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Eleven Year-Old’s Organic Veggie Stand Shut Down by California Mayor |
38 Comments |
| By Steve Balogh in Dumb Ideas, Eating Local, Gardening, Green Living, Organic | August 22, 2008 | ||
I think that Joel Satalin can add another chapter to his book Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal after reading this story. I mean, really, a child’s veggie stand shut down for lack of permits? What’s next, no lemonade stands or car wash fundraisers?
ABC News via ABA Journal:
Call it a rite of passage: children by the roadside peddling their homemade goodies to adults who are more than eager to drop a few cents into a makeshift cashbox.
But Katie and Sabrina Lewis’ veggie stand, in the town of Clayton, Calif., where they sold homegrown watermelons for $1, has been shuttered by town officials who told the girls’ parents that their daughters’ venture violated local zoning ordinances.
“I think that they’re wrong,” dad Mike Lewis said of the town officials. “Kids should be able to be kids.”
Of course kids should be able to be kids! I think that this touches on a separate issue as well, one not mentioned in the article. Shouldn’t people have the right to sell the food that they produced on their (albeit small) piece of land? How does a roadside veggie stand devalue our neighborhoods? Especially when it is selling organic food much cheaper than one can find in the “super” grocery store. The last question is, what kind of ultra-conformist calls the mayor to complain about an “illegal” activity like this?
But Clayton Mayor Gregory Manning said he first heard of the girls’ operation this past April, after two residents called to ask if it was legal. Two months later, a police officer was sent to the stand to tell the Lewises that the girls were violating zoning regulations that prohibit commercial activities in a residential area.
The stand also violates health regulations, he said, which state that food can’t be sold without a permit.
Please check out the full ABC News article (video too). If you feel compelled, here is the phone number for the City of Clayton government office - (925) 673-7300. Be civil and constructive if you call.
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Marc Beharry said,
That is madness! Meanwhile real crimes are being committed. In other countries people sell their crops in front of their houses freely, and its one of the best sources for fresh produce I have ever seen.
The neighbors who reported these industrious kids should be ashamed of themselves.
Mystech said,
Sorry, if you’re going to peddle your healthy, local, pesticide free subversion, you’d better make a “campaign contribution”.
Anthony said,
There’s more and more of this nonsense happening all the time. I read about people in CA getting fined for having a brown lawn during a drought. And how many stories have there been about people wanting to grow vegetables in their front yards only to be fined by Homeowner Associations.
These outdated laws and Homeowner Association rules really need to be updated.
Chris said,
This is just plain stupid. I think I will encourage my kids to take a portion of the profit from their zucchini sales and send it to the Katie and Sabrina Lewis veggie stand defense fund!
Howie said,
Last time I checked Lemonade was food(Drink). Its up to the consumer to take the risk of eating whatever these children could have possibly put in the veggies.
/sarcasm.
look out for those pedophiles nearby. They might be selling fruits.
Radfahrer said,
Two things:
WTF? When did being a kid become so complicated?
Might be a chance to teach the kids about applying for city permits. It would be humorous to watch some miserable bureaucrat counting our nickels and dimes for the permit fee. You should have seen the clerks face when I bough my first bicycle with a sac of quarters
chiz said,
there is alot more to this story than what is being reported. this is not just two littlte girls with a stand. this is really being run by their parents. Only after the city told them to stop was it “just 2 little girls”. they were not the ones driving the the tractor that is parked out front, or the ones outside selling produce every weekend. Sure the girls were outside occasionally but they were not the ones operating the stand. Their father must figure if he says it is just a lemonade and then has people from the newspaper come and take picture of his kids in the yard with american flags on their shirts everyone will think it is just the “big bad city” picking on some kids. The farmers market is litteraly 2 blocks from their house and has been suggested as a better place from them to go instead of the intersection where police routinely sit and wait for people to run the stop signs. Many neighbors have been interviewed by various news group but none of them have been shown so far. Mostly likely because they would like to see this done some where more apropriate.
Nathan said,
chiz,
I can understand your line of thinking, as i am a city official in a midwestern town of 80,000. There is always two or more sides to every story. Your points would not persuede me to shut down similar activities whithin our city. Our police officers visit these types of stands all the time to purchase lemonades it lets the kids know that the police are supporting them, not to harrass them any chance they get. You stated that the father was the one actually running the stand. well DUH he is the property owner. The right to have a yard sale usually twice a year in most cities, or a lemonade stand or a garden vegitable stand is not a threat to your peace and quiet. More likely you have had dealings with the nieghbors and are just tring to punish them in any way you can. Maybe those kids ride their bikes and yell and scream just like you did when you were a kid. Oh my that must be stopped. You also mentioned big bad city” picking on some kids, well that is exactly what is going on here except they are picking on the whole family. My suggestion to you is to draw your blinds even though i know you won’t. No you as a taxpayer(we all are) will look for any interpetation of any ordinance to harrass your neighbors.(enemies) You mentioned the farmers market as an alternate spot for selling, if the person decides to use that market then that should be their choice not yours. Also what is wrong with the american flag? Pride in our county has enabled this country to get to this point. it has allowed you to sit on your front porch and complain about the neighbors just as it has allowed me to post this response. If you don’t like it then move. You also mentioned that people routinely run a stop sign at that location. I am sure you compalined about that too. Since the police were theie don’t you think they could see the vegi stand and the kids and the american flag. it is citizens like you that make a job as a civil servant tiring.
rick said,
@chiz: Do you have some evidence of this? The mayor & others who have been interviewed have not mentioned the parents. Also, one set of neighbors that WAS interviewed said specifically that it was the kids who were doing the selling. Apparently they received a (still anonymous) complaint about blocked traffic, but this neighbor they had interviewed said that they never saw blocked traffic.
Tyler Beckett said,
@chiz – You’re probably the one that reported the poor kids. If you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. Who cares, even if it is the parents selling it all, what they peddle on their own property.
The only reason the government stepped in to stop it is due to them not getting their take. Just like an intrusive mobster requiring “protection money”, the government slapped the family with its all powerful hand.
If it was you who reported the “illegal” activities of your neighbor, you should mind your own business and stop being a self-absorbed busy body.
Zippy said,
“But Katie and Sabrina Lewis’ veggie stand, in the town of Clayton, Calif., where they sold homegrown watermelons for $1, has been shuttered by town officials who told the girls’ parents that their daughters’ venture violated local zoning ordinances”
Well now, these kids look a lot like BOYS. Perhaps they financed sex change operations selling zucchini. Hmmm.
Anyway, execute the mayor and the ‘citizens’ who called in the complaint. They are communists.
Steve Balogh said,
FYI – The pic above (ironically) was taken from this post: http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/?p=3289 the day before, where Chris came home to see his boys had put up a makeshift stand.
Vigilante said,
Next time seat on your own yard as close to the road as possible. Add the words SUGGESTED DONATIONS, or YARD SALE.
If anybody approach for anything else other than buying your goods, let them know that they are trespassing.
A Beware of the Dog, or We Love NRA sign is recommended.
Since this is all done, get an authorization from the city to protest in front of the court house against the city officials and demand to step down for abuse of power, insensitivity and stupidity.
You don’t want to have a stupid mayor running your city?
What a great time to have those morons step down.
Get some toilet paper and a dozen of eggs find mayor car and house.
Let him have it.
sudo nihm said,
pic does not match story – FAIL
Bryan said,
Organic? Garden fresh, eh? Is that statement endorsed by the Department of Agriculture? FDA? What if these kids start making it big and get a lot money and decide to start working in the garden for more than a few hours a day trying to sell more veggies? Child labor laws anyone? What about the local mom and pop shop trying to sell zucchini? These kids are stealing their business without applying for proper business licenses and respecting safe food handling methods. Are these kids really better than Mom and Pop? What about taxes? Doesn’t sound like a fair competition to me. So the noble leaders of this town are defending the American way of free market and fair competition.
William said,
Yes, the little girls are cute but that will be little solace when you spend a day on the toilet with diarrhea. The rules about food and produce are there for a reason. Anyone can say something is organic, anyone can say that something is fresh. Unless you watch them grow it and pick it yourself off the vine, you are the mercy of the one selling it. This is why governments have a permitting policy. Why aren’t they selling at the local farm market? Where is the money they are making going? Is it going directly to the kids, or do the parents take it to compensate for the seed, fertilizer and soil they purchased? It’s easy to get manipulated by stories like these. Please just stop and think about why the people involved would have a problem. I would be less likely to eat from a restaurant that was run off the back of a pickup truck than one that proudly displays it’s health inspection permit.
tony said,
Madness??
This is the USA!!!
well, this happens when you have over zealous jerk neighbors… common sense and human dignity are lost… even if per se the mayor is right (law book in hand)
Hahh said,
Vigilante — what on earth are you trying to say?
Once a kid said,
That picture is just for perspective, its obviously not the real kids…….If its just the kids sellin, let them be……
Once a kid said,
oh and to those neighbors, get a damn life…..
Call! said,
So, everyone go call the mayor’s voice mail and leave a civil comment about how you are upset with the decision. I thought it might help to mention that I live THOUSANDS of miles from where this took place. hmm, I should have left a phone number, because the message, PROMISES to get back to you.
JackX said,
Dude, Welcome to California, Leave your Civil Liberties behind you. Have some weed to make the hurtin go away…
nembula said,
Ok so now I am worried. My grand daughters, ages 4 and 5, planted pumpkins this spring and have been patiently watching them grow all summer. Pinning their plans on selling them in a road side stand. Now, I wonder if the ‘government’ will step in and want their slice of the proverbial pie. Too much!!!
Nathan said,
William,
You are missing the point. you said you want the government to check every stage of food production. It is impossible, do you know how many employees it would take to do that? How much it would cost? How much you would have to pay in taxes to support such a program? It is ovious that some government control is need for large food operations, they are not intended for the home gardener. If you did get diarrhea it was from the fast food that you ate not the fresh vegitables. City hall doesn’t care if you sit on a tiolet an extra time or two. When was the last time you heard of terrorist spiking produce at such a stand? With your line of thinking, the government will soon have to set up a program to wipe everyones ass and them make sure they wash their hands afterwards. After all it will be for safety. If you are worring about collecting taxes you should look at your landscaper or gardener or babysitter. do they pay taxes or do you do that for them? Shame on you. You said, Unless you watch them grow it and pick it yourself off the vine, you are at the mercy of the one selling it. Do you believe that all food in your house has this kind of protection? I have a bridge that i want to sell you. What about the tomato/pepper scare that we just went though? Hey they came from Mexico lets stop all imports. The health department inspecting restaurant’s is completly different and doesn,t apply either. The only reson that a permit would be required is so big brother can get additional revenue. There is no public safety concern, they don’t have enough produce to make enough people sick. California will let you smoke some weed to make it all better, someome should get some for the kids that would solve everything, right. California is a drain on this country’s civil liberties. It is like letting the Drama teacher run the school. Exhausted in Missouri.
Ajay said,
99% of the produce that comes in from Mexico is not checked by anyone. This is a fact; look it up. The government just doesn’t have the resources to check.
I feel sorry for all you bitter old folks who are complaining about the kids’ stand. You must lead really pathetic lives to take out your frustrations on these kids.
And the mayor of Clayton? He’s the poster-child of “FAIL”. Someone please make him the next lolcat.
Anonymous said,
While I agree there are two sides to every story, I think it’s a bit ridiculous to have to resort to police presence to get these kids shut down. The neighbors easily could’ve spoke to the parents, but they are alarmist fuckheads with nothing better to do than to get the police to harass innocent people.
Anything to control your environment I guess. I salute your victory over these obviously corrupt and illegitimate businesskids, Mr Mayor.
11 Year-Old?s Organic Veggie Stand Shut Down by CA Mayor « Plant Stands said,
[...] read more | digg story Posted by cashel74 Filed in Uncategorized [...]
Angela said,
This is hideous!
I am disgusted that a city would do something like this. I understand there are laws that have to be followed but come on now. If people are stopping for the street vendors whether they are children or day labors then let them be. The problem today is that the people we count on to serve and protect us are really the biggest threat to us! These are the reasons people are graduating to “take over robbers” they know there is little to nothing more they can do in a society that stomps on you when you are down. I put my head down to you CITY OF CLAYTON OFFICIAL….
BoredQuiz said,
This is ridiculous the mayor should take a stand and not pass the buck.
PJ said,
I would start buying vegetables at the store and giving them away free. Just to piss those neighbors off even more.
uncategorized web news - homecaredesign.info » Blog Archive » 11 Year-Old’s Organic Veggie Stand Shut Down by CA Mayor said,
[...] of permits by town officials. What’s next, no lemonade stands, bake sales or car wash fundraisers?read more | digg [...]
Tennessee Red-Neck said,
I think we would all be better if California fell into the ocean and became it’s own private island.
jesskat182 said,
oh boy, there goes their lemonade and kool ade stands too…
I_kill_Whistle_blowers said,
Those of you that complain about the “FDA” Standards of the backyard garden are the same schmucks that drink out of ‘recycled’ water bottles at $1.50 a pop instead of filling up your glass in the kitchen like the rest of the sane world. I’ll take my backyard tomatoes (yup, I even saw a BUG crawl on one!! OMG!) over the fertilized, chemically treated crap you get at the supermarket. Point being, America has to tailor itself to the stupidest, whiniest, ‘politically correct’ whistle-blowers, because someone is standing there ready to give you a lawsuit. The people that get injured by hot coffee and ‘fatty foods’ can only blame themselves for lack of common sense…But this is America! woo! This is why the rest of the world hates us, btw.
11 Year-Old?s Organic Veggie Stand Shut Down by CA Mayor said,
[...] read more | digg story [...]
David Buckner said,
I Believe the parents of the children should indeed grow more veggies and sell their organic goods at convention or county Fair where there lots more people at.
brenda said,
Stumbled onto this article while searching , out of curiosty, whether or not i am able to legally sell veggies grown from my yard. Wow! This is really sad , that a person can not utilize his own land in a good and very purposeful, helpful way and sell veggies to locals. Whether it is kids or adults selling , this should not be the issue. The above responder, Nathan , who looks after 80,000 folks seems to have the best idea of communityhood. Wow, i wished i knew the town he looks after i would love to live in a place where people are open minded enough to let their citizens be a part of good citizenship without hassels. Sounds like a dream town to me. The complainers probably have not much interesting to do with their time other than cause troubles for great citizens. Amazing…….
Criminals In Uniform « Surreal World said,
[...] [...]