Garden
By ALEXIS WILEY

OAK PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - "The price of organic food is kind of through the roof," said Julie Bass.

So, why not grow your own? However, Bass' garden is a little unique because it's in her front yard.

"We thought it'd be really cool to do it so the neighbors could see. The kids love it. The kids from the neighborhood all come and help," she said.

Bass' cool garden has landed her in hot water with the City of Oak Park. Code enforcement gave her a warning, then a ticket and now she's been charged with a misdemeanor.

"I think it's sad that the City of Oak Park that's already strapped for cash is paying a lot of money to have a prosecutor bothering us," Bass told FOX 2's Alexis Wiley.

"That's not what we want to see in a front yard," said Oak Park City Planner Kevin Rulkowski.

Why? The city is pointing to a code that says a front yard has to have suitable, live, plant material. The big question is what's "suitable?"

We asked Bass whether she thinks she has suitable, live, plant material in her front yard.

"It's definitely live. It's definitely plant. It's definitely material. We think it's suitable," she said.

So, we asked Rulkowski why it's not suitable.

"If you look at the definition of what suitable is in Webster's dictionary, it will say common. So, if you look around and you look in any other community, what's common to a front yard is a nice, grass yard with beautiful trees and bushes and flowers," he said.

But when you look at front yards that are unsightly and overgrown, is Bass' vegetable garden really worth the city's time and money?

We asked Rulkowski what he would say to those who feel this is ridiculous.

"I would argue that you won't find that opinion from most people in Oak Park," he responded.

"I have a bunch of little children and we take walks to come by and see everything growing. I think it's a very wonderful thing for our neighborhood," said neighbor Devorah Gold.

"They don't have (anything) else to do (if) they're going to take her to court for a garden," said neighbor Ora Goodwin.

We did find one neighbor who wasn't a fan and thinks it needs to go.

"I know there's a backyard. Do it in the backyard," he said.

"They say, 'Why should you grow things in the front?' Well, why shouldn't I? They're fine. They're pretty. They're well maintained," said Bass.

It looks like this critical debate is headed for a jury trial and neither side is backing down.

"I could sell out and save my own self and just not have them bother me anymore, but then there's no telling what they're going to harass the next person about," Bass told us.

There's another pretrial scheduled for July 26. The next step could be a jury trial.

http://deadlinelive.info/2011/07/09/mich...le-garden/
http://twitter.com/deadlinelive/status/8...3567096832
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/loc...10630-wpms

Related:

HR875 S510 Makes it illegal to Grow, Share, Trade or Sell Homegrown Food - UPDATE: Stealth Passage via CR Addendum
http://concen.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=4350

[Bluegrazz]

*edited for redundancy.

I am a bit torn on this one- Personally, I dont want my neighbor growing a cornfield in his front lawn as it would hurt MY property value. I dont want junk cars strewn across his property either for the same reasons.

I know that where I live there (A city in Michigan) there are laws as to what folks can and cannot have in their front yard- Gardens being listed. There is also laws regarding upkeep of the lawn etc. (if you dont mow , the city will come after so long, mow your yard and bill you a nice fine with an upcharge)... To me, this is okay.

I understand that a homeowner has rights to their property, but if "their" right infringes upon mine... I think things like a city telling you that you cannot own a Pit Bull is ridiculous. I think the city mandating "eye sore" laws is okay. I also agree with noise ordinance as well as I have lived next to a 24 hour "party" house with loud music blaring at all hours.

Again, I am torn because I can see that she wasnt hurting anyone- But I also can see someone moving in and growing a field of corn next door and it makes me cringe... Thats what backyards are for.

[Armilus]

It is a sad state of affairs when society needs another economic depression, followed by a world war, in order to allow individuals to grow whatever they want in their yards.

[Deathaniel]

(10-02-2011 11:01 PM)Bluegrazz Wrote:  *edited for redundancy.

I think things like a city telling you that you cannot own a Pit Bull is ridiculous. I think the city mandating "eye sore" laws is okay. I also agree with noise ordinance as well as I have lived next to a 24 hour "party" house with loud music blaring at all hours.

Lay off the crack man this sentence shows your stupidity in aces!!!!!!!

you agree with a city saying what plants are on a front yard but think it's ok for folks to own violent often predatory dogs? i have never seen a plant jump a fence to poop in your yard or eat you kids/ smaller pet!!!! Nore have i ever seen a "ugly" eyesore garden it's green and pathed!!!! Can't eat a dog (well they don't taste all that good and the local charge of eating a domestic species). An animal is mobile and can infringe property lines far easier then plants...

We here know why this law truly exists, as it cuts from big pharm and franken food companies. also it teaches the sheeple how to be able to grow there own a big no no as it's best for the cull if most die from starvation in less devastated areas.

my advice to the lady they said yes to shrubs and trees go berry shrubs and apple trees and a few garden gnomes with the salute!!!!

[FastTadpole]

Quote:Can't eat a dog (well they don't taste all that good ..

What breed? What cut? Pan fried, BBQ'd or boiled? How was it seasoned?

[Dunamis]

What would they say if you planted a crop of pit-bulls?


GM Crop of the future, to ward off those pesky city planners!

[Deathaniel]

nice guys lol plenty

[Bluegrazz]

(10-04-2011 01:45 AM)Dunamis Wrote:  What would they say if you planted a crop of pit-bulls?


GM Crop of the future, to ward off those pesky city planners!

=P Awesome.

First off, a Pit Bulls actions are determined by its owner... Not going to debate the issue here but prior to the 1970's a Pit Bull was known as the "nanny Dog". These were the most popular breed in the early 1900's and were not considered "dangerous" until the media got involved (a time magazine article) and every idiot wannabe gangsta thus (who shouldnt own a goldfish) got these animals to have a "tough" dog.

BUT (back on topic) If you want to live next to someones junkyard with no crops planted in their front yard , trash all over and lawn not mowed- Please move to parts of Kentucky (I lived there in a town called E. Bernstadt where a man could "do anything he wanted in his yard"- I assure you, it wasnt pretty.) but please dont move into my middle class subdivision and begin planting corn.
-Thanks.

P.S. As I said, I am torn by this issue but a front yard cannot be an eyesore or people (such as myself) who are doing everything to improve our neighborhoods, raise property values and have a nice place to live will be stuck with further declining property values ad nobody to sell our homes to (unless they want to live next to a cornfield in the city)

EDIT: Also, lets not forget that nobody is telling anyone they cannot grow a garden...But in your backyard please. The city I live in actually provided free seeds for gardening AND has a Victory Garden (A huge area where anyone can "claim" a plot and garden there. I grow a really nice huge garden in my backyard and next year will be growing in the Victory Garden as well.

[ToddTraf]

(10-07-2011 08:00 PM)Bluegrazz Wrote:  But in your backyard please.

Sometimes the sun is in the front yard. I've seen many residential backyards that are incapable of growing crops of any kind.

Most perennials and ornamentals that would be approved in these situations are posionous to kids and wildlife. I see castor plants as landscaping in upscale developments all the time. Ricin anyone? Tomatoes historically were grown as ornamentals. Which would be the smarter, safer, logical choice for an educated gardener?


I personally plant nothing in my property that does not give back to me in some fashion.

[Bluegrazz]

Todd, I agree with what you have posted... I guess my main point here would be that "big pharma" and the "illumitards" have nothing to do with these ordinance's- This falls on local Government where most have never bothered attending a meeting nor do they even know who their local rep(s) is/are.

These yard ordinances are there to prevent eyesores, similar to noise ordinances. And (as I said) I lived in a town that had none... It was junk cars , corn, weeds , couches and refrigerators strewn across yards and porches. It was a horrible thing for someone who really was trying to improve the appearance of my property with landscaping, freshly mowed lawn that was litter free- When dotted throughout our street was rusted cars, weeds and furniture (yes really, furniture in yards)-

Michigan has ordinances which differ from town to town and township to township- Where my parent live is much different from where I live (They live in a more upper class area that has extremely strict ordinances - Where I live its more lax but we still have laws on the books regarding gardening in your front yard)- If this were such a huge issue, all it takes is a petition and will be voted on and the "law" can change. I am active in local politics and have helped change several laws going this route.

-Apparently, the people in her community do not support this or the law would/could be changed- Big Pharma and Haliburtin and the Illumitards do not have their hands in every local citys ordinances and these things can be easily changed through the proper route... Also, "facing 93 days in jail" or whatever is also bullshit. ANY unpaid fine could technically result in 93 days in jail here but seldom does (they will probably put a lein on here home and come out and destroy the garden)

What is being forgotten here is that a LOCAL COMMUNITY established these laws... This is good. Its not the Federal Government but the people who live there and they have every right to Govern their own city, dont they???

If this was "big pharma" and the "GMO cartel" why then do they allow seeds to be bought using food stamps??? Why do many citys here now have victory gardens and encourage Gardening (In Jackson, we have Gardening workshops and free seeds given to income based families)??? This is a local issue that should be dealt with locally.

In Kentucky, I hated that peoples yards were junkyards and trash heaps BUT I sure as hell didnt want a non local Governing body to intervene- I tried to change it locally but was unsuccessful. This led me to believe that the community enjoyed living in a beautiful area they could readily trash... More power to them.

See my point here????

[FastTadpole]

Agreed that the community should decide for themselves but a lot of the time the community directive does not represent it properly. In this case the neighbourhood should decide and since local children enjoyed the garden then they should have an option to overrule the decision by the representatives of the 30,000 Oak Park residents to outlaw this practice.

Rule of Law in a over-complicated and layered justice system is often in conflict with the will of the people that it directly affects. My meaningless vote is for the neighbours to decide. Too often committees decide on local bylaws (see Local UN Agenda 21), but that is up to the community to stand up against it.

"Facing 93 days in jail" unless you pay a fine equates to debtor prison; highlighting this is a sensationalist tactic but not inaccurate.

[Bluegrazz]

(10-13-2011 11:16 PM)FastTadpole Wrote:  Agreed that the community should decide for themselves but a lot of the time the community directive does not represent it properly. In this case the neighbourhood should decide and since local children enjoyed the garden then they should have an option to overrule the decision by the representatives of the 30,000 Oak Park residents to outlaw this practice.

A couple points here. Children have (and should have) no vote on anything until age 18. Personally I say age 30 but... Quite simply its because they would almost always vote their parents philosophy on any issue. This would give those fantastic welfare mothers with 10 kids from 10 dads essentially 11 votes on any issue. Other than that I would agree that kids should have a say in theory, but in practice you just give the most socially irresponsible even more power in this society. A socially responsible person only has the number of children they can support- Granted, shit happens and I am all for helping the poor- But to many women, Baby means pay raise- Lets not give them a greater voting block based on family size.

-Next, you can overturn the decision quite easily. It would require a petition with a certain number of signatures (it varies) and depending on the turn out at the next Council meeting, it could be overturned THAT DAY. If the representatives dont listen to the will of the people (it happens, lol) you can vote them out next election. In Blackman Township this recently happened with Medical Marijuana (if you are following the MM issue in Michigan) where the State Guv'ment called Cannabis Shops a "public nuisance" and ordered them closed- The Citizens protested, signed petitions and the Blackman Township Reps ordered the Police to allow them to remain open without interference. Some cities lost all their shops because the people didnt voice their opinion loud enough... The key is, Public support.

Also, at least in Michigan, the Neighborhood CAN decide. A neighborhood association is formed, elected and then can make bylaws which supersede city ordnance. Normally the Associations are more stern with what they allow- But not always.

My point being, there was ways around this ever having reached this point.
Rule of Law in a over-complicated and layered justice system is often in conflict with the will of the people that it directly affects. My meaningless vote is for the neighbours to decide. Too often committees decide on local bylaws (see Local UN Agenda 21), but that is up to the community to stand up against it.

"Facing 93 days in jail" unless you pay a fine equates to debtor prison; highlighting this is a sensationalist tactic but not inaccurate.

Well, every single fine in Michigan can result in 93 days in Jail. Its been this way forever... Yes, it is kind of akin to debtors prison but with a few distinctions... Its bullshit, fair enough, but I have never witnessed ANYONE jailed for not paying a fine. This is not done with taxes, etc. but fines. The State of Michigan also will accept as little as $5/month on a payment plan (dependent on the fine)- I agree that Michigan has some shitty laws but in this case, I agree. And apparenntly so do the people of her community who havnt so much as started a petition that I am aware of (neither has she).

Local politics is very important to become involved in. It all starts with every one of you. How many of you know your reps without looking them up? How many attend meetings?

This is where we CAN FIGHT AND WIN- But everyone is too busy being keyboard warriors and worrying about the ebil illuminati to care locally whats happening.

I am not trying to insult anyone, nor tar anyone with a broad brush. ome of you are very active in local politics. Some just like to bitch about whats happening in a small Michigan town and blame it on big Pharma because it fits the Illumitard theory that Alex Jones keeps telling us about.

[FastTadpole]

Quote:10 kids from 10 dads essentially 11 votes on any issue

That statement reminds me of Clevon Family Tree in the movie Idiocracy.

   

Mob rule doesn't work for non-conformists. Information balanced with wisdom can help offset that but let's be realistic. The general public isn't endowed with those traits in this day and age so their voices are corralled by various means (conditioning, social bribery etc..). So the battle lies in getting those individuals to think like you do (because you're right ;D) or provoking people to think for themselves and see through the bullshit.

The ideological/facts tug-o-war is a losing battle with the current infrastructure of media, education and social culture in general. Another approach is required to penetrate this fortification and it has to come from a philosophical level combined with a .

Quote:This is where we CAN FIGHT AND WIN- But everyone is too busy being keyboard warriors and worrying about the ebil illuminati to care locally whats happening.

Clickactivism (highlighting solutions, keeping the pulse, arming my fellows with anything I can) does amplify reach it's a megaphone.

I believe that, at least until the internet medium is muted for dissenters, otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time on this and dedicating more time to town hall type ventures. That's what hilly7 is doing now and he's been to heaven and back and heaven and back again so he's got some life flashing before your eyes perspective on what is really important. That leaves me on the fence on this whole deal with internet activism as a whole - it's a good place to incubate ideas but when it comes to executing them nothing beats looking someone in the eye.

I try to convey that passion through harnessing language but the detached medium handicaps that personable communication, the intent to get things done.

Agreed, people have lost scope of where they can apply themselves, and yes it has to be focused on a local level, led by example and the internet has diffused that human energy investment that may have been directed well .. more directly.

A vigilant public that keeps what they value true to course is important but is far more cohesive and accountable to bigger picture and minority priorities if they are exposed to them.

The real challenge is to establish rational, objective, creative thought to empower more of our fellows with the tools to navigate through the maze of disinfo, misinfo, infinite loops, rabbit holes, u-turns and dead ends. Introspective conjecture must meet and then be balanced with an array of experiences derived from shared honest observations.

Bush Jr. had it right, "it's a battle of hearts and minds". A battle that has been set up on a slanted playing field and prone to a disproportionate bombardment of externalization to process, aimed at the spawning point -- children. The key to real progress is rooted in insight as opposed to perception.

Wisdom is power.

[Bluegrazz]

-Wow.

Very thorough, intelligent and well thought out post FastTadpole. I cannot argue with logic =).

I pretty much think you are spot on. I too, fear that the internet has really rmoved us from taking "action" on a local level whilst opening our eyes to a myriad of things to be upset, scared and worried about. I have watched the "local" activist scene become more educated on National/World issues and yet actually do less about anything. Its almost as if those who seek truth find so much truth that they get "bogged down" and begin spinning their wheels.

My State (Michigan)is and has been in real trouble and our local communities are suffering as well through the cuts being made in schools and social programs. My city gave 36 million dollars to move the headquarters of Consumers Energy (2nd largest utility in MI.) to Downtown Jackson with the promise of good jobs coming here. Last month Consumers announced that they would be outsourcing their tech needs to India and only a few jobs ever came from that 36 million dollars of our money. There was a small protest (we are demanding that Consumers either pay back the money or add 36 million to their payroll, here, locally- They have had nearly 10 years to do so and have done nothing but outsource)- What ended up happening was a good majority of people who showed up for the protest were inundation with people trying to "educate" them about the Illuminati- Screaming about the NWO, passing out Alex Jones vids and generally chasing away anyone who was trying to make a stand about CONSUMERS ENERGY stealing 36 million and breaking promises.

I am not saying the "Illuminati" are not "real" (I dont know) but I do know that it seems that in the last few years our protests and actions are over LOCAL problems are being muddied up and the issue we are trying to bring to light is overpowered by Issues which cannot be proven. Real, Middle class citizens are coming out for the FIRST TIME to take part and are chased away by people screaming "Its the Satanic NWO, Illuminati trying to KILL YOUR CHILDREN- Here watch this DVD"- They are bewildered since they just want the promised jobs or the tax money back.

People are more aware and educated right now than anytime in history- Perhaps with too much info. The key is, take 1 problem at a time and not try to tie everything into a Global Conspiracy (even if it is...)- If all of us were to take part in our local Government, all of our local Governments could change- THEN we could tackle State Government. Right now participation at the local level is at an all time low but everyone is pointing fingers at other peoples communities.

Another problem is information which is being sensationalized (like this story) and spun to make it look like Gardening is becoming illegal because of the evil GMO people. The problem is that on the surface this may seem legit, but once anyone looks into it they can see that it has nothing to do with GMO, big pharma, illuminati, nwo- Nor is gardening being made illegal... This is turning off people who ask questions like "if MI. is outlawing Gardening, why did they recently pass laws allowing seeds (non GMO even) to be purchased with food stamps?" It would seem the "illuminati would have stopped that quicker than harassing an old woman for growing tomatoes in her front yard...But the spin doctors are on ALL SIDES of this coin.

Anyhow, you make some great points FasTtadpole- I hope you can also see where I am coming from as well.

Thanks for the intellectual discussion. =D

[SiLVa]

Great comments all round.
I agree that getting involved in local government is the key. Go to local meeteings, hearings, whatever you can.
A lot of the times these meetings are about getting written comments from the locals. These comments are very important. Because when you have a valid concern and you can back up your comments with research and real information (which btw, is most often provided by other researchers and PHD's, some who were even funded by the government to do the research- and yes you can use their own research against them!!) then that usually gives you grounds for an appeal on anything being passed in your area. If you have good information, you can win much easier in an appeal process.