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 ...
Shut ‘em down, and seize their parent’s house under eminent domain while you are at it!
I love Clayton, it’s my favorite little California town, a cowboy sort of town on the outskirts of Concord. Give the kids a break.
You make the town sound so quaint. :-)
From the Clayton city web site:
OUR VISION
The City of Clayton organization will be recognized as a premier small city. Customer service will be our hallmark; organizational processes will be a model of efficiency and effectiveness; innovation will be common place; and excellence of work product will be the norm. The employees will enjoy their work environment, and each will be a valued and respected member in his or her field of work. All residents and the City Council will be proud of their City government.
Here are those paragons of customer service:
http://www.ci.clayton.ca.us/clayton_city-council.php
Great find!
Now:
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Doesn't that sound like Algore’s type of government?
Is the area a RED or BLUE area?
I don’t mean to boast or brag, but I thank God that I live in the #4 county in the nation (according to Forbes Magazine) in which to raise a family. It’s the reason I moved here in 1989 — smaller/efficient/self-sufficient government and freedom. I want this for our entire country.
No room, his head is in the way.
Yes, a most excellent "work product" there, I would say. Moronic gubbmint buffon at work.
Oops...”buffoon”. Yuk.
“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.
“”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.”
And they could next be selling thermo nuclear weapons that they made out of bell peppers and a hand full of compost.
Ten dollar donation to Freerepublic if someone gets a picture of these kids at election time holding signs for the opponent. But the kids should run for the office themselves compared to this idiot. This guy should not get re-elected.
Thanks for the ping!
Disagree. When I get dressed in the morning, I never check to see whether there's a town ordinance that says I can't wear my shirt untucked from my belt, because such an ordinance would be unreasonable and asinine. I would never think there could be such an ordinance, and I wouldn't obey it if there were.
Similarly, an ordinance preventing two kids from selling produce they grew in the family garden is unreasonable and asinine, and the parents have no reason to think that there could be such an ordinance. I hope they win their fight and I hope that the town has the common sense to throw this buffoon of a mayor, and the rest of the city council and police department that supported him, right back into the unemployment line at the next election.
They haven't sold a thing since the police showed up recently in response to one complaint to the mayor's office.Of course, if they'd been illegal aliens selling crack, the shutdown would have been grounds for a civil rights complaint. ;')
Whoops. Thanks Gabz!
Some perspective of the town:
Clayton, CA
City Population: 11,153
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assault: 6
Burglary: 20
Larceny or Theft: 130
Car Theft: 9
Arson: 4
Data Source:
2003 FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.