The Evil Doer.
Posted on 08/06/2008 11:08:58 AM PDT by BGHater
Jon Tennett loves to tinker in his garage. It's not an uncommon pastime for an 81-year-old man, but what is unusual is the city's response.
Because Tennett fixes his neighbours' lawn mowers and other small machines, the City of Pickering has charged him with operating an illegal business - even though he's never charged a penny for his work.
"They could get a lot of revenue elsewhere than looking at an old 81-year-old man trying to keep his mind busy," he points out.
On the same street, a retired nurse is facing a similar problem. Janice Saroop has a lush garden, which she proudly shows off to visitors.
"This one here is a spider plant, and this is a mint," she explains.
But because she sells those plants three times a year, the city is threatening her, too - even though all her profits go to charity.
"I think it's totally ridiculous. It's not as though I'm doing this for making money. I think it's inappropriate really and I feel as though I'm being harassed," Saroop alleges.
But Pickering's commercial zoning bylaws do not allow any form of home business whatsoever - and the penalties are severe.
Tennett's case is currently before the courts and if he loses, he could be fined up to $25,000.
He's already refusing to pay.
"They ain't getting it," he fumes. "I'll do jail time."
He may not have to, if the public outcry is enough to change the minds at City Hall.
"Pretty embarrassed," describes the mood there, admits Pickering Regional Councillor Bill McLean.
"I'm going to bring this to council in mid-September, our first council meeting," McLean promised. He said he's hoping to change the bylaw.
"I think this is inequity...when incidents like this happen," he added.
The process could take months - plenty of time for Tennett to make a few more repairs.
The Evil Doer.
He should be hung, drawn and quartered then chopped to bits by an illegally repaired lawn mower.
Coming to America soon.....more liberal globalist business-socialism.
You can only operate a business unless we say so....or if you want to move it to Commie China..here is some $$$
That’s funny coming from a guy with the screen name “OSHA”
He’s among the last of a dying breed. When I was young, there was always someone, or several someones, around my neighborhood who could fix just about anything, and you could learn something from. Now, nobody even talks to their neighbors...
Silly man. Doesn’t he know that all work by the prols must be sanctioned by the State? Charity? All charity comes from the State.
Just another socialist government looking to rob decent citizens of more money. Nothing to see here.
From OSHA’s profile page, an explanation of his screen name:
“OSHA is was my Chow mix dog’s name. In 1992 I found him dumped in the woods near a shooting range that I used to frequent. It was very hot summer time and no water was to be found for miles around. I had a water cooler but nothing for him to drink out of so I used my hard hat. I said, “Thanks to OSHA, you have something to drink out of.” I took him home and cleaned him up and took him to the vet. They estimated him to be 1 to 2 years old. I had to put him down today. Rest in peace old fella. You were a good dog.
“
Your sarcasm detectors must be turned off.
Ah, gotta love those mindless bureaucrats, no matter what country they remain the same....stupid.
If fixing somebody’s stuff for free is a crime, I guess I’m a repeat offender, and I know I’m not alone. All the people who have fixed stuff for me and not charged me are criminals, too, according to the idiot Canadian govt.
Sarcasm detector? You mean people on here use sarcasm? I’m shocked!!!!
Hear hear!
Same for me, and though I live in a small apt complex, I always introduce myself and my wife to any new neighbors. We will always help anyone here, if we can.
This might have something to do with my 60 year old wife growing up on a SD ranch and myself (57) growing up in a small CT town.
FMCDH(BITS)
Cite every member of the city council that is behind this for running an unlicensed political lobbying company out of their homes. Cite them for violations going back to whenever the law was enacted or whenever they started their political careers, whichever came first.
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