California is going through one of the worst droughts in its history, the state is massively short of water. But the city of Glendora, a suburb of L.A., is threatening to fine a homeowner whose lawn is ‘too brown.’ The couple admits they scaled back their lawn watering because of state-wide emergency orders to conserve water.
Michael Korte and Laura Whitney have been given 60 days to green up their lawn. If they don’t they’ll get bashed with fines of up to $500.
Gosh, Homeowners Associations all over California have been threatening homeowners with fines bigger than that for brown lawns. Where’s the leadership?
(Reuters article on drought fine)
Ward, government overrach is beginning to spread from HOA privatized government to local governments. This should concern alll Americans. Notice this trend is most prevalent in states with a high proportion of HOAs: California and Florida top the list.
In Florida, the city of Orlando tried to fine an owner for planting vegetables in the front yard. Eventually, the owner prevailed. Shu Bartholomew had a radio show with Jason Helvenston telling his story. Readers can listen to the podcast here. http://onthecommons.net/2014/06/jason-helvenston/
Note also the seemingly anti-environmental nature of these violation notices. We will hear some claim that government is run by Big Bad Conservatives. But the Larry Murphree case, regarding the right to display a small flag in a flower pot, has led to accusations that government is run by Big Bad Liberals.
Hmmmm. Perhaps Big Bad Government is non-partisan.
Another outrageous example of the Taste Police gone Rogue: Recently, the City of Ocala enacted an ordinance against wearing saggy pants more than 2 inches below the waistband of underwear, or the “butt crack.” The penalty? A fine of $500 and up to 6 months in jail. http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/weird/2014/07/17/saggy-pants-ban-florida/12774713/