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S.F. panel to decide fate of Christmas tree lot
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/7/5 | Suzanne Herel

Posted on 12/07/2005 3:24:13 PM PST by SmithL

SAN FRANCISCO -- City officials are set to decide tonight whether to shut down a lot that has been used to sell Christmas trees during the holidays for the past 40 years.

The Board of Appeals, which meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, will take up resident Monio Pilpel's appeal of city permits that allow Cyril Hackett and his family to sell trees at the corner of Sloat Boulevard and 19th Avenue before Christmas, and to transform the spot into a pumpkin patch around Halloween.

Pilpel has complained that during the eight months of the year the lot isn't used to hawk holiday fare, it isn't cleaned up and looks trashy. In addition, the owners don't always obtain proper permits to erect or tear down structures, he said.

"Each year they say they'll clean the lot and they don't and it's a public nuisance," said Pilpel, who has lived in his home about a half-mile away for the past 34 years. "They've been bad citizens all this time."

In his complaint, Pilpel asked that the lot not be used to sell anything for the rest of 2005.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; christmastrees; grinch; sf; warforchristmas
The Grinch who tried to steal Christmas in San Francisco.
1 posted on 12/07/2005 3:24:14 PM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL
"Each year they say they'll clean the lot and they don't and it's a public nuisance," said Pilpel

That would be a lot more convincing an argument in almost any city other than San Francisco, which allows human detritus to defecate, micturate and sleep anywhere they want.

2 posted on 12/07/2005 3:28:40 PM PST by wideawake
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To: SmithL
The fine citizens of San Francisco would probably just decorate their Holiday Tree with condoms anyway.
3 posted on 12/07/2005 3:30:25 PM PST by TexasCajun
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To: SmithL

Here's an idea - how about ole Monio Pilpel setting the example and cleaning up the lot himself?

OR

Since he lives a half mile away, how about he not go that way or not look at the lot?

OR

He could BUY the lot and refuse to allow anyone to use it for any of these seasonal business.


4 posted on 12/07/2005 3:31:22 PM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: DustyMoment

Ditto to all three suggestions.


5 posted on 12/07/2005 3:34:48 PM PST by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: SmithL
If Pipel was really worried about the litter in the lot, he'd be asking the city council to pass a blight ordinance and fine the owner. Instead, he's waited until it became a functional business again, and he wants to shut them down so they'll become what? An empty, litter strewn lot!

Unlike some freepers, I have little problem with anti-blight ordinances. If this lot is actually being used as a litter filled dumping ground most of the year, the city and surrounding residents are within their rights to ask that something be done about it. This isn't about eliminating blight though...it's about eliminating a symbol of a Christian holiday in a city that abhors religion.
6 posted on 12/07/2005 3:39:56 PM PST by Arthalion
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To: SmithL

In addition, the owners don't always obtain proper permits to erect or tear down structures, he said.

"Each year they say they'll clean the lot and they don't and it's a public nuisance," said Pilpel, who has lived in his home about a half-mile away for the past 34 years. "They've been bad citizens all this time."

Bad Citizen....baaad citizen, now go to your corner. No Scooby Snacks for you!

OTOH, what kind of a name is Pilpel? When I first read the post, I thought his name was "Pimple".

7 posted on 12/07/2005 3:40:10 PM PST by Sarajevo
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To: SmithL

Do the Hacketts actually own the lot tho? The article didn't state such.
Many tree and produce farms rent or lease spots during growing or holiday seasons. But they don't actually own lots or spots. Much of the time its just a customary spot for them and they get a temp vendor permit.
PillPimple should have complained more than 34 years ago me thinks. Or atleast before the holiday season.


8 posted on 12/07/2005 3:48:33 PM PST by Mrs. Shawnlaw (Rock beats scissors, don't run with rocks. NRA)
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To: TexasCajun
The fine citizens of San Francisco would probably just decorate their Holiday Tree with condoms anyway.

Used condoms too. More festive that way.

9 posted on 12/07/2005 4:01:21 PM PST by madprof98
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To: SmithL

Babylon will vote to shut down the lot.


10 posted on 12/07/2005 4:08:58 PM PST by conservativecorner
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To: SmithL
The Board of Appeals, which meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, will take up resident Monio Pilpel's appeal of city permits that allow Cyril Hackett and his family to sell trees at the corner of Sloat Boulevard and 19th Avenue before Christmas, and to transform the spot into a pumpkin patch around Halloween.

Hey, Monio. If you want to keep selling Christmas trees at that locatiuon, then I suggest you take up selling Korans as well. Then they wont dare touch you.

11 posted on 12/07/2005 4:12:26 PM PST by lowbridge (All that is needed for evil to triumph is for "RINOS" to do something)
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To: SmithL

HE will be getting the death penalty for uttering the words Christmas tree. At our university they have decided to forego hanging red stockings in the break room for fear of offending someone...alsoI just received my invitation for the company's Blue Christmas Party (no red or green allowed anymore)


12 posted on 12/07/2005 4:24:32 PM PST by Republicus2001
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To: DustyMoment

"Monio Pilpel". Hmm... Years ago on Bill Buckley's Firing Line show, there was this impeccably dressed aging liberal named Harriet Pilpel, who always reacted to WFB's witticisms with, `impertinent upstart! How dare you disagree with a decent, compassionate caring person such as myself!? Off with your head in a Cuban reeducation camp, I say!"

Naaah....


13 posted on 12/07/2005 4:29:39 PM PST by elcid1970
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To: SmithL

This lot has been there ever since I can remember, selling pumpkins and trees. There's nothing wrong with it, and I hope that they are allowed to keep doing what they've been doing.

To be honest though, it's amazing they haven't built on it. The property would be worth many $$$ millions.


14 posted on 12/07/2005 4:46:10 PM PST by NMR Guy
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To: SmithL

Can we give San Francisco to Mexico?


15 posted on 12/07/2005 5:48:57 PM PST by newzjunkey (FOUR-time murderer & Crips gang-founder Tookie Williams *must* be put to death as sentenced)
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To: SmithL

That lot is just like all the rest of the undeveloped flat land found all over California. Of course there are a few weeds at times, the worst case being a tubleweed or two. Trash? No worse than the trash found on the median strips of 19th Ave. I've bought a few trees and pumpkins from that lot over the years. That lot is a long standing tradition. Interesting there are no complaints from the people living in the million plus dollar homes right next door to the lot. And yet some no-name who lives 1/2 mile away is spewing. Another attack on Christmas in the works?


16 posted on 12/07/2005 6:03:38 PM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: lowbridge
that locatiuon

typo: location

17 posted on 12/07/2005 6:24:01 PM PST by lowbridge (All that is needed for evil to triumph is for "RINOS" to do something)
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To: NMR Guy
Follow-up: SAN FRANCISCO: Christmas won't be stolen at Sloat and 19th
18 posted on 12/07/2005 10:01:55 PM PST by SmithL (There are a lot of people that hate Bush more than they hate terrorists)
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To: SmithL

Thanks, good news.


19 posted on 12/07/2005 11:46:06 PM PST by NMR Guy
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