Living in squalor: Basically, it's your choice

Two recent cases, in which town officials took action against homeowners in Warner and Andover, have garnered front-page headlines, and led some to ask why someone didn't step in earlier.

But the reality is that New Hampshire's laws allow folks to pretty much live as they choose, so long as their lifestyle doesn't threaten their own health or that of others.

Elliott Berry is a housing expert at New Hampshire Legal Assistance, which has represented homeowners in these sorts of disputes. Finding a balance in such cases can be difficult, he said.

Under New Hampshire law, the answer is yes — but only to a point.

Do they have a right to? Yes.

Do they have a right to pose a public hazard in doing so? No.

'Nuff said.

Unfortunately, there is not a county/parish (in Louisiana) that does not have people living like this with property that is just trashy as hell. My neighbor and his wife were like that. Yard and house full of trash and junky but they were nice folks otherwise.

Their place finally caught fire and burned down last year and they moved and sold the property. Took two guys six weeks to clean up the lot for the buyer.

There is probably a piece of property just like this within one mile of each and every one of us. Taking a bath and keeping our property cleaned up falls within the context of "social contract" that we are all supposed to live by to some extent without the local police having to be called to make us bathe or clean up our property and take care of children and animals.

Chief Laramie of the Andover police is worth quoting: "We're not baby sitters."

This is the way people are and I do not think it is going to change any time soon....

Have a good day wherever you are and do what you can to support Bush and our troops.

Gung ho and semper fi...

Where do you think all the supportors of the NHDumbocraps and WMD come from? This family already has started their next collection of abused animals. (Mom bought a puppy with her spare cash.)

But the reality is that New Hampshire's laws allow folks to pretty much live as they choose, so long as their lifestyle doesn't threaten their own health or that of others.

I'll go with the the latter, but not the former.

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