Re: City outlawed me owning boats or working on them (MN, USA)
Erik. I have just read your statement,
"The question of pragmatism vs. idealism is an old one... I decided some time ago that I was going to carry this through as far as needed, until I get the problem taken care of (the problem at this point is the behavior of the city inspectors + the bad law). It'll be more expensive than being pragmatic/making a deal, but I already tried dealing a few years ago, and all it bought me was a delay and increased fines this time around."
I had completely missed this point previously, so I wish to ask a bit of a pointed question = for just how many years have you been complaining to City Authorities.
You are not a serial offender are you? You do seem pretty experienced in this area.
I'll give you short answers to these, since I'm pretty sure I've covered them before.
First, I've never complained to the city. However, I'm guessing you meant to ask how many times people have complained about me or my property. I honestly can't say, because without coercion the city won't reveal any information.
For the record, this is the second time the city has attempted to fine/cite me for issues in the last five years. I wouldn't consider that to be a serial offender's pattern myself.
Do you ever consider your neighbours rights and position, because that is what it is all about?
Always. If they have any valid issues, I deal with them right away, unreasonable or not. For example, if my neighbor was of the opinion that the color of my fence looked bad, I'd probably change it.
The issue here isn't that the neighbors are complaining about things they want fixed. The only issue anyone complained about was actually fixed before I even heard from the city. What we're going over now (myself and the city) are all the other items they decided to cite me for, the laundry list of stuff they used to try to pressure me to do what they want.
I will bet you the city inspectors behaviour is 'perfect'.
I'd take that bet, because it's not, except to the inspectors themselves. Unanimously, everyone else I've talked to from lawyers to layman agreed the inspectors are breaking laws. The question is whether they can or should be prosecuted, or sued civilly, or whether I should just let the city administration clean up the mess.
I can't quite work out your interpretation of 'the bad law'. To me it is the sort of law I demand as a resident.
If you demand that the city you live in exert control of what you and your neighbors do behind closed doors without anyone knowing or being bothered, I'm glad I don't live near you
Another point, I note the date-times of your recent posts. Are you working on this issue full time?
I ask as you must be devoting a lot of time to this when I see the length and content of your posts. You seem pretty professional and committed to me.
Thanks. I'm working full time at my regular job, but since I'm salaried my work schedule varies according to when the work needs doing. I can fit a lot of research and thought in between actual work, especially since I must take one 15 minute break every four hours plus a lunch break every 8. Also, I'm usually at my desk in front of a computer with a very high speed internet connection, plus full access to a university's research resources.
In my simple mind, it sort of begs the question - why don't you just tidy the place up like they ask. There is so little to that list, and it seem pretty reasonable to me. It would take probably half day and you could get on with enjoying your recreation, and avoid all the fines, and hassels you have, and I am sure your neighbours will thank you for it.
I think you're misunderstanding. As mentioned, I tried "just cleaning up" years ago, and it just bought me time. I'm not a permanent revenue source for the city, especially when they're inventing things to make me pay for.
Plus you may have missed the point, but the "bad law" I refer to won't be nullified by paying these fines. If I pay them, I still can't work on my boat, car, or lawnmower legally. Everyone else in town can, but they're not aware of the law. I could break the law, but that would show bad faith on my part. The fines I'm arguing and the bad law are related, but they're separate issues. Clearing the list won't fix the problem.
At this point, the issue isn't whether the list is reasonable, it's the fact that it's completely invented out of thin air. If I don't completely squash it, it'll get me A) doubled fines next time for "prior offenses" B) biased evaluation of any future "offenses" (just like you did, above) and C) It'll let the city continue on its illegal and unethical path, collecting money for specious violations from selected residents while ignoring everyone else (you can bet most city employees, cops, etc aren't going to get fined).
As mentioned above, my neighbors don't care about any of the things left on the list. They won't thank me, they didn't care about those items in the first place.
If this is not an option, then why don't you tackle the system head on. Send out 500 flyers to all the residents in your area, outlining the problems you are addressing and invite them all to a meeting in your street. When they all turn up, put your points forward and ask for direct support from them like sign a petition. Then you will have a case to put forward and your city authorities will definitely listen to you.
As discussed above, this is still an option. Right now I'm maintaining a strategy of "good faith" use of the existing system, broken though it is, because it prevents me being viewed as unreasonable by any future judge hearing this issue and because it encourages city employees not part of the offending department to listen to me.
Things may well get to the point where I'm advertising the problem and getting a mob or political action committee together. These things don't happen overnight though, and it's not always to the advantage of someone in my situation to take that approach, at least not right away.
Erik
