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Young girls fight produce stand closure (Mayor sends cops to shut it down)
ABC News ^ | Aug. 20, 2008 | Terry McSweeney

Posted on 08/21/2008 5:57:56 PM PDT by ellery

CLAYTON, CA (KGO) -- Two young East Bay girls are trying to find out if you really can fight city hall. The youngsters are battling to get their produce stand back after the city of Clayton shut them down.

The mayor himself is getting involved in this issue; he says the produce stand, operated by two young sisters, had to be shut down because of public safety and a zoning ordinance. But members of the Lewis family say - we have just begun to fight.

On a Clayton street corner is where 11-year-old Katie and 3-year- old Sabrina Lewis had been selling their families surplus fruits and veggies - stuff like: Story continues belowAdvertisement "Zucchini, melons, tomatoes, radishes," said Sabrina Lewis.

They did it for maybe four hours on Saturday mornings to make a little money. They haven't sold a thing since the police showed up recently in response to one complaint to the mayor's office.

-snip-

As for the traffic issue, neighbor Terri Highsmith says there isn't one.

"On the weekends is when I mostly notice them selling. I come and go a lot and I've never seen any traffic problems," said Highsmith.

Clayton Mayor Gregg Manning disagrees. And wonders what Katie and Sabrina might do with that produce stand if the zoning laws weren't enforced.

"They may start out with a little card-table and selling a couple of things, but then who is to say what else they have. Is all the produce made there, do they make it themselves? Are they going to have eggs and chickens for sale next," said Manning.

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: foodsupply; govwatch; health; lp
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To: Gabz

Good. She can sell veggies, but if she sells cookies ... LOL.


21 posted on 08/21/2008 6:30:47 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: ellery

The mayors head would explode if he passed by a Farmers Market.


22 posted on 08/21/2008 6:30:49 PM PDT by crazyhorse691 (With McCain around we can proudly proclaim, WE ARE SO SCREWED)
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To: GOP_Lady
AMEN!

OK, here's how they do it. The Clayton CA municipal code is online here. Now, assuming their home is zoned single family, residential which I assume is very restrictive, they can grow the crops:

17.16.020 Permitted uses--Principal. The principal permitted uses in the single family residential districts shall be as follows:
A. A detached single family dwelling in each lot and the accessory structures and uses normally auxiliary to it;
B. Crop and tree farming and horticulture, not including the raising or keeping of any animals other than ordinary household pets;
OK, if Mr. Mayor and Officer Wiggims object to the sidewalk sale, sell it from inside the home.
17.04.100 Home Occupation. A “Home Occupation” is a limited commercial activity customarily conducted entirely within a residential dwelling, by a person residing in the dwelling unit, which is clearly a subordinate and incidental use of such dwelling as a residence. (Ord 357, 2001)

23 posted on 08/21/2008 6:32:21 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Rest In Peace, Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman (1928-2008))
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To: ellery
Clayton Mayor Gregg Manning disagrees. And wonders what Katie and Sabrina might do with that produce stand if the zoning laws weren't enforced…."They may start out with a little card-table and selling a couple of things, but then who is to say what else they have. Is all the produce made there, do they make it themselves? Are they going to have eggs and chickens for sale next," said Manning.

First of all, Mayor Gregg Manning (you amazingly stupid and ignorant a$$ wipe); fruits and vegetables are not “made” they are “grown”.

And one wonders the lesson that Katie and Sabrina have leaned from this little episode: hum…that self initiative, self reliance, capitalism and free enterprise, providing a legal and healthy product at a fair price to people willing to buy it = BAD. Need more money? Then just go on the public dole and get money get money for doing nothing = GOOD.
24 posted on 08/21/2008 6:32:24 PM PDT by Caramelgal (Just a lump of organized protoplasm - braying at the stars :),)
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To: crazyhorse691

25 posted on 08/21/2008 6:33:20 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: ellery

That’ll teach ‘em.


26 posted on 08/21/2008 6:35:17 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (John McCain, the Manchurian Candidate.)
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To: NonValueAdded

Ah, yes, the “legalize,” not the spirit of the law.


27 posted on 08/21/2008 6:35:53 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: GOP_Lady; All

Amen!!!


28 posted on 08/21/2008 6:35:54 PM PDT by KevinDavis (If Obama can't handle a town hall debate, then he can't handle the job of being President.)
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To: NonValueAdded

Funniest thing I’ve read all day!


29 posted on 08/21/2008 6:37:36 PM PDT by hunter112 (The 'straight talk express' gets the straight finger express from me.)
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To: GOP_Lady

How about a harump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN99jshaQbY&feature=related

Insert Chesire cat grin here...

Regards

alfa6 ;>}


30 posted on 08/21/2008 6:38:06 PM PDT by alfa6 (One mans magic is another mans engineering... L.L.)
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To: ellery

My daughter, and the little girl next door used to sell our extra home grown vegetables door to door to the old folks in our neighborhood. They’d load up my daughter’s stake wagon, and hit the streets. Their free market endeavor usually ended when they had made enough money to go buy hot fudge sundaes at the local Ice Cream Parlor.


31 posted on 08/21/2008 6:40:11 PM PDT by sockmonkey
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To: ellery

That’s a load of bullcrap. These kids are making honest money with their own hard work. They should be commended for their dedication, not harassed by the local control freaks.


32 posted on 08/21/2008 6:40:35 PM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, we're still retarded.)
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To: alfa6
Harumph!

LOL. That's one of my favorite movie scenes.

33 posted on 08/21/2008 6:40:58 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: sockmonkey

How sweet.


34 posted on 08/21/2008 6:41:37 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: ovrtaxt

I detest freedom-hating control freaks.


35 posted on 08/21/2008 6:42:08 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: GOP_Lady

You and me both. This kind of petty stuff is ridiculous.


36 posted on 08/21/2008 6:43:49 PM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, we're still retarded.)
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To: hunter112; All
This is hilarious as well...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065804/posts

37 posted on 08/21/2008 6:44:08 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: NonValueAdded
OK, if Mr. Mayor and Officer Wiggims object to the sidewalk sale, sell it from inside the home.

One doesnt exactly get much foot traffic inside the home. :-) Maybe within the property line?

38 posted on 08/21/2008 6:45:07 PM PDT by lowbridge ("I have never learned to fight for my freedom. I was only good at enjoying it" - Van Den Boogaard)
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To: NonValueAdded
...much to the mayor’s discomfort.

Ya sure about that?

39 posted on 08/21/2008 6:46:19 PM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: WaterBoard

I hear ya.

Situations like this really divide me. I applaud the firls their entrepeneurial attitudes, and I’m glad the parents are supporting them, and it was wrong for their produce to be confiscated, BUT — and here is where I get divided — the parents should have been a bit more diligent and checked to make sure such an enterprise was not against the current town ordinances.

I knew that my produce stand was not in any violation of any county ordinances beause I checked before I started selling produce, but when my 10 year old wanted to start selling lemonade, I rechecked with the county to make sure that was still in compliance, because she uses powdered lemonade mix purchased in the store, but her lemonade falls into the same category as my jams, not my produce. It is not being resold in the purchased manner, but a new product is being made from the ingredients.

I sure hope I’m making sense here..........it’s a simple concept, until I start trying to write it out :)


40 posted on 08/21/2008 6:46:57 PM PDT by Gabz (You said WHAT?????????)
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