choked &%$#*@&

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

... the city council has gone insane. on monday night there are bylaws being passed which state:

no more than two birds in one home - fine $100
no cracks in your lino - fine $100
your carpet cannot be worn down or you are are fined $100
if you do not have a lock on your bathroom door... fine $100

and there's more! can you believe this? in canada? i think perhaps i moved to a communist country and forgot to forward my address. :(

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:O :O :O
Now that IS insane! I mean....I totally think it's WRONG of someone to pick on you because they don't share the same taste in horticulture that you do...but I can sort of at least understand why they think they have a case...because it's something the entire neighborhood has to look at and live with. But I SERIOUSLY can't understand how it is the city thinks they can dictate what goes on inside your house!

This really sounds like something that should be taken to the national media, rather than the local paper who probably has editors that are also on the city council or related to them somehow.

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

the meeting has been cancelled by us. the lawyer said that by us attending this meeting we are admitting that we are wrong so he doesn't want the meeting to happen.

the reason i've agreed to be the 'poster child' for this in our community is... the city council has gone insane. on monday night there are bylaws being passed which state:

no more than two birds in one home - fine $100
no cracks in your lino - fine $100
your carpet cannot be worn down or you are are fined $100
if you do not have a lock on your bathroom door... fine $100

and there's more! can you believe this? in canada? i think perhaps i moved to a communist country and forgot to forward my address. :(

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Wow Aleesha, I can certainly sympathise with you and your families hassle with these ppl!

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no more than two birds in one home - fine $100
no cracks in your lino - fine $100
your carpet cannot be worn down or you are are fined $100
if you do not have a lock on your bathroom door... fine $100

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Grrrr, rediculous! This is more and more sounding like a community that thinks it is OK to tell ppl how to live thier own lives on the properties they have worked hard to pay for...but are only left to "believe" it is truelly thiers.. reminds me of that couple recently who moved out of a community like yours b/c the community had a rule you have to be married, yet that couple had been there for something like 10 years or more, unmarried, raising thier 3 daughters...

Sounds as if they are looking for ways to line thier pockets with OP$ ("other ppls money")... how in the blue.... are they thinking they are gonna enforce the bird rules, muchless the carpet rule without invading others privacy.. which if I remember right... its illegal......

No Cracks in Lino- HUH? lost me..linoleum? If thats the case, thats just freakin nuts.....next they will try to pass rules telling you how to have "an appropriate marital relationship"........

What they are doing is soo wrong on so many levels!

They should actually put a sign out at the front of your commuity, with its rules and crap... along with a statement that when you come to live there, you are actually signing over all and any rights you may have had on what you thought was your property for the priveledge of living there.... some priveledge! Next they will mandate community uniforms and stuff, jogging suits included, hair cuts..you name it...

any one remember that movie that was on TV a few months ago, about a couple who move into a community like I described, only they signed over thier old house in a normal neighborhood as a downpayment/trade for a house in the community....and find out later just how "odd" their new community actually is.. gosh I wish I could remember the name of that.....

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

no more than two birds in one home - fine $100
no cracks in your lino - fine $100
your carpet cannot be worn down or you are are fined $100
if you do not have a lock on your bathroom door... fine $100

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Wow ... Whats next, TP inspectors and fines for putting the role on backwards?????

Any idea what got your city council started on all this wierd stuff? New members who are not real stable????

Neil

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Originally Posted by JLC

This really sounds like something that should be taken to the national media, rather than the local paper who probably has editors that are also on the city council or related to them somehow.

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EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS GIRL..beat me to it!

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Originally Posted by Jeanne

EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS GIRL..beat me to it!

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Great minds, darlin'.....great minds!

This is past the totaly a bunch of idiots making laws and such stage :mad: .I would contact one of the bigger news stations and get someone to get in on this.If they get those laws past then there will be no stopping them :mad: .Please let us know what station and time you will be interveiwed so we can root you on :P

We know how the media blows things out of wack....This would be once instance where you could use the media to your advantage... :)

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Originally Posted by JLC

:O :O :O
Now that IS insane! I mean....I totally think it's WRONG of someone to pick on you because they don't share the same taste in horticulture that you do...but I can sort of at least understand why they think they have a case...because it's something the entire neighborhood has to look at and live with. But I SERIOUSLY can't understand how it is the city thinks they can dictate what goes on inside your house!

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actually my backyard cannot be seen by anyone who isn't in my yard, because it's surrounded by 20 ft high cedars. so no one has to look at it... only we do.

so... since i posted i've been on the phone with our local MP (member of parliament) and they had me call the local newspaper. i was told the local news would not cover the story. well... they are. YIPPEE

the local newspaper said there have been stories on the new fines which are coming into fruition on monday night and did i have another angle on it? i said no i didn't but that what we are actually dealing with is... *insert my story here*

so she said...

firstly, she said that they cannot serve a stop work order on a 12 yr old boy.
second, my son never should have been taken into the backyard to grant access... he has no authority to grant access - he's only 12
third, when the bylaw officer came in and took the pictures last week, he did not have permission from my hubby to go into the yard after he left.

so she's coming over to take pics of us in our yard, look at the 'order to comply' then she's calling the bylaw officers supervisor and if needed, the mayor.

most of the yards in the areas we live in (harrison hot springs and agassiz) are very "hippy, dippy" and into natural yards... so many of them should take this personally.

the newpaper comes in 2 hours. i'm hoping i can find enough energy to stand for the photos (i've been sick for a couple of days) and get our story out to the neighbourhood.

*fingers crossed for me please*

from what i understand there may be a 'grandfathering' allowed regarding my birds... so i can keep them till they die from old age... which should be in about 30 years :D

one more thing... we are going to focus on OUR issues at this time. as what's going on for our backyard is the most important. i will still be at the council meeting disagreeing with the new bylaws... but right now i have to focus... and my current "order to comply" is my focus.

i need the media to follow MY story... so i'm leaving the battle of the lino (yes that's what canadians call linoleum) to others.

yaayyyyyy PLEASE update us and if you find the story online please post a link!!

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

yaayyyyyy PLEASE update us and if you find the story online please post a link!!

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Yea i definitly want to read the story:D .

here's my update from today.

the newspaper editor arrived and took info from me... then we went outside and she asked me how i grew my passion flower so large... how it got so beautiful. i told her everyone asks me that and the bylaw officer wants it taken down. she was shocked. then we walked to the back yard and she commented on how fun the playhouse looked... she was sad the kids are doing without. then she entered my yard and gasped "i think i'm in heaven" - so we walked around the yard and she just kept saying "this is so beautiful" "this must be so much work... wow, you keep this so beautiful" and then she told me she's going to talk to the bylaw officers boss and gives him the heads up that he needs to get involved in this situation as the bylaw officer is really wrong about this yard. she said she has a really great relationship with him and he's a super nice guy. she said that IF he refuses to help, she'll talk to the mayor but she's pretty sure he'll get involved and take care of this.

great eh?

she also mentioned to me that she goes to all the gardens for the annual garden contest we have in this area. all the homeowners with gorgeous gardens sign up and people come and tour their gardens and then vote for the one they feel is the most beautiful. she told me that she's never seen one as beautiful as mine and she bets i would win hands down.

she promised me she'd call me with any info she gets and she said "off the record" that she'll do whatever she can to help me get this fixed up.

:D
if i wasn't so sick... i'd be dancing in the street... actually in my garden, barefoot in the rain!!!

Thats great :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: .Ya gotta love people with the power behind them :cool: :cool: :cool: .

GOOD!

I'm still sending you guys good out come vibes your way!

thanks guys :wuv:

okay so here's another update: we applied to speak at the city council meeting on monday night to publicly discuss the bylaw officers behaviour. instead we have been granted a meeting with the mayor, chief admin and the by law officer for next week to discuss his two visits to our home and his behaviour. we won't be speaking at the city council meeting as this is considered (and i agree) something which needs to be handled behind closed doors. it is the way he is carrying out his job and he deserves to have it handled in a respectful manner.

hopefully... we'll get some answers as to the order the comply and the stop work order soon. man this feels like the story which is neverending.

i haven't heard back from the newpaper editor yet...

we met with the permit guy and the bylaw guy today and we were able to work everything out. i'm so happy right now... yipppppeeeeeeeee! some rules were bent and we did some changes to please them and in the end... i'm happy. i get to keep my gorgeous yard, my kids are getting their clubhouse and we can start working on it right away.

so... at this point... who wants a shot of tequila? jamie's offered to be the 'body' in 'body shots'!!! (it's my party i get to make the rules)

Awesome glad to hear everything worked out for you. :rockon:

Big congrats Aleesha to you and your family! That's wonderful. And of course I want in on that party. :fest2:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

we met with the permit guy and the bylaw guy today and we were able to work everything out. i'm so happy right now... yipppppeeeeeeeee! some rules were bent and we did some changes to please them and in the end... i'm happy. i get to keep my gorgeous yard, my kids are getting their clubhouse and we can start working on it right away.

so... at this point... who wants a shot of tequila? jamie's offered to be the 'body' in 'body shots'!!! (it's my party i get to make the rules)

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Thats great :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

christie... do you want the next shot?

jamie... lay down we need your belly!!! :P

glad to hear everything is worked out! What kind of rules were bent? and what made him feel justified to do the things he did?

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

christie... do you want the next shot?

jamie... lay down we need your belly!!! :P

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Only if you have a nice comfy couch for me to enjoy it. (I'm a super light weight :oops: )

hahaha you got it christie! i don't drink... so i'll be there with ya... one shot should put me passed out in the corner in no time LOL

the rules were bent in our favour... and amazingly enough... there are bylaws allowing him to do what he did. he denied asking my son to leave the house and taking him into the backyard. he says my son was outside and that my son approached him... and unfortunately, the mayor believed the adult, not three kids.

but... the stress is gone, everything is worked out and i'm very pleased with the end result! the stress of the last two months... it feels good to be able to let go of all that stress. :)

so nate... want a body shot? christie is passed out on the couch so you can use her belly! :P

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

so nate... want a body shot?

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yes yes..............................

hahahahaha with that grin on your pig in your avatar... it makes your post hilarious! :rofl:

I agree. The avatar makes the post.

And you Miss Aleesha must have had one too many, no one wants to go there. :oops: :neener: :giggle:

That's awesome, Aleesha! Way to fight the good fight!! :hug:

well, i was polite, calm and strong... i didn't let them push me around and i was polite, listening to them and their side. i didn't yell, accuse etc. i believe the more we use "light" and "sweetness" the better the outcome.

and it worked for me again. i'm very pleased! :D

Did it ever make it to the newspaper or local news?

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :carrot: :sunny: :) :D :rockon: :fest2: :banana: :sweeet: :clap:

I am SO glad that this had a happy ending (and that you were able to get past Mr. Permit Guy & his EDBDPP complex)!!!!!

Your yard is absolutely gorgeous...I hope that it continues to blossom & set the stage for many excellent memories in the making! :D

:sunny:

K~

thanks :D

nate, it didn't make it into the news BUT in my opinion the call from the editor to the mayor definitely assisted the wheels of justice to work in our favour :)

*hands another shot to nate and k"

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

we met with the permit guy and the bylaw guy today and we were able to work everything out. i'm so happy right now... yipppppeeeeeeeee! some rules were bent and we did some changes to please them and in the end... i'm happy. i get to keep my gorgeous yard, my kids are getting their clubhouse and we can start working on it right away.

so... at this point... who wants a shot of tequila? jamie's offered to be the 'body' in 'body shots'!!! (it's my party i get to make the rules)

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Yaaaaaaaay!!! :pinkele: :carrot: :party: :partyon: Soooooooo happy for you Aleesha. Hopefully your standing up for what is YOUR home will help against those stupid laws and fines, and get the dipwad to quit being such a b***head and abusing the authority of his job!!!!

I'm IN for the party and the body shots!!!!! *Looks around* ?Where's Jamie? :D :P

i think he's afraid... he's hiding. i wonder if there's any other males here who are interested in donating their body to drink?

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

i wonder if there's any other males here who are interested in donating their body to drink?

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...............................yes yes.....................

alright... we have a victim... :yes: i mean a volunteer!!!!!! :carouse: ladies, line up!

so nate... lay back :relax: and we'll start the :party: party! :licking:

:judge: