Official News page 9

REAL LIFE NEWS: STUPID UPTIGHT BUREAUCRAT OF THE WEEK

by Hazed

In a change from a dumb criminal story, let me tell you about a woman who fell foul of a stupid law, enforced by a ridiculous official.

She is Julie Bass, a resident of Oak Park, Michigan. He is City Planner Kevin Rulkowski. The two collided because, thanks to the recession, Julie decided that to keep costs down she would start growing her own vegetables. But in using her front yard instead of her back yard, Ruklowski says she's breaking the city code.

That code says that a front yard must have "suitable, live, plant material". And while vegetables are both live and plant material, in his opinion they aren't suitable. So despite the fact that none of her neighbours have objected, and the local children often come and help her with the gardening, he gave her a warning. Then a ticket. Then he charged her with a misdemeanour. And now, because she is refusing to back down, the matter is going to trial.

Presumably this is going to cost the city money which in these austere times it can ill afford! What a waste of time, effort and money.

Source: http://www.truecrimereport.com/2011/07/julie_bass_busted_by_oak_park.php

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