Dear editor:
I was recently blessed by a visit from the City Code people. They were even nice enough to write me a letter letting me know that I must mow my lawn within seven days of receipt of the letter. (How they know when I got it is a mystery.) This deadline ignores the fact that we are in the midst of a period of unusually heavy rains -- which helps account for the fact that the weeds have been so prolific. And, since I am of advanced age and need to hire a yard man to manicure my yard, he will probably be extremely busy as soon as the rains relent and may not be able to get to me before the punitive fines of $250/day begin. This surely violates the principle of the punishment fitting the crime. And what would happen if I were out of town when the letter arrived? Oh, well. I guess I didn't need that house, anyway.
Such an onerous fine would easily wipe out my monthly Social Security check in less than a week. Since it is a misdemeanor, I guess I could go to court and protest, but, with its heavy caseload, I could possibly owe more than my house is worth before my court date arrives on its calendar.
Since I have read on Facebook that a number of people have had similar visits recently, I guess City Code employees have preferred not to exit their vehicles in this inclement weather and have, instead, driven around in their warm, dry cars looking for yards full of fast-growing weeds and writing citations to collect the exorbitant fines to offset the city's mass of unwise expenditures. (Last year they spent over $100,000 to reduce annual water line loss by less than 1 percent.)
Several years ago, after a similar rainy period, I was on my hands and knees pulling weeds with a sizable pile beside me. I noticed a young man squatted in the street writing on a clipboard. "Can I help you?" "Yes, I'm writing you up for too tall weeds." "Do you see me in the middle of correcting the problem?" "Yes, but there are still weeds there now and that's a violation." I got the citation.
When I first moved into this house, there was a drug distribution center across the street. It was not unusual to hear gunshots. Once, I noticed a Cadillac with California tags pull up and a guy with two suitcases go in. I called the police department. About 20 minutes later, an officer rolled by on his bicycle. When I called later to inquire, I was told, "We've got an eye on it." The dealers finally were evicted over a year later when the lady to whom the house was being rented died and the owner sold the house. I guess it might prove cheaper to let the druggies use my house in exchange for keeping the yard in shape.
Once, at a city board meeting, I heard the city manager mention getting rid of the blight in the city. I guess he meant the poor. This is surely one way to do it.
Pat King
Hot Springs
Editorial on 04/11/2018