Your civic duty
Emporia Building Futures Housing Committee
Saturday, June 5, 2010
“Public participation in the process of government is the essence of democracy.” — Lyndon B. Johnson
Civic responsibility. Be a good neighbor.
Remember those lessons from civics class, church, your dinner table?
These core American values may have been pushed to the back of many of our busy lives, but they still define the way our democracy works.
In this series of articles, we want to rally Emporians to dust off their zeal and speak up about the city’s neglect of our property-maintenance laws. We’ve discussed what a devastating effect decayed housing has on our local economy and community pride. We’ve shown how our less-than-half-time code officer post measures up to other towns, even much smaller ones, that make safe and attractive housing a priority. And we’ve offered a solution to our long-time problem.
Now it’s up to you.
Is your neighbor’s porch so slanted and rotted it’s not only an eyesore but dangerous? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Do your neighbors use their porch or driveway as a storage shed? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Do you drive by a blighted property with rusted-out grills, tires and other filth in the front yard every day? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Does your neighbor have a couch or other upholstered furniture on the porch? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Do you live in an apartment with exposed wiring, spotty utility service and crumbling walls? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Are you sick and tired of some property owners turning the town into blight and getting away with it year after year while you respect the law and your neighbor? Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
Do you feel it’s a lost cause? That’s where you’re dead wrong. City leaders listen to those who speak up. They can’t read your mind. Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced.
The codes are on the books for a reason. The city’s decision to ignore them is based on ... what? Is it cronyism — friends of city leaders getting their way? Is it denial — city leaders with blinders on? Is it outright neglect — city leaders who think it’s just not an issue?
Whatever the reason for the status quo, it’s not good enough.
If you care about this town, take action. A phone call. A letter. The online feedback on The Gazette site has been lively, eye-opening and very important to this cause. Keep it up and also make the call. And keep track of those calls.
Civic responsibility isn’t just about paying taxes, serving on a jury or driving the speed limit. It’s about respecting the rights of others, monitoring political leaders and paying attention to issues that affect the public good. It’s about participating.
Call the commissioners’ office and tell them you want the codes enforced. The number is 343-4250.
This is the fourth of five columns dealing with housing issues in Emporia written by members of the housing committee of the Emporia Building Futures project.
create (anonymous) says...
akamai, this is a serious subject, and one that has been long overdue. Why hijack the thread?
The article makes good suggestions, and I hope they work. I'm one who has complained about the situation in my neighborhood, but nothing happened. I will try again. Perhaps this article will give the city a bit of a push.
June 6, 2010 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
If you see graffiti in the alleys, or anywhere else, call Lyon County at 342-4950 and ask for Community Corrections Robert Sullivan. He'll take it from there.
I'm so glad you're enjoying that basil, and it's terrific that they went on to become themselves with no photograph to emulate. There's a lesson for all of us in there somewhere. The lesson of the basil.
Yes, basil smells so fresh and wonderful. Try this. When your tomatoes are ready, cut up a dozen or so of them and put in a pan with a cup and a half of extra virgin olive oil and a bit of salt. Stew them on a very low fire with several sprigs of basil and a couple of whole heads of garlic (not cloves) from which you have sliced off the very tops. This is called Tomato confit. (conefee) Let this stew all day long and allow yourself to go crazy with the scent as it wafts through the house. Just before serving, add some freshly ground black pepper. Serve it on top of toasted Italian bread or baguette with some shaved parmesan. Pop the garlic cloves out of their husks and spread it on the bread. You'll never forget it. Your heart will dance.
People in Boston go to this one shop to buy pans full of Tomato Confit that is baked atop open fires. It is very popular indeed. I think their hearts dance there.
And don't forget, you can add some of that wonderful basil to sauce that comes in jars for a terrific addition. Oh yeah, when you take a shower tonight, put a big sprig or two on the shower floor. Step on it as you bathe. Your heart will dance again!
Imua! (Hawaiian for "go forward.") ee MOO ah.
June 6, 2010 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
It is not just certain areas of towns that could use some civic pride.
I took a drive through country club heights area, at one time a showplace of well kept homes, along winding streets with an occasional traffic "islands" at intersections that were landscaped and well cared for.
Except for the 1st island off 18th and Morningside, (which I think was adopted by Skip and Jan Evans), it seems the others were overgrown and in need of attention.
I know if I lived at one of these intersections with a island out front I would take at least partial reponsibility in keeping it up. How about it folks?
Oh, and thanks to Skip and Jan !
June 6, 2010 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Well, im not sure I want to live in a community where people turn in people for infractions. Sounds like Cuba OR Soviet policies gone bad. If the economy continues on a slide im sure many more homes will fall into bad repair. E-Town needs to get a plan together and pump some money into our economy if we want to improve our image .
June 6, 2010 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
The Gazette needs to include who the Chairperson or other leaders are of this housing committee in each of these articles. A complete list of those on the committee who are writing these articles would be the best.
I find it a bit "cowardly" for the Gazette to publish articles like this encouraging one person to report another for various code violations, yet not have any names of the author(s) listed. It also looks like a nice cover for whoever the housing committee members are.
There was an article by Ashley Walker several weeks ago that criticized those of use who use nicknames on the blog, and how those writings had little credibility to her without a real name. So, how does this series of housing committee articles stack up against that? It shouldn't have to be a research project to try to find if the housing committee Chairperson and/or its members were once listed somewhere on a prior date, and who they are.
It seems more like a small high school newspaper practice to just list a committee name as the author (where everyone knows everyone and everything they do), instead of what I expect from the award-winning Gazette that supposedly is nationally known.
June 6, 2010 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmadog (anonymous) says...
I agree there may be a problem of debris and decay around some structures in Emporia. I disagree with the Building Futures group in their advice to call first and turn in your neighbor.
Recently my neighbor stopped over to tell me how much she likes growing iris and she commented on how much I like growing bind weed...which chokes out her iris. We came to a neighborly agreement on the cleaning out of weeds on the property line.
If my neighbor had taken the advice of Building Futures, there would have been a great deal of paperwork and unnecessary spending of my tax dollars. There would also exist ill will where today there is kindness.
If we talk to our neighbors about their situations we may find that someone in the family is ill and that neighborly help is welcome. We might find that all that ugly dry rot happened while the dad in the family was serving our country in the military for the third time in three years and the mom is grateful for our consideration.
Let's talk to our neighbors first and maybe even second. Then, let's call one of the Building Futures members and ask if they'd join us for some clean-up help. Only after all such friendliness is exhausted can we reach for more punitive measures. After all, who among you would not want the same sort of treatment?
Here are the member names, you can look up their numbers:
Jeanine McKenna
Gary Nye
Brian LeWallen
Elvin Perkins
Kristi Mohn
Fred Neuer (Housing Chair)
Jim Williams
Tom McEvoy
Jamie Sauder
Ken Calhoun
Dale Davis
Jon Geitz
Steve Harmon
June 6, 2010 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
akamai:
I totally agree about the health/safety issues and the need to correct them. My problem is with The Gazette not listing the names of those on the housing committee in each of their articles. There should be more personal accountability in an any article's authorship than just listing a committee name.
karmadog:
I agree about first having a one-on-one discussion before calling to report a code violation. It's too bad the housing committee doesn't seem by their article to have that same perspective. Thank you for listing the names of those on the housing committee. However, I stand by my initial post expecting The Gazette to list those names, or at least that of the Chairperson, with the article.
I don't think it's too difficult to understand that those serving on a committee will change over time. When the names are listed with each article, it is then documented who exactly is responsible for the particular article. If just the committee name is listed, exactly who was on the committee for the writing of each article?
Very few websites will be maintained to have a complete chronology of who served on what committee and precisely what dates they served. The Housing section of the emporiabuildingfutures.com is very outdated, such as saying they have plans for a Fall 2009 city-wide clean up. With that lack of effort in keeping their site up to date, I have little confidence that anything else there is worth much time reading. I would also question anyone listed there as serving on any committee as still being accurate. If the names were simply listed in the articles published in The Gazette, then at least one could hope that to be current.
June 7, 2010 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
aceofhearts (anonymous) says...
My neighbors yard and house looks worse than any city dump. I have had to endure this mess since the first day they moved in, which has been over 2 years ago. I have repeatedly contacted Jeff Lynch at the city and he won't do anything about it. He indicated "there was a fine line" on whether or not the city could force them into cleaning it up. He said he would "send someone out to look at it". When I called back (because he never called me back) he indicated that they couldn't really see anything!!!! He doesn't WANT to see anything! He's absolutely do-less. I wonder how he would like to live beside what I am forced to live by each day? They park large trailers in their front lawn, not to mention a boat on one side of their house that usually contains standing stagnant green water (nice breeding ground for mosquitos). There is trash, paper, smashed cans, drinking cups, straws, candy wrappers, 5 gallon buckets, and coolers strewn everywhere. When they get out of their vehicles and a cup or can falls out, they just leave it laying on the ground and then the wind blows into my yard. There are steel beams stacked up and laying on the ground. They have a wood splitter and they store split wood in a huge pile in their backyard. There are large logs strewn in the backyard near the alley. They have 4 dogs in their yard and one in their house (which by the way is another violation of the city ordinance on the number of animals you can have). The source of water for the dogs outside is a cooler with water that sits in a giant mud puddle when it rains. Right now they have a third vehicle that is "blocked up" in their driveway while they are working on it. Their front porch always has boxes, coolers and trash on it. I would like to know how much worse does a situation have to get before the city gets off their ass and makes these people clean up their mess? If I wanted to sell my house I couldn't because nobody in their right mind would want to live next door to this giant mess.
June 7, 2010 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
aceofhearts,
Send your neighbors an anonymous letter, asking them to clean up their act voluntary. After a week, if they don't do anything about it, call and e-mail every city commissioner and complain about the mess and what you feel is a lack of action by Mr. Lynch. Don't stop until your neighbor shapes up or the city files a complaint against you for harassment.
That is what your trashy neighbor is doing to you, harassment by trashiness.
June 7, 2010 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I share your pain, aceofhearts. I have a neighbor just like yours. After many, many, weeks of an ongoing "yard sale," I noticed that they finally took all the stuff down off the tables just yesterday. Until then, not even rain stopped them. They just covered it all up with tarps.
I have complained several times to no avail, but maybe several calls were made, I don't know. I'll never know. All I know is the sale is over. All that remains are about a dozen tires all over the back yard. Mosquito traps!
Keep the complaints up. Can other neighbors join you?
June 7, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
inaweoftheblindness (anonymous) says...
Create...I also feel your pain and others, I also have same trashy neighbors as all the rest of you. And this crap about leaving garage sales set up in yards for 2-3 weeks at a time is ridiculous. On 5th street there was a yard full of garage sale stuff on tables and boxes that had been left set up for 3 weeks.
It does absolutely no good to call it in. I have a neighbor that has 6 cars (not tagged and junked out) in his back yard, along with cardboard boxes, tons of tires and rims, a giant stack of aluminum and steel (looks like a recycling site) 4 full size mattresses and box spring sets laying against the shed, 15+- 5 gal. buckets collecting water, 2 sofas rotted out, shed about to collapse any day, trash, the list goes on and on and I too was told the same thing (There is a fine line) I have called 4 times and reported this residence and nothing has been done. I have had my house up for sale for 2 years and can't get it sold...who in their right mind wants to live next to the Emporia dump? As for the people living there that lives in this mess, they are not disabled, nor helpless, nor senior citizens. Neither adult works, they are home 24/7, this is just plain ole laziness that they don't clean this mess up. On top of it all, I placed a note on their door one day and asked them if they could at least clean up the front yard as this is a very sore site for our neighborhood, when they took the note off the door and read it, he crumbled it up and tossed that in the yard also. I have taken Sunday drives here in Emporia thru alleys and streets and am in awe of all the city codes that are neglected and not being enforced.
So what is the answer to this problem? We can't make them clean it up. City Code Office won't enforce the city codes, and we can't take a group of volunteers to clean it up if the Resident/Owner isn't willing to have it cleaned. There are no other options. It's always a great day in Emporia but it would be so much greater if the city codes were enforced!!!
June 7, 2010 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Note the last sentence of this ordinance.
Sec. 17-67. Outdoor Furniture Restriction:
(a)No person, including the owner of real property or any person in possession of real property, shall place, use, keep, store, or maintain any upholstered furniture not manufactured for outdoor use, including, without limitation, upholstered chairs, upholstered couches, and mattresses, in any outside areas located in the following places:
(1) In any front yard;
(2) In any side yard;
(3) In any rear yard or other yard that is adjacent to a public street. However, an alley shall not be considered a "public street" for purposes of this section; or
(4) On any covered or uncovered porch.
(b)The interior of any fully enclosed porch, including a screened porch, that cannot be accessed from outside except through a door that can be locked shall not be considered an outside area for the purposes of this section.
(c)It shall not be a violation of this section that:
(1) Such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location in order to allow it to be moved during a move of a resident;
(2) Such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location to be collected for trash removal on the day scheduled for such removal; or
(3) Such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location in order that it be offered for sale at a yard sale or garage sale licensed by the city, or at an auction on the day of the auction.
(d)The penalty for violation of this section shall be a fine of ten dollars ($10.00). Each day that any violation of this section continues shall constitute another offense. The fine for this infraction shall be imposed upon a voluntary entry of appearance, plea of guilty or no contest to a citation alleging such violation and payment of the fine and any court costs.
(e)The public officer shall issue a citation and order upon the owner or tenant in possession of the premises, if known, or as disclosed by property records, or post a notice to abate to the attention of the owner or person in possession of the property, if no one is present. A citation may be issued for each day that the violation continues until it is removed. (Ord. 05-10, � 4, 3-2-2005)
June 8, 2010 at 6:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
There is also a article in this ordinance that pertains to the "parking" of vehicles on lawns and not on paved driveways.
Inaweoftheblindeness
If your neighbor does has six cars in their back yard call the police and tell them to check city ordinance in chapter 17 of city ordinance code.
This FINE LINE you were told about should be decided by a judge, not some flunky who doesn't want to do their job.
If all else fails July 4th is coming and a few misplaced roman candle shots could
take care of the trash problem.:-)
June 8, 2010 at 6:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxVMkN...
check out 1:20 timeline
June 8, 2010 at 6:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Farmraised,
That's what I'm saying, If there is a complaint the code officer should take a copy of the ordinance with him/her when they investigate. If a person is in violation charge them, and let a judge decide. I could find no "grey area" or "fine line" in any part of the ordinance.
If I had neighbors like inaweoftheblindness I would be on the phone every day to city manager, police chief, and all of the commissioners. The neighbors don't seem to care about how they live or the effect of their trash has on the rest of the block, so who cares if they get ticked off when the police come knocking?
June 8, 2010 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The ordinance on the cities web site is actually city law and as such a phone call to the police department reporting a violation should be treated as any other CRIME. If anyone tells you different they are NOT doing their job.
June 8, 2010 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sfelix (anonymous) says...
These are some great comments and discussion about this article. Emporia Building Futures-Housing Committee and Emporia Eastside Cleanup Coalition, of which my wife and I are a part, started writing these articles because the city commission was not taking this problem of code enforcement seriously. As you see in the other comments, people have been calling and writing the city for years about problems that never seem to get taken care of. If you are like me, I didn't want to confront my neighbor so I complained about it to anyone who would listen for about half of a year, then wrote an anonymous letter to the neighbor and then, after a year full of frustration, talked to them. Big mistake. No one likes to be told what to do. Some of the less colorful comments included "This is America and I can do anything I want," "Mind your own business, I'm not hurting anyone," and "No one else has said anything." So basically "eff yourself!" Reporting the neighbor to the city was my last resort and of course, nothing happened there either. This is when my wife and I started the Emporia Eastside Clean-Up Coalition and joined forces with Emporia Building Futures-Housing Committee to put pressure on the city leaders to clean up Emporia and to help those who want to, but can't, take control of their maintenance problems. We started the "Clean Sweep" project last fall and helped educate people about free services and the wonderful groups willing to help those who need it. That is why I have no tolerance for bad neighbors who don't have a clue about living well with others, and "slumlords' who have no vested interest in the neighborhood except to make money. The last thing I want is to "nark" on people but some people do what they want when they want, and have no consideration for other people. Many, were never taught how to be tidy and some are just lazy. For them, there is always an excuse: "the city doesn't care, so why should I," and " I'll paint my house when he paints his house" are only a few. That is why we need strong code enforcement from the city. Sometimes, no matter what you do, people aren't about to change. But when it effects everyone around them we need to know that the city is behind us. Nothing will change without your help though. The city commission will go with who ever speaks out the most, and so far it has been the "slumlords" putting the pressure on them. The Emporia Eastside Clean-up Coalition has a Facebook site that will take all your comments, pictures and suggestions. We need your help to let city leaders know how important this is to Emporia's future. For more information on this movement check out the last 4 Emporia Building Futures articles in May's weekend papers and check out the "Revival Movement" article I wrote in this Monday's (June 7) commentary section.
June 8, 2010 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
Is there anyone that can be called about property just out of the city limits. There are terrible looking properties just past the new Hills plant that are not only an eyesore but dangerous.
Any suggestions, besides talking to the residents, that has already been tried?
June 8, 2010 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
sfelix, I'm glad you and the Emporia Building Futures-Housing Committee and Emporia Eastside Cleanup Coalition wrote these articles. Let's hope the interest doesn't stop when the articles stop.
It's easy to see that many of us have been frustrated for a long time by not only the recalcitrant neighbors themselves, but by a city that seems equally willing to ignore the rules.
What's not easy is facing those neighbors personally with a complaint or suggestion. No matter how gentle the approach, all too easily we are told what to do with ourselves and then we have made a long-term enemy. I myself have been asked who the hell I thought I was. Well, I'm not a pig, that's for sure.
Thank you for the facebook page. That seems like a good place to start placing pictures.
June 9, 2010 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Please post Google Streetview links for the houses you are having trouble with so we may all ridicule them. The photos are outdated, mind you. Remember this one?
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
'enry
June 9, 2010 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=...
I'm sure you all can do much better. Let's see it! If you don't know how to work the Google Maps machine, just put the intersection it's near and I'll post the link for ya. (cuz I'm nice like that)
'enry
June 9, 2010 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sfelix (anonymous) says...
Thanks 'enry. That is the building that started this whole movement about two years ago. There are several houses in almost as bad a shape in the same area area of town. Go the the Emporia Eastside Cleanup Coalition Facebook site to see some the prettier ones.
June 9, 2010 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sincity82 (anonymous) says...
Being a college student who has been apartment shopping multiple times, I can tell you that a majority of the apartments here in Emporia are deplorable. Having spent some time at the Linden, I'm not not sure how anyone can condone someone living in that apartment complex. While I agree that their are houses here in Emporia that need fixing, I think an effort should be done to fix up the apartments that students rely on during their time here in Emporia. Not only will fixing up these apartments make Emporia look cleaner, but it will bring in money from those wishing to attend Emporia College because of how accommodating the living is here.
June 10, 2010 at 1:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Oh good; sfelix and the Emporia Eastside Cleanup Coalition as well as our own beloved HenryVIII have declared themselves Emporia's Official Humiliators. Gleefully (though they'll beg to differ) they cheer each other onward, pointing at our warts and one-legged hair-lips, white-gloving our garage doors and castigating our elders, our tired, our poor and mentally challenged; all the while claiming their high-falutin' do-gooder demands are for the betterment of mankind; meanwhile they'll drag good names through public mud and push our peeps around at an or-else-pace. Well, it's nice to know we can all relax.
You need to check yourselves brothers and sisters.
Ya best stop this nonsense now; before all 'em folks who ain't so full of 'emselves see ya as a bunch of backyard snoopin', over the fence peepin', obsessive-compulsive PRIGS.
You can get medication for your multitudinous disorders these days. Perhaps...well...it's just a suggestion.
So do you folks go around pointin' out the Down's Syndrome kid and laughing at his too-fat buck-toothed sister as well? Those are adolescent behaviors usually disposed of while still a teen. What's the difference between that and publicly denouncing your neighbor's backyard hijinks? Why MrC's Mom would slap His face and hide her own in shame and Dad woulda busted his foot off in this monkeeDo's you-know-where if they'd ever caught Him behavin' like you folks. Where is your sense of propriety?
You're pokin' your noses where they don't belong; for crying out loud, and for what? To humiliate? That's your solution? Jesus H. Christ; really?
June 10, 2010 at 2:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Honestly, MrC will never understand how some people ever make it to adulthood; much less to positions of power or authority.
Look. It's simple. If your squalidistic neighbor was already living there when you moved in then shut-up. That's it, there's nothing more to say just shut-up. That doesn't mean you can't befriend them. Friends sometimes haul junk away for friends. Friends also GIVE their junk to friends--or sell it to them for little of nothing; now just think of the possibilities. Oh...of course if they've got like Down's Syndrome or have a too-fat buck-toothed sister, well you know, ignore this and just go ahead and treat them like crap. Totally makes you feel all, like, superior and stuff.
On the other hand if your neighbor moved in after you, only to squalor up the place, then feel free to speak-up. Though MrC would suggest a subtler approach than humiliation. Something perhaps more along the lines above.
And if you don't live on the block or in the immediate neighborhood then mind your own business. Hold your nose, plug your ears, divert your stare, speed-up, whatever it takes just leave it alone. Leave that which offends thee behind; or you could stop, inquire admiringly and possibly—well who knows.
Whatever you do though don't bunch all up into groups. Groups tend to pervert bravery into viciousness. Then folks get pushy an' next thing ya know somebody gets a poke they thought they was above and it just gets uglier from there. No good can come from that. Think.
June 10, 2010 at 2:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Mr. C, I agree that those pictures peeping into backyards over fences went much too far, but what do you suggest folks do when cars up on blocks are harboring rats and other varmints? When your rats come into my garden at night to eat my vegetables, my rights begin, yours end.
When I contact you to explain the problem and you tell me to eff myself, what do I do then?
I really don't believe that this committee has turned into a cadre of finger-pointers; they're just trying to make it known that city ordinances are going un-heeded. For example, there is an ordinance against yard sales that continue for weeks on end.
What's the problem with that? For one thing, mosquitoes lay eggs in every water-filled nook and cranny. Overstuffed furniture soaks up gallons of rain and mold spores blow all over the place. When it all begins to stink and drift on a south wind to my house, your rights end.
Ya wanna buy my house?
June 10, 2010 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
MrC,
What in the Pope's name are you talking about? Making fun of one's physical appearance or disorders is completely different from pointing out how run-down (and in violation of city code) their property is. If you can't see such an obvious distinction, then I don't know what to tell you.
If I'm able to obey city codes and these people aren't, maybe I am "like, superior and stuff". What's their excuse? You are asking us to ignore the problem. Is that really the answer?
How do you figure that I'm "poking my nose where it doesn't belong"? Everything I listed can be seen from city/public property. It's not like I'm going 'round peeking in windows or something. If these people are so ashamed of how their property looks, maybe they should do something about it instead of trying to silence those who notice it.
create,
I think privacy fences can only be like 6'6" tall by city code... Some folks are over 7 feet tall, so are they invading your privacy by walking by and glancing over the fence? What about aerial/satellite photos? What about your neighbor looking down from a 2-story house? Maybe these people should put that stuff in a shed or underground if they don't want anyone see it.
'enry
June 10, 2010 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Just because a person may be poor, old or disabled doesn't mean they have to live like pigs.
All people need to take pride in their property, it is after all, their property. Some of the properties being discussed are owned by wealthy landlords who would'nt live in them if you paid them. Landlords who HAVE the resources to keep their property up but choose not to. These properties in turn affect property values around them. MrCmonkeeDo mentions "do-Gooders" who stick their noses into others business and humiliates these property owners. Maybe these people have tried every other option and the only thing that remains is public scrutinity, (humiliation)?
Maybe, just maybe, if people took care of their properties these do-gooders wouldn't have anything to complain about?
Do-gooder groups can be vicious, it's the nature of the beast. If everyone had common respect, courtesy, and common sense and extended it to others these problems would be non-existent.
June 10, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, I really wasn' t going to get caught up in this particular discussion, but have been reading and comtemplating some of the comments being made and feel the need to comment, so here goes .
There are a lot of City laws and ordinances that are not enforced. Such as Jaywalking, littering, not comming to a complete stop at stop signs, not signaling for a turn or lane changes. Has anyone ever wondered why ?
My thought on all of the laws and ordinances that are not being enforced is ... remove them from the books if the city does not want to or have the manpower to enforce them .
And Steve and others have hit upon the real problem with enforcing the minimum housing code ... that being a lot of the rental properties being owned by powerful, wealthy, influential individuals or businesses that have a lot of clout in/with the City and some of these owners don' t even live in Emporia . In other words " Politics and Money " have a lot to do with what codes, laws and ordinances get enforced in The City of Euphoria .
And if anyone thinks that money or the lack thereof or physical ability/handicapp does not play a role in proper and acceptable maintenance of ones property ... they had better think again.
The old saying goes, " Do not judge me or my life/lifestyle, until you have walked or lived in my shoes. " Also, " Judge not, lest yee be Judged. "
I agree, if those who have the means/money/ability to keep their propery acceptable to everyone and choose not to, then they should feel the full weight of the law. However the monetary or physical ability of some of the property owners should be taken into consideration also.
June 10, 2010 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The world is full of " do gooders" but there are very few who " do good in the world . "
June 10, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
I'm amazed to read stories of Jeff Lynch not making people clean up their yards. My neighbor was beginning to pile up 'good bargains' from auctions and the city gave him a warning notice to clean up the yard in ten days. His mess was not near as bad as some posters have described and it was the first year he lived in the neighborhood. Maybe its all about who complains.
June 10, 2010 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Methulsa,
Is there no problem in Emporia that you can't blame on the rich. In reading your comments from the past by clicking on your profile, it seems that you have a serious axe to grind with those that you perceive as rich or "entitled". The funny thing is I would wager you couldn't give one relevant fact about any of those peoples lives or personalities, that you did not get from this or some other public venue. Take some time, get to know some folks on the west side, and I just know you would find another whipping boy. Envy is an ugly color on you. Maybe you just stick to reposting statutes and laws.
June 10, 2010 at 10:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
I guess the feature I referenced for reading past posts is no longer available, but you railed against the rich on smoking bans, you took them to task over code enforcement, and a host of other topics. Why do you hate those that more than average. Are you one of those socialists that wants to level the playing field for everyone?
June 10, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Here you go, OutsiderJ.
http://www.emporiagazette.com/users/m...
Love,
'enry
June 10, 2010 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
One time my neighbor was assembling a time machine in his backyard and had parts spread out all over the side yard and the front yard as well. Normally I would be upset because who wants to see a dozen or so spent Barrilion energy crystals laying around fuming where kids can sniff them and float away but I made an exception in this case because I mean really who wouldn't want to have access to a time machine? I mean really if I had gone all Rambo on my neighbor I would have ruined our relationship and he'd never have let me use his time machine. Unfortunately the time machine didn't work and the crater still isn't filled in yet. I kinda miss that guy. He wasn't much for conversation but he could play a mean Electric Jug. Who do I call about getting a crater filled?
June 10, 2010 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
OutsiderJ
Having lived in Emporia for nigh onto 70 years now ... I do know people of wealth and influence all over Emporia. And I can tell you this, there are those, with wealth and live in all parts of Emporia, who are fine with Emporia the way it is and its people and do not complain too much and do live by the old motto, " Live and let Live " . But on the other hand you have those, with wealth and live in all parts of Emporia, who are hell bent on making Emporia into their own minds obsession of " Paradise " and don' t give a hoot about the " Cost " in money that a lot of Emporias taxpayers cannot afford or the " Cost " in possibly ruined lives, etc., they only think about their own pety desires and wanting, irregardless of what it will do to others.
Therefore, OutsiderJ, if you don' t live in Emporia or have not lived in Emporia for any length of time to get a handle on what is what and do not know me, which I doubt, you have no room to " Blow " . And I can tell you this, I am not the only one in Emporia that feels the way I do.
It is not envy that makes me and others feel the way I/we do it is being fed up with the way things are and have been in Emporia for far too long and the idea that a lot of Emorias taxayers have/will suffer due to the selfish whim of some " well to do, influential, don' t give a damn about others attitude of some in Emporia " and if that " truth " hurts someones feelings then so be it . And that is certainly not " Socialism " .
June 10, 2010 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Can you imagine how the invention of a time machine would have put Emporia on the map?!?
Man, that probably would have solved all of our financial troubles.
People would have come from all over the country to see it and spent the money here at our restaurants and the like.
We'd have plenty of money to force people to make their yards look the way we want them to.
Unfortunately that dream went up in a blue-green cloud of smoke.
I still think we should get a whale.
People will come to Kansas to see a whale, especially if it has a hat.
We should get a whale with a hat.
Yep.
June 10, 2010 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks,
I hear there is a whale in the time capsule under the clock tower. Unfortunately, it only wears a scarf and not a hat. Too bad.
'enry
June 10, 2010 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Hey, a scarf on a whale in a time capsule is no time machine or even a whale with a hat but it sure ain't no kick in the shin! We really need to advertise these things better. Was this info included in that ad we put on Oprah Winfrey's shirt or whatever?
June 10, 2010 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
Sfelix, I have a question, since it has been near impossible to get slumlords to restore their rentals to a safe living standard, how do you see it possible to make Emporia's homeowners tidy up the appearances of their own homes? Also, there was a time in Emporia when we actually socialized with and knew our neighbors meaning it was much easier to approach a neighbor. Now I have several neighbors who have never said 'hi' or acknowledged that we live here. Who would go complain to a neighbor they dont know? I m against making anonymous complaints, but danged if I would go complain to a stranger about the appearance of their home.
June 10, 2010 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Create,
MrC agrees with you with one exception; they have “turned into a cadre of finger-pointers.” Perhaps they started with the intent of merely educating us about city codes, but now they are actively seeking out, compiling lists and posting pics (on the internet for the whole world to see.) That's pretty much finger-pointer-ing in the eyes of this flinthillbilly.
MrC does feel for you. He remembers a couple of years ago when you told us about your situation with your neighbor. It's probably more, but even two years is a long time with bad neighbors. Which is exactly why WE must not make enemies of our neighbors; no matter what crap they heap on us.
Keep in mind that's an easy thing for MrC to write and even live up to, today; He's got great neighbors. In fact, He often worries that His is the messiest backyard in our hood.
Up until just a few years ago the Cster was real proud of His backyard; it was always colorful, neat and tidy. Back then MrC had a friend who was really into gardening, but had no yard of his own. So the friend and Yours Truly went to town on that ol' backyard and the rest is garden party history; until about four years ago when the friend was diagnosed with cancer and everything just sort of slid slow-motion-like to a halt. By the second Fall of the friends fight the backyard was beginning to show signs of neglect. By the third Fall MrC's shed started to fall apart so He attempted to tear it down and start over but He had no energy left for such things. Truth is, at that time MrCmonkeeDo just could not have cared less what anybody thought about His yard or his shed. Those seemed worries strictly for the decadent. Anyway, Chemotherapy demands it's heavy toll from everybody involved; even it seems, from back yards and rotten ol' sheds. The cancer finally ended the friends story this last February and this ol' monkee is just now starting to see catch-up on the horizon; realistically though it will be next Summer before He finally sees caught-up.
June 11, 2010 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Now MrCmonkeeDo had no desire to tell that story; He digested it because, We are all of us, out of time and too harried to hear the long gory versions of life. We expect answers short 'n' sweet and quarter no time for excuses. In fact, the very act of telling the story, changes it to an excuse and godammit MrCmonkeeDo doesn't need excused.
His neighbors know something was going on, they watched the friend deteriorate to the state of nothingness, they aren't complaining about MrC's backyard or pushing Him at an or-else-pace.
But those swell folks from the Emporia Eastside Cleanup Coalition sure will. You can bet yer sweet bippy on that. If they come around tomorrow they'll see that half torn down shed. Surely it is against code and they'll post MrC's backyard's mugshot for the world to see. Of course they won't ask for MrC's excuses, nor offer-up the chance of applying to be excused before they humiliate Him; after all they're on a mission; no time for chit-chat. Which will of course mean that MrC can expect His visit from the always humiliating or-else-fairy within that week. Oh joy, oh joy. Let's point and laugh at the monkeeBoy. The point is MrC doesn't need that kind of crap. It may be three weeks from now or it may even be this Fall, but his backyard will be in order before winter.
Still He wonders how many other peeps there are with stories even more tragic. Stories that are reduced to nothing but short 'n' sweet excuses for the amusement of a bunch of voyeuristic Do-gooders who couldn't care less anyway.
Ya know something? Sometimes it just easier to say, “Eff-off!”
June 11, 2010 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
methusla,
Your comment was well put, and never more appreciated. Thank you.
June 11, 2010 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
MrCmonkeeDo
You're welcome.
June 11, 2010 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Is thinking maybe it would be a good time to change the screen name?
June 14, 2010 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hotpink (anonymous) says...
Ever seen "American Pickers" on the History Channel? It's not junk, its "rusty gold". :)
June 14, 2010 at 10:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )