FSTDT Forums
Community => Society and History => Topic started by: Askold on July 22, 2014, 05:50:02 am
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http://consumerist.com/2014/07/18/california-city-will-fine-couple-500-for-not-watering-brown-lawn-state-will-fineem-500-if-they-do/
You can get the main gist of the problem right from the title. The city demands that people's lawns must be pretty looking and threatens to fine a couple because their lawn is suffering from lack of water. Meanwhile the state will fine them IF they water their lawn because of the drought.
But local officials say you shouldn’t have to choose between nice landscaping and being drought-conscious — just because there’s a dearth of water doesn’t mean you have the right to drive down property values, by way of drought-resistant landscaping or turf removal programs.
“During a drought or non-drought, residents have the right to maintain their landscaping the way they want to, so long as it’s aesthetically pleasing and it’s not blighted,” said Al Baker, president of the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers.
Yeah, it is kinda sad that people are losing jobs and farming is suffering due to the drought but HOW DARE these inconsiderate residents lower the property values by not having a beautiful lawn...
At that point I would just pour cement on the lawn and be done with it but I guess they would complain about that as well.
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They'd probably complain if they planted tonnes of different, drought-resistant plants, as well. I've heard of townships and neighbourhoods being pricks about landscaping, but a whole city? Is it poised to host the Olympics or something?
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What a bunch of conformist jerks.
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To all living in California: Be back soon, I'm going to go take an hour-long shower and then pour myself a glass or two of water.
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When I lived in Florida, there were folks who had rock-lawns. Actually a very nice idea. Maybe this couple in Cali should try that. Rock lawns are growing in popularity & plenty of folks from coast to coast are doing it.
(http://i60.tinypic.com/n6fhp5.jpg)(http://i61.tinypic.com/2a0m6xi.jpg)
A lot of folks, sick of lawn-maintenance or worrying about drought just figure "screw it" and do the rock-lawn thing. It's quite lovely, almost Japanese rock-garden-like. In fact, the first photo is from California from an article about the drought.
And I agree that the schlubs running the place are being jerkasses. It's like they know about the no-watering ban & have just found an easy way to extort money!
It's a big $500.00 Catch 22.
I hope something can be done. Maybe someone can send this nice couple a check for $500.00 so they don't have to pay themselves, then everyone wins!
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They'd probably complain if they planted tonnes of different, drought-resistant plants, as well. I've heard of townships and neighbourhoods being pricks about landscaping, but a whole city? Is it poised to host the Olympics or something?
With my maternal grandfather as a landscaper, I can tell you that is a serious matter among snooty assholes.
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Gotta keep those property values up you know.
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When I lived in Florida, there were folks who had rock-lawns. Actually a very nice idea. Maybe this couple in Cali should try that. Rock lawns are growing in popularity & plenty of folks from coast to coast are doing it.
Probably won't work. If they demand green lawns, it means green lawns. Subverting it with a rock garden or such will probably result in the same penalty.
Chances are if the couple takes this to court, the state will supersede the city.
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Gotta keep those property values up you know.
Just like the erections of the male octogenarians that make up half the city, apparently.
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Gotta keep those property values up you know.
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...There was an actual, official, written complaint done by a someone in Finland because they did not want their neighbour's kids playing in the playground of the housing estate. They had a playground built to serve the families living in those buildings. This was done to increase the property values since having such a playground right in the yard would make the apartments more attractive to families... But... Having someone actually USE the playground would mean that the swings and sand pit and whatnot would wear out AND THAT COULD DECREASE THE PROPERTY VALUE AND THEREFORE IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Apparently, for some crazy reason, the manager did not agree with the complaint.
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I just have one thing to say to the city officials:
If your biggest concern is whether or not the grass isn't the approved shade of green, then shut the fuck up! That's not as important as farms being productive or people/animals being able to fucking survive!
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The clueless will always be with us, most often working at some level of government.
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I haven't read the article, but I wonder if the nice couple belongs to a certain group like a different ethnicity, faith or whatever.
There's got to be something someone can do. Sent them a check for $500.00?
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Spuki in this case...state trumps city.
Ironbite-appeal to the state authority on water.
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Spuki in this case...state trumps city.
Ironbite-appeal to the state authority on water.
Five hundred bucks to the city, then!
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My roomie suggested they paint the lawn. There's companies that will do it, even in the proper shades of green, and blending as they go. Problem solved. Apparently lasts for a couple years.
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I think the state should create a Contempt of Congress law where if any lower tier of government (or quasi-governmental entity such as an HOA) enacts any rules and regulations that are in defiance of state regulations all those who voted in favour will have their scrotum or labia nailed to a nearby tree or other large relatively immobile wooden object. Anyone trying to enforce those regulations would face similar penalties.
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I think the state should create a Contempt of Congress law where if any lower tier of government (or quasi-governmental entity such as an HOA) enacts any rules and regulations that are in defiance of state regulations all those who voted in favour will have their scrotum or labia nailed to a nearby tree or other large relatively immobile wooden object. Anyone trying to enforce those regulations would face similar penalties.
Up here, where governments can ask reference questions of their Supreme Courts (at least the federal government and some provincial ones can, I can't recall if that can be done in every province), I've felt that barring from office any elected legislator who voted for a law found within a reasonable time frame to be unconstitutional would be highly beneficial. (It would also, however, create rather more work for the courts--they can't decline to hear a reference.)
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Spuki in this case...state trumps city.
Ironbite-appeal to the state authority on water.
Five hundred bucks to the city, then!
No, that's not how "state trumps city" works. In "state trumps city", the state tells the city that its fine is invalid because a statewide water restriction overrules a smaller area's beautification laws.