[Coleus]

Mahwah, is a big money town in Bergen County, NJ, bordering Rockland County, NY

[Hildy]

You're blaming the town? Have you ever lived next door to anyone who doesn't keep their house up? I'm sorry for her situation, but her inaction is not helping anyone, least of all herself. If she doesn't have the money, she'd best sell the house in its condition and be done with it. What do you want the Town to do?

[SevenMinusOne]

Government in this Country is out of control - And in many cases it gets worse the more localized Gov't gets - But from the Federal Gov't all the way down to local township boards Gov't is simply out of control.

And the masses of sheep simply walk around with blindfolds on -

[Hildy]

And by the way, she didn't go to jail for a MESSY YARD, she went for not paying fines. That's like saying Bill Clinton was impeached for having a consensual sexual relationship. You know the answer to that one.

[stainlessbanner]

The local gov't should just take the property using imminent domain. Thanks Supremes.

[Theoden]

In about 10 minutes I will be commuting to my college in Mahwah. It is a very richy area, and I am not surprised this happened. Though, this area is conservative/republican.

[buffyt]

I nervously clicked on this one. We are enjoying a year in Southern California while our 25 year old son lives in our house in Texas and takes care of the yard for us. He told me today that he mowed yesterday and asked me how to prune the roses and said he plans to fertilize. Hmmmmmmmmm I think he is telling me the truth. LOL

[jellybean]

Moor's neighbors began complaining, and eventually the fines started piling up.

Whatever happened to the concept of neighbors helping neighbors? Seems to me if the neighbors had spent a couple of hours on week-end doing a little yard work and hammering some nails instead of calling law enforcement, the problem would have been solved.

[Old Professer]

I hope this lazy witch learns her lesson before they have to go public with this.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Unfortunately this woman hasn't a leg to stand on. She, along with every other American who holds a mortgage or a deed on a house/residential dwelling; does not own land. The local government (county or parish) leases that plot of land to whoever agrees to the terms of the lease...which is a yearly property tax bill. Since the government owns the land and is the lessor...the government can dictate various statutes and regulations to the lessee.

[afraidfortherepublic]

My daughter used to live in Mahwah. Property is very expensive and highly taxed, although not always in very good shape. There are heavy, heavy ordinances for everything. The slightest deviation results in a big fine.
IMHO, some of the ordinances are unreasonable.

[najida]

Good lord,
you have some folks who see people and some folks who don't.

One day, may those who don't "get" what happened to this woman find themselves sitting in a home they can't physically keep up and the neighbors calling them names because they have an ugly house.

Damn,
I'm stayin' a swamp witch until the day I die. >:>

[Hi Heels]

Near to where my ex's parents built a gorgeous five bedroom with all the amenities in Lake County, CA, was an old hermit who boasted two homes (5' x 5'), a luxurious toidy (two pieces of cardboard stuck together with duct tape around a seat/ring and a hole in the ground). He would move the "houses" around the property depending on the weather. Down from him was the resident drunk. He had an 18' trailer with a 4' doughboy outside where he tossed his beer cans. Raised goats. One of my most memorable trips up there featured driving by his home at Christmas time and watching the goat eat beer cans in the doughboy pool while it gently snowed...sigh....

People live differently, have different standards. Both ends of the spectrum from the gorgeous 5 bedroom with the stable and the kennel all the way down to the hermit with both a winter and summer home. Different strokes....*shrug*

[Alberta's Child]

I grew up in New Jersey. Me and my siblings knew how to deal with neighbors who made endless complaints to the police or town officials over petty nonsense like this.

[Amelia]

It's a shame that a local church doesn't help her.

[Mulder]

Moor's neighbors began complaining

I wonder how many of these "neighbors" actually offered to help out with her yard?

"The ultimate goal we're looking for is compliance," Lane said

Welcome to Amerika

[Radix]

I think that the state of New Jersey should be arrested for having a messy political system.

[mysterio]

I hate this only slightly less than non-voluntary HOAs. Your property is your property. Well, it used to be, I mean. Now it's your property to pay taxes on, but the collective's property to control.

But non-voluntary HOAs are an abomination.

[Fintan]

No one's posted a white trash pic, so...

[firewalk]

.

[freebilly]

As a Christian, I'm embarassed that Christians in Mahwah apparently have failed in their duty to be salt and light....