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.
My sarcasm detector is just like my give-a-damnometer - broken.
When it comes to this type of enforcement, the complaints usually come from business interests looking to the government to throttle any form of competition.
nothing more dangerous than business and gubermint in bed together.
it usually ends up with us taxpayers being forced to be “consumers” of both.
Troubling but true! :^)
Now, I can kind of grasp the nurse who has the garden - shoe does "sell" stuff from it (although still seems rather Gestapo-like).
But Grandpa fixing folks stuff for absolutely FREE... What part of that classifies it as a "business"?
I’m sorry to hear you lost your dog. It’s a tough day for you.
Huh? It’s OSHA who lost his dog, and it was 3 years ago.
Funny you should mention that. I had a next door neighbor teach me electronics and mechanics so that by the time I was 12, I was a better wrench than my 17 year old brother.
Who does that thug, criminal think he is....avoiding all of the taxes that go with doing anything but breathing! The danger that he could start a trend of tax avoidance could bring down the entire country. I say execute him on the spot...along with his entire family and their pets.
I am so sorry to hear that...
We have a chow mix in our family, my parents found it roaming and it is the best dog they ever had.
I know how hard it is to have to do, I have one that is 14 and it is just a matter of time for me also, he has cancer they think.
There is nothing in this world better than a good dog IMHO, I am a grown man and will be unashamed tear streaked when it comes time to do it.
No good deed goes unpunished.
When it comes to this type of enforcement, the complaints usually come from business interests looking to the government to throttle any form of competition.
Not always.
I'm on a lot, 200x100 ft, and some of my neighbours could use a good *$^%## kicking.
One of my neighbours is in construction, and steals everything he can, for "eventual" use at home. Until that appointed time, all the materials sit in his yard. His wife runs a wood work refinishing business, and so aside from the mess next door, I can enjoy the wonderful music of saws all day. Including Sundays and holidays.
Another one sold his car repair place in the city, and now runs a garage out of his home.
.
If someone wants to run a business, which this nice old man wasn't doing,......more power to them.
Just don't do it 15 feet from my back yard when only residences are allowed.
Flame away.
Aaarrrghh! Another one! It’s OSHA who lost his dog, and it was 3 years ago. I was responding to a poster who was needling OSHA about his screen name, and thought I’d post the explanation from his profile page, as I recalled seeing it in the past.
No flames here, people who disturb neighbours deserve a whupping, but unfortunately most bylaw officers seem to go after those who are harmless.
Those would be the easy targets.
Like they used to say in the Soviet Union:
“That which is not compulsory is prohibited.”
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