Is Bobby Ruining The City's Brand?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Tonight will be the first meeting of the committee put together by council to look into Law
Director Kevin Butler's decision to make Residents' Yard Sales illegal, with the exception of
twice a year, and through a permit.


I ran into Bobby while talking with residents with a couple friends. He was selling his cars
that he felt he had outgrown for possibly a bike, or video game. I am sure he did not
realize that he was breaking at least two of the proposed new regulations.

While there are certainly some people that abuse the current law on garage sales which I
believe is still Thursday - Sat, 8am - 6 pm, it would seem that once again Lakewood has
chosen to punish all residents, that would be the sale holders and the sale shoppers with
another set of Draconian laws that treat residents far worse then the businesses in Lakewood. One rule the sign could be up for one day before.


Illegal?

It seems silly to me that council and our law director would spend one second on this
when the mayor, members of council and the residents all believe there are more
important issues on the table than this. It also underlines a growing trend from city hall
where they would much rather restrict residents, ie voters, then the big box stores and
chains they court and give tax breaks to for even considering moving to Lakewood.

So if it is not just another way to shake down residents, than lets look at some other
possible signage issues...


54 of these counted around Lakewood, an out of city church with more rights than a resident?


up for over a month.


4 weeks and counting.


six counted at one intersection.


up all year


Up forever


St Eds bed sale.


Residents allowed one per property...


notice the bottom is sales information


3 different ones up for a month.


up for months


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Now some other questionable signage around town...


never stopped day after day.


Some say belittling Native Americans


Up for 60 days


Save St. James signs? These saved a church.









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And now some real abuse...









And the real problem, but protected of course


up six months.


up 8 months now


quality not quantity?


excellent use of county dollars!



Tonight is the first time the committee to investigate Lakewood Major Problem, residents
recouping a little money on things they paid for.

Please let common sense prevail, stop this nonsense and get back to real work, do not make
Bobby a criminal.



So is little Bobby ruining Lakewood's brand of hip, cool, fun?
Or is City Hall?

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[Peter Grossetti]

These damn kids these days! Bunch of scofflaws!

[Heather Ramsey]

So, each person can have two per year whenever they want if they get a permit? Or there'll be two days per year set aside where everyone does it all at once?

[Gary Rice]

As ugly and objectionable as some of those signs may appear, I would find it much uglier to live in a neighborhood that would value orderliness over free speech.

This is not a regimented society....yet.

This sort of thing is a sore point with Dad too. He spent more than 4 years of his life in the Army so that people could have free speech.

When I was a little kid, I decided to have a lemonade stand on Rosewood Ave.. Before long, some starched-shirt, striped-tie City dude stopped his car and lectured me on needing a permit to sell my lemonade, scaring me half to death at the time.

Honestly, I wish I'd been just a little more savvy and brave. and had a copy of the Constitution in my back pocket back then.

I know, free speech and selling one's own personal stuff (even lemonade) are technically two different issues here....

...or are they?

Back to the banjo.

[Grace O'Malley]

They'll try to tell us this is a "tool" they need to help keep the city clean and safe and free from losers. But just like all their other "tools," they neglect to mention that they already have many ways to deal with this invented issue of excessive garage sales. If someone puts a sign out every week and loads their lawn with trash, that individual can be cited with a trash or nuisance violation.

How are all those "tools" in the "toolbox" working out for you, council?

[Scott Meeson]

FWIW:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3011891/

http://news.byu.edu/print.aspx?id=7718

Scott

[Joe McClain]

Full disclosure: I haven't lived in Lakewood for nearly eight years.

What is the rationale behind this garage sale crackdown? Garage sales were one of the many, many things we loved about living in Lakewood. Have garage sales gotten out of hand? If so, how so? I mean is a matter of people having "permanent" sales or is there double parking on the streets that is a problem? I recall the city being down on signs at the end of the street. I get back to Lakewood generally twice a year and I think there are a large numbers of quality of life matters that are more important than the regulation of garage sales.

I would think that garage sales are a significant component of urban hip, rather than otherwise.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Full disclosure: I haven't lived in Lakewood for nearly eight years.

What is the rationale behind this garage sale crackdown? Garage sales were one of the many, many things we loved about living in Lakewood. Have garage sales gotten out of hand? If so, how so? I mean is a matter of people having "permanent" sales or is there double parking on the streets that is a problem? I recall the city being down on signs at the end of the street. I get back to Lakewood generally twice a year and I think there are a large numbers of quality of life matters that are more important than the regulation of garage sales.

I would think that garage sales are a significant component of urban hip, rather than otherwise.

Joe

It is amazing how many people come to Lakewood for the first time for he garage sales. One of the two TV
pieces I saw had people raving about Lakewood and the great garage sales.

Then there is the recycle of goods aspects of garage sales.

But alas, time for city hall to once again shot themselves in the foot while the residents do the bleeding.

Gary

I pointed out that political signs were protected by law.

I did not post these to say they should be illegal, just if you let this, why the attack on residents having
garage sales? Like coming home after a hard day and kicking the dog. Somthing I would not do either.

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[J Hrlec]

So is little Bobby ruining Lakewood's brand of hip, cool, fun?
Or is City Hall?

I think the problem is little Bobby's missing the official logo...

[Gary Rice]

So that we're clear on this.

I LOVE garage sales.

The more, the merrier.

Garage sales are a great way to attract people to our community.

Arthur just had a whole street sale. AWESOME! Dad and I had a barrel of fun there.

When people come here, they look around. They might shop in our retail stores, They might even stop to eat here, and come back and eat again. (smile)

The recycle aspect of a garage sale is indeed great. The social aspects are fantastic. The opportunities to treasure hunt are out of this world.

You could even make an argument that garage sales help the "green" concept, by keeping junk, oops- I mean valuable treasures off Lakewood's garbage trucks.

I LOVE garage sales.

Even found a nice banjo at one of them once...

Hmmm...Better get back to that old banjo...

[john crino]

I was told ( by a city inspector) that no banners what so ever are permitted in Lakewood unless they are inside a building. No banners on outside of a building. This true?
by the way....does
"bobby" really exist?

[stephen davis]

by the way....does "bobby" really exist?

John,

Exist? Not sure what his real name is, but the photo of "Bobby" was taken in Lakewood. I was there. Jim bought one of his Matchbox cars, with my money.

Proof? We have photos, and the Matchbox car in still in MY car.

But, if you are suggesting a metaphysical debate regarding "Bobby's" existence, then I'm not sure that I have an answer.

Steve

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[Jim O'Bryan]

I was told ( by a city inspector) that no banners what so ever are permitted in Lakewood unless they are inside a building. No banners on outside of a building. This true?
by the way....does
"bobby" really exist?

John

Bobby, who name was changed to protect the innocent, exists. The incident was real. As we drove by we
couldn't read his sign, so we went around again, when I stopped to read it I felt so bad I, err Steve had to buy
something. It was so odd, I took his photo, and left a card for him to give his parents, so they knew who took
the photo. That was about 3 months ago.

It is my understanding that banners are allowed with a temporary sign permit, usually good for 30 days at a
cost (this was years ago) of $10.00. However last time we made a loop for signage I counted at least 50 banners
on the outside of buildings, and a whole litany of "illegal signs."

Enough to make one think, if they can't police that, how are they going to police this yard sale thing? Did we hire
more inspectors? More police? Are they sitting around idly with nothing to do so we needed new laws to keep
them busy?

Who knows?

John no one knows yard sales and dumpster diving like you, what are your thoughts?


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[kate e parker]

i was walking to madison pool this past saturday and i saw a policeman removing garage sale signs from a light pole on elbur. don't know how old the signs were but i found it odd that one of our finest was doing that particular job.

not sure how that relates to this topic but there it is.

[Jim O'Bryan]

So is little Bobby ruining Lakewood's brand of hip, cool, fun?
Or is City Hall?

I think the problem is little Bobby's missing the official logo...

J Hrlec

Spectacular!


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