Posted on 06/04/2010 12:51:57 PM PDT by JoeProBono
MINNEAPOLIS, - A Minneapolis man says the city mowed down the prairie grass he spent three years cultivating and stuck him with the $140 bill for the job.
Environmentally conscious Michael Anschel said he planted the prairie grass three years ago as a no-water, no-mow alternative to his previous lawn and the city sent him a notice May 17 informing him the seed stalks that sprouted a few weeks ago and the length of the grass, more than 8 inches, violated city ordinances, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday.
Anschel said he left a message with inspectors explaining that mowing would ruin the grass and he hoped the city would give him more time. However, he said he returned home from work Tuesday and found the grass had been mowed by city workers.
"It would kind of be as if somebody came and cut down your rose bushes after you'd spent the last three years trying to get them to bloom right," Anschel said.
He said the mowing seemed "counterintuitive" for a city that stresses environmentally progressive goals.
Prairie Grass Landscaping
Why we can’t rely on government to protect us from trouble and provide for us, exhibit # 990,000,435,786.
You liberals love busybodies. Color me unsympathetic when the gears of bloated govt crush you as well.
This guy clearly doesn’t realize that he is, at best, a vassal of the city and likely actually a slave to same.
That’s because the goal isn’t environmentalism. it’s about control of the populace.
I sure wish the owner luck collecting from these fascist sonzabitches.
Corn is a grass as well. I suppose these little nazis would do the same to someone planting corn in their backyard garden.
What’s he complaining about?
He hasn’t had to mow in 3 years. Or pay someone to mow.
So the city did it for him. For $140.00.
Cool.
I wish I was him.
Why can’t people just mind their own f’n business?
It is about control.
And someone directly involved in this situation should make that argument.
The man should have been consulted.
The prairie grass should have been left alone.
When are people going to be given credit for what they know instead of imposed upon.
The bill should go unpaid.
Then the city will confiscate his home.
Seems that he fell into line right off pretty well:
Anschel said he has regarded the city as environmentally progressive, particularly with widespread prairie restorations on its own properties. He called the city's mowing "counterintuitive" and probably an example of policy goals not having been communicated to inspectors working the streets and neighborhoods. He said he'd like an apology from the city, but that seems unlikely.
http://www.startribune.com/local/95583274.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr&elr=KArksc8P:Pc:Ug8P:Pc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUHDYaGEP7eyckcUX
I oppose all these ordinances, i.e., what you can have in your yard, how well painted you have to be, whether you can have a commercial truck or park in your own driveway, etc.
Myself, I think the only reasonable ordinances are those that affect health and safety, for instance, pick up your dog’s leavings and keep the noise level under certain decibels.
Perhaps tall grass next to residences could be a fire hazard. I could see that, at least in hot and dry California. If it really is a fire hazard, I could see that.
I am amazed she didn't camp out in the yard with a shotgun after that.
Is that the yard that was mowed??? I think it’s pretty the way it is.
City Council isn’t outlawing front-yard gardens after all
http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/06/city_council_isnt_outlawing_fr.php
Environmentally conscious(hippy) Michael Anschel
I wonder what they'd do if here were in an environment that can grow bamboo, another famous grass. He wouldn't have to wait three years either, as they could hit several feet tall soon after planting.
And that’ll show him who is the real owner of the property.
Neither, for that matter, are more common weeds such as Canadian thistle or English plantain.
Maybe a Freeper botanist can correct me, but I believe the capability to reproduce by rhizomes is a prerequisite for a plant to join the grass family.
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