11 and 3 year old girls fight zoning ordinance

Originally Posted by Shin

Whilst I agree that this is a somewhat extreme reaction by the mayor's office, introducing an element of leaway on laws like this opens you up to abuse by bigger companies who will use any potential victory by these kids as a loophole when they want to open a store in a residential area without planning permission.

Bingo.

While the local government certainly comes off like a bunch of jerks for shutting down some kid's fruit stand - lets get serious. The law is on the books for a reason to begin with and its not because of the lemonade seller's union.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Second, making exceptions for out of home businesses is highly distinct from an incorporated entity plopping an establishment smack dab in the middle of a bunch of McMansions. There are also workarounds that can deal with advertising issues.

But allowing one means that corporate groups could file grievances against the town and its zoning system, dragging the whole thing into stupid litigation simply to waste the town's money

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Regardless of what you think of the law, it's obvious that the best course of action for the mayor would have been to not enforce it at all.

...What

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Watts

If this was the case of some business flaunting city planning laws I doubt the city would've fought it. Instead they thought they could push around a few little girls and their family thinking they wouldn't fight it and they were wrong. This whole situation is probably going to end in ligitation anyway.

So lets say if the court finds the town in the right? Does this family have the money or the stones to take it to an appeal?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Watts

No idea. The publicity generated would help procure a pro-bono lawyer though.

Probably. But its a tough hill to climb for any lawyer to fight against a law already on the books.

Originally Posted by Watts

I can't think of a reason why the family would take this public if they didn't intend on trying to fight it legally.

The obvious one is that they know the system versus children is automagically going to end up with a bunch of doe-eyed suburban moms is going to fight for the kids instead of established law.

I mean, the long and short is that the parents are basically looking to start slinging shit and causing problems.

I was speaking idiomatically.