The price of fresh vegetables is criminal. Literally
Julie Bass, of Oak Park, is facing up to 93 days in jail for -- yes -- planting a vegetable garden in her front yard.
Bass planted the raised vegetable beds in her front yard, ostensibly because the price of organic food his so high. But the city booked Bass under a regulation that says a front yard has to have "suitable, live plant material."
The city gave her a ticket, and when she didn't tear up her garden they charged her with a misdemeanor.
Bass explained to a local news station: "We thought it'd be really cool to do it so the neighbors could see. The kids love it. The kids from the neighborhood all come and help."
Said Bass: "They say, ‘Why should you grow things in the front?’ Well, why shouldn’t I? They’re fine. They’re pretty. They’re well maintained,” said Bass.
She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 26.
Comments
The only criminal act here, is giving this woman a ticket.
Posted by: Michelle Brown | July 8, 2011 1:57 PM
The City of Oak Park, Michigan is experiencing another FAILURE of so-called "leadership":
Mayor Jerry Naftaly - Democrat
Mayor Pro Tem Michael Seligson - Democrat
Council Member Angela Diggs Jackson - Democrat
Council Member Paul Levine - Democrat
Council Member Emile Duplessis - Democrat
Do any of these elected officials have an iota of common sense?
Do they have anything else in common besides their lack of common sense?
Next they'll say they can continue military hostilities or ignore the debt ceiling on their own say-so! What this crew really wants is to get this and every family on food stamps so they can be dependent on the entitlement party.
Posted by: Al | July 8, 2011 2:02 PM
If Bass is a homeowner and taxpayer what she grows in her front yard is her own business. As long as it's kept sightly, where's the issue? In all probably she was reported by some long-nosed neighbor. We live next door to "pee-wee's playhouse" replete with concrete trolls, animals, plastic fountains and enough bricks to pave the yellow brick road. It looks like a putt-putt golf course. I would prefer to live beside something like this anyday!
Posted by: ruth | July 8, 2011 3:33 PM
What a waste of court time, and if I were a judge and this was brought before me, I would be balistic! If she negelected to feed her family, she would be charged too! Leave the lady along and let her raise some veggies and flowers! This such a silly and SAD thing.
Posted by: Libby Sharpe | July 9, 2011 9:22 AM
If I were a lawyer, this is the kind of case in which I would be involved. This appears it meet the "live" requirement. So who gets to make the arbitrary decision as to what constitutes "suitable" plant material? Does the city give out a list of what is dictated to be grown? Sounds to me as if the townspeople need to rescind this ordinance/law!!!
Posted by: LEW | July 9, 2011 9:30 AM
I think this looks well taken care of. It's just the snooty people who want dull, plain, boring yards that all look the same. This yard looks way better than many in my neighborhood, where people do "scrapping" and store the junk in their yards until it's time to take it in. I'd take this neighborly yard anytime! (p.s. they probably don't allow snowmen in winter there either!)
Posted by: Diana | July 9, 2011 10:14 AM
Seriously??? How many houses have broken down cars, equipment, RV's and junk laid out in their driveway or yard??? A garden is unsightly? Ridiculous. Just more governmental bull at work. Leave the poor woman alone.
Posted by: Shelly | July 9, 2011 10:30 AM
In this economy and with everyone talking about how we should all go green and eat healthier, why aren't they giving this woman a medal or something?
Posted by: Linda Schlicher | July 9, 2011 1:03 PM
So, Michelle Obama can have a veggie patch of her own at the White House and Michigan is too cool for school? She should sue the city for harassment! It is kept nice and clean , the plants look nice and healthy and it actually serves a purpose. Plus it is an organic garden, which means she isn't dumping tons of chemicals into her lawn and nothing is trickling down the drainage. I say: way to go! Stick to your guns woman!
P.S. It gets me so mad that they go after a person who is actually working in her yard, but do nothing about thousands of "homes" where there is actual junk in the yard, graffiti, broken cars , feces and etc. They should fine those people instead.
Posted by: Erica | July 9, 2011 1:36 PM
Suitable, live plant material? I think vegetables count as live plant material and why do politicians get to choose what is suitable? Vegitables are quite suitable in my opinion!
Posted by: Julia | July 9, 2011 2:24 PM
I am choosing to let the City of Oak Park know my displeasure by sending a sealed packet of seeds to them. It would be nice if more than one packet of seeds showed up
Their address is:
City of Oak Park
......13600 Oak Park Blvd.
Oak Park, MI 48237
Tel: 248 691-7450
Fax: 248 691 7165
email
krulkowski@ci.oak-park.mi.us (planning director)
rfox@ci.oak-park.mi.us (city manager)
Posted by: m q | July 9, 2011 2:28 PM
So, Mr. Naftaly,Mr. Seligson,Mr Levine,Mr. Duplessis, and Ms.A. Jackson (a woman? I would have expected some common scense), I have heard about this travisty in the little town of Oak Hill,Florida. Surely in these days, tax dollars could have been spent on something more reasonable than YOUR SALARIES! If this is why you were hired, Some PORK needs to be rendered in MI, along with the home grown tomatoes!!!
Posted by: Debra Bair | July 10, 2011 10:31 AM
monsanto is behind this law... I guarantee it. Now THAT'S funny! -- Susan
Posted by: patrick | July 13, 2011 10:21 PM