HHHHMMMMMM!

I put the envelope to my head? Let me see? Carnak says?

"Will be a private citizen faster than a sprinter with diarhea!"

I open the envelope.

Toledo, OH. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

I'll put a 5 spot on the Mayor's brother owning a driveway resurfacing company.

That's a conservative rightie for you, knowing gravel drives and unpaid surfaces are major parking areas to fine them.

That's a conservative rightie for you, knowing gravel drives and unpaid surfaces are major parking areas to fine them.

#3 | Posted by moneywar

Sorry Money, He's one of You!

Sorry stir but he runs under the prevailing tide, doesn't matter party. He has been republican, democrat, and other odd ball organizations.

Toledo must be idiots for electing him.

#5 | Posted by moneywar

Things like this are only going to get worse. In my state the local health departments are now charging for restaurant inspections. They are going to squeeze people for every dime they can get. Eventually it will backfire. People have longer memories when it comes to local politics.

Stir,

I agree, and it is humorous how the voting public can be soooooo stupid.

It will back fire eventually but people are slow in such things.

Hope and change

I have recently pissed off my state senator. We had a bill go through the house that passed 115 to 2. It basically keeps gov employees in a certain field from competing with private business in the same field from doing it as a side job. He refused to let it go to a vote in the senate. I called him on it. He's pissed, but we'll see what happens now.

Ahh... Toledo. Been there, anbody of youse guys been to Tony Packo's?

Place is world famous for dogs. I had the chili dog. You might remember it being mentioned by Klinger in M.A.S.H.

My best memories of the place is that it is overrun with cute girls.

Isn't living in Toledo punishment enough for these poor folks??

Fort Smith, Arkansas is in the process of establishing the same silly damn ordinance. They've already managed to instigate a program allowing them to ticket people for keeping stuff on their own front porch. And let's be sure to give them credit for actually criminalizing the feeding of geese at the one park in the city that has a lake.

The powers that are behind it are definitely not conservative. They're power hungry in a sad, small way. The tagline they use in city promotions is "Life is worth living in Fort Smith". Like they're trying to convince us. For the longest time I thought it was a suicide prevention slogan.

I think there's probably more to this story.

If it's an urban area, it probably takes a zoning variance and a permit to put in an asphalt driveway, because of drainage, tight proximity of houses, removal of curb, and the potential of damaging waterlines located in the tree yard. In addition, where I live it's done to encourage people to use the alley for garage access and protect our ancient combined sewer system from excess runoff.

People might be getting around the permitting issues by dumping gravel in their yards, which by code are not legally driveways. If no permit was pulled, it's not a driveway; it's the same thing with housing renovations. If you don't pull a permit, a renovated attic or basement can't be called a bedroom and the additional square footage can't be counted when you go to sell.

Or the city is just being an a-hole. There's not enough info to know.

You can support governments with taxes or with fees and fines. It's your choice.

Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio is like being nowhere at all.
All through the day how the hours rush by, you sit in the park and you watch the grass die.
Ah, but after the sunset, the dusk and the twilight, when shadows of night start to fall.
They roll back the sidewalk precisely at ten and people who live there are not seen again.
Just two lonely truckers from Great Falls, Montana and a salesman from places unknown
all huddled together in downtown, Toledo to spend their big night all alone.
You ask how I know of Toledo, Ohio? Well I spent a week there one day.
They've got entertainment to dazzle your eyes: go visit the bakery and watch the buns rise.
Ah, but let's not forget that the folks of Toledo unselfishly gave us the scale.
No springs, honest weight, that's the promise they made,
so smile and be thankful next time you get weighed.
And "wive and wet wive", let this be our motto, let's let the sleeping dogs lie.
And here's to the dogs of Toledo, Ohio, ladies, we bid you goodbye.

Learned the hard way lately.

A $100 traffic fine is one thing.

Now the state collects a special assessment on each fine.

Final cost: $411.00

You can support governments with taxes or with fees and fines. It's your choice.
#15 | Posted by danni

I can appreciate that but it seems that in this case, the reasoning behind the law is a bit shaky.

#14 | Posted by katieberry

There is always more to the story. Well thought-out and written post.

A lot of cities and states are going broke so they will be looking to raise revenue the old fashioned way, using cops to hand out tickets for anything from speeding to parking in your own driveway.

I can't believe thoes dummies actualy want to park in their own driveway. The nerve of thoes home owners.

You can support governments with taxes or with fees and fines. It's your choice.

There is a third option you know...it's called cut the tax leeches.

I'm glad that I live in Texas. Our state has a surplus. I hope you lib blue state MFers enjoy getting harrassed by the cops.

#15 | Posted by danni at 2009-06-17 08:10 AM | Reply | Flag: Never met a tax I did not like!

"I'm glad that I live in Texas. Our state has a surplus. I hope you lib blue state MFers enjoy getting harrassed by the cops."

Everyone who isn't a Texan is glad you live in Texas too.

If you have a gravel driveway and don't live in the country with a 400ft approach, chances are you're white trash.

Fuck you, get your car off the lawn, shitbag.

Fort Smith, Arkansas is in the process of establishing the same silly damn ordinance. They've already managed to instigate a program allowing them to ticket people for keeping stuff on their own front porch. And let's be sure to give them credit for actually criminalizing the feeding of geese at the one park in the city that has a lake.

#13 | Posted by valis

this is actually I great Idea. Do you realize the health hazards of all that geese shit? Kills the lakes, all sort of bacteria and viruses for your kids to play with. Geese are one nasty piece of vermin.

But why should govt protect us.

A lot of cities and states are going broke so they will be looking to raise revenue the old fashioned way, using cops to hand out tickets for anything from speeding to parking in your own driveway.

#20 | Posted by fwthom at

except when what you do on your driveway effects your neighbors, see post 14

Liberty and Tyranny.

They take away your liberty (jobs), your property and then bulldoze the home.

I'm just afraid Tim Pawlenty will follow his lead.

No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

understand that?

They can take your home, with just compensation.

FWTHOM is right....(or should I say correct, it's obvious he's a rightie), Texas does have a surplus. Of stupidity.

Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio is like being nowhere at all. -- #16 | Posted by northguy3

Wow... great poem, NG. Did you write that or steal it?

Was there only a few times, but friends who lived there raved about the art museum (something like top 5 in country) and Mud Hens games. There were some amazing jazz musicians who lived in the area, but the economy may have decimated that scene.

In the city of Long Beach, Ca they have a similar law and it is rarely enforced. Part of the same law that is very much enforced is a law stating that all tires must be completely on the paved surface. You will be ticketed for a portion of a back tire that can't even be seen without effort because it isn't on the driveway. People have been forced to add as little as a 6" sliver of concrete to allow for a wide boat trailer. another fine provision of the same law is a 72 hour maximum unmoved limit. They will get out of their vehicle and make a chalk mark on a hidden area and return sometimes the same day and cite for parking violation. You must hook up and drive around the block and repark every 3 days. I have personally have arrangments with a neighbor an agreement that while he is on vacation without his boat, I will move it in time to prevent a ticket ($85.00). His boat was way over my weight limit and just a move around the block wasn't very much fun. Parking tickets in this city are apparently a major source of income considering the inflated fines. For the weekly street sweeping move, a failure to move is a kindly $45.00 each time.

9 | Posted by chickenrancher at 2009-06-16 07:10 PM | Reply | Flag: One Trick Pony

Texas does have a surplus. Of stupidity.

#32 | Posted by micawber

Not since you left.

At first I thought it sounded outrageous too. But looking at their local newspaper's blog, many have said these people are parking on all over their lawns with total disregard to local ordinances. Made the neighborhood look like trailer trash.

So some people are complaining.

Liberty and Tyranny.

They take away your liberty (jobs), your property and then bulldoze the home.

#29 | Posted by MURPHY at 2009-06-17 11:35 AM

Sounds like Palestine.

So some people are complaining.

I think that pretty much says it.We only have trouble in my city if someone complains.I used to blame my neighbors,but now I blame real estate agents wanting the neighborhood spruced up so they can make a better sale.

Toledo, the original one, absolutely magnificient. Curiosly, in the Cathedral, they have the keys to city of Toledo, Ohio. Nice gesture.

Crisis

But looking at their local newspaper's blog, many have said these people are parking on all over their lawns with total disregard to local ordinances. Made the neighborhood look like trailer trash.

While I would love to tell you how to live on YOUR property, I won't because only dickbags do such things.