Breaking News: Nazis on the March

[XLFD]

Here's the problem.  The City of Ludington's spokesman, Deb Luskin, has gone on record a couple of times as declaring the public easement/public right-of-way that is part of most Ludington citizen's private property that extends out to the middle of the street, is the City's property.  The interpretation continues that since this is not private property, a temporary sign that local law allows to exist on private property in the right of way cannot go there.  Here is a link to that zoning part of the code:  Lud Zon Code Signs

 

If someone comes to your private property and takes something that belongs to you, that is against the law.  It's called stealing; if it happens in your privately owned public right of way, they avoid the extra charge of trespassing.  The City of Ludington has gotten used to stealing, as they did when they passed the 2008 TIF without proper notifications of the taxing authorities they were under legal obligation to give proper notice to. 

 

This morning they continued their Gestapo tactics in harassing private citizens without good reason.  I was visiting my folks, when Jerry Welton, the City's Code Enforcer, drove up.  I got out of my sickbed (actually a sick-couch) to find out what was shaking, grabbing my camera, because I expected some illicit activity to happen presently.  He got out his wheelie measuring device when I surprised him.

He hadn't expected to see me here, and he was surprised that my signs were still out where they were not supposed to be, as the City Clerk should have directed to me.  I disagreed, I referred to my replies that these were temporary signs posted on private property that were compliant with the City's zoning ordinances.  The City allows the posting of conforming temporary signs in the right of way. 

I took another preparatory photo, before I stood up for my parent's property rights.  I then went into position to dispute any move of my signs from where they are legally able to be.  Occupy Wall Street, this isn't but I would have him remove my hand from the sign if he were to take it.

I assured Mr. Welton, he could remove any appendage I might have covering the sign, I was passively resisting his taking of my property off of my parent's private property.  He threatened to call for back-up, I encouraged him to do so.

 I lounged out on the lawn, waving my sign at those passing by us.  Jerry was so embarassed for me.  I was very embarassed for him in return.

Sue from LPD finally arrived, after a little wait.  A special thanks to Jerry for moving aside so I could get their arrival on scene.

The two Ludington principals converse as they try to figure out the best way to handle the situation.  Sue goes to do her own conferring afterwards for quite a while in her cruiser.

Jerry again starts talking with me, I repeat that I am only passively resisting and he can grab the signs if he thinks that's what he has to do.  He does the act.

I utilize the LPD officer who is handy to make a formal complaint about the illegal taking of my signs by this agent of the City.  I take a picture of the back of Jerry's car to show the overwhelming evidence of such larceny.    Another day in the Fatherland of Ludington.

[AQUAMAN]

I wonder if this is the same guy that stole your signs at Millers Motel and the Ventura Motel? Sad priority these days by the COL staff to get SO serious about a couple of lousy election signs posted for just a few weeks imho. Strange Priorities indeed! Nice pics..

[XLFD]

I wouldn't be too surprised if it wasn't.  Those signs were well within the property of those two Motels. 

Miller's Motel at the corner of Lakeshore and Ludington Ave. has a perfect location, but two different days, during the daytime someone took the two Rotta signs placed on both streets.  Who would be so bold as to take signs during the middle of the day, while parked near this area?  Some official car like you see above might just do that.

[Willy]

I actually feel sorry for Jerry and the police officer. They're stuck in the middle. I didn't realize that Jerry's boss was the City Clerk.  Who is Jerry's boss?

[XLFD]

Code Enforcement is found under the Building Inspector category, but since Ludington does not have a Building Inspector, as such, Jerry generally works either for himself or for the enforcement branch (the City Manager).  During election time, the City Clerk serves as the buffer between the CE and candidates.  He deferred to her as the ultimate authority on election matters. 

We worked out a compromise, where he gave me back all those signs in the back of his car on the condition that I keep them out of the right of way for now.  I'm going to get out my wheely measurer in the coming months and visit local areas where Ludington City officials have messed up the City's (?) right of way without grief from our Code Enforcers.

[AQUAMAN]

Probably Shyster Shay, wouldn't you suppose?

[snide]

If they want to get picky about it, that IS the actual law......That a sign can't be in the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street. But, I have NEVER seen it enforced ! EVER ! To have a city car driving along doing this is incredible.....

 

But let's talk actual NAZIS......We have one running our Library..! To actually fire a county employee for writing a book that you don't like,even though it is written under an assumed(pen) name,with a disclaimer at the front,without naming anyone and billed as a work of fiction IS BEING A NAZI ! ---------- Does anyone actually know the truth about the "Library Diaries" case...? Was it dismissed or was a out of court settlement paid out by the county's liability insurance(like the city did with the Building Inspector fiasco)....?

[AQUAMAN]

Good reply Snide, and I'd appreciate YOU getting pickier in the future about all our issues here. Thanks for the input and congrats..

[Willy]

I'm glad you brought up "running our library". I had a minor heated discussion with the person in charge because of all the noise by kids at the library. I was told I had an old fashioned way of looking at the use of the library because, he said, all libraries are this way [noisy]. I told him he was dead wrong because all the libraries I have visited lately did not allow kids to run aroung yelling and making noise. He finally admitted that he considers Ludingtons library as a community center and that is the way people want it. I again told him he was wrong and as a Mason county taxpayer I disliked the way he was running the library. I told him that teaching kids to ignore others by being noisy and running around is sending the wrong message. I noticed many adults are also talking loudly and showing disregard for others trying to read. I only go there if I have to and will never vote for any more funding for the library.

[AQUAMAN]

Quite right Willy, this was brought up in another thread about the ex-employee. I've just heard it said that the new expansion being built now will incorporate a special area just for the youngsters to be in, and a return to more quieter areas for the adults will return. I'm not holding my breath for that, and think the same rules that applied to libraries all these past years should be resumed. The excuse I heard was that we can't let quiet resume cause the kids are the main customers at the library, not the adults anymore, and kids will be kids. I think that's a cop-out to say the least, and laziness on the part of the library staff to have some courtesies towards one another return. I learned it as a kid, wasn't that hard or offensive to me, just another rule to follow while in a place of learning. Big deal. Getting back to signage, can anyone imagine riding around in a city vehicle and having this job with great pay and benefits, just to upset your fellow neighbors around town. More like the Gestapo at work, pitiful and wasteful tax monies being drained for vanity and authority complex.

[Marty Redman]

Nazis should be consistent. 

Either have the kids be quiet and the Library Diaries lady be terminated (full nazis)  or

Have the kids make noise and the author have her First Amendment rights affirmed (anti-nazis).

[AQUAMAN]

All I know for a fact, from talking and interacting with X, is that 14 signs of "ROTTA for City Councilor at Large", have strangely, and with no reasonable excuses of late, disappeared into the fog and darkness of political dogma and realities. Like IN the last week, and no one is coming forward to admit the crime of theft. But, there is ONLY ONE Candidate running against X, or is there? Perhaps some "COHORTS" are trying to FIX the Agenda Again? Strange and not at all Paranoid that these signs have been hosted and approved by Ludington City Taxpayers by verbal agreement to be displayed on their private property, yet they have Disappeared into the mist of curiosity and illegality. I just wonder, whom is the criminal, and who isn't? According to the book of Hoyle, or the Gestapo? Jerry Welton, where are you from sir, born and raised, and where do you get off by doing these acts, and with LPD assistance and authority? Get a LIFE BUM! Or retire!