Nearly everyone lives by some type of schedule, be it work, family or activity. Often times those schedules must be altered to work-in unexpected interruptions. We became accustomed to allowing those we elect to hopefully make the right choices for us and the communities we live in and go on about our daily routines. OK, that’s the way it has been in the past 40-50 years, but thanks to an awakening of the senses by a government out of control, we have become active participants on all levels of government that is affecting our very rights and freedoms. Say hello to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). ICLEI, when implemented, creates new local laws and city planning requirements that restrict economic development and personal freedom in the name of “Sustainable Development and protecting green space”. If you recall last next, I asked the question, what are your city, parish or county planners up to? I would like to introduce you to some cities and counties that have smelled the coffee and put the brakes on UN initiatives that were already adopted and controlling land usage and development in their jurisdiction.
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Carroll County, Maryland, in February, elected 5 new county commissioners. Their first act was to close the county’s Sustainable Development Office and fire its manager. They then ended their contract with ICLEI and rejected the county’s ICLEI-written comprehensive development plan – telling the planning commission to re-work it to protect property rights and assure the plan was in compliance with the U.S. Constitution.
- Also in February, Amador County, California was the second community to reject its contract with ICLEI and begin to dismantle the Sustainable Development policies that had been put in place. The effort was led by the “Mother Lode Tea Party.”
- In March, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania became the third community to reject its ICLEI contract and send them packing.
- In April, Edmond, Oklahoma became the fourth community to reject ICLEI and its policies. The Edmond City Council was confronted by nearly 200 citizens demanding that the city end its contract with ICLEI.
- In May, Las Cruces, New Mexico became the fifth community to out the ICLEI policies previously adopted.
- In June, Spartanburg, SC became city number 6 to oust ICLEI by a city council vote of six to zero. This data taken from: http://communitysolutionsmn.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/communites-are-fighting-agenda-21-and-they-are-like-charlie-sheen-says-winning/
One fine example of ignorant city ordinances comes from Oak Park, Michigan where Julie Bass was issued a ticket for growing a nice, well organized garden in her front yard. Thinking she was doing nothing wrong, she was totally amazed and shocked when the city code enforcement officer wrote the ticket. “City code says that all unpaved portions of the site shall be planted with grass or ground cover or shrubbery or other suitable live plant material. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are what the Basses see as suitable”. I tend to agree with Ms. Bass though some of her neighbors and the city disagree and mandate what their yards should look like. So off to court Mr. Bass is heading to fight city hall. BTW, if she loses she is looking at over 90 days of jail time for growing and eating fresh vegetables. http://www.theagitator.com/2011/07/07/does-michelle-obama-know-about-this/ Now this is Michigan and surely this kind of idiocy is not happening in your town, right? Crap, I forgot Calcasieu Parish is working towards that new comprehensive plan including how big new subdivision lots “must” be all the way down to what kind of trees you must plant, how big and how many to plant. And how about a mandated home owners association you “must” join and can not be dissolved for a minimum of fifty years to boot.
Do I sound truly enthused about the subtle changes going on around us? I think my position is clear as to where our private property rights are heading (what’s left of them) and it is not in favor of the land owner, but that of the local government. We keep hearing its in the best interest of the parish and future business growth. BC The truth of the matter is we do not have the funds available for infrastructure to these unincorporated areas and the new regulations on business developments will certainly curtail expansion into these areas by design to guarantee growth within the municipalities with existing services. Of course, nearly all of the local cities are supporting this plan by the parish, they would be foolish not to, to keep and enlarge their tax base. I suppose if I were a mayor I would do the same with my cities financial well being at heart. Where does your garden grow? Unless a person is doing something that may directly endanger the health or safety of his/her neighbors, our local governments need to back off and maybe think about doing like Carroll County, Maryland and start setting an example for Louisiana and the rest of our states.
Mark Parham
