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Laundry on Lawns
The Great Neck, NY village board has banned the hanging of laundry on front lawns, making it a violation punishable by up to $1,000 and 15 days in jail."Frankly, I think it's rather disconcerting for people to come into a neighborhood and view on the front-filled lawn of someone's home, various articles of clothing, undergarments, what have you, flapping in the breeze," said Trustee Mark Birnbaum.The Town of Southhampton previously had such an ordinance, although theirs also banned clotheslines in the back yards of waterfront homes, presumably to protect the delicate sensibilities of boaters in bathing suits. The Southhampton ordinance was repealed after a grass roots 'laundry-rights activist' movement, with one of their tactics being the hanging of negligee in the town's trees.
Couches on Porches
Next on the agenda for the village board are couches on porches."I just think it's one of those things that adds to the shabbiness," Trustee Barton Sobel said.
The Proper Role of Government
First, I'm inclined to defer to local government on matters such as these, as the appropriate forum to address such matters. I tend to agree with the front-yard laundry ban, although I find the fine and potential punishment to be a bit excessive given the 'crime'. I'm a little confused as to the issue with couches, although I suppose my opinion would be entirely influenced by the couch. I really don't see the couchs as a problem.I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood inhabited predominately by Italian and Irish families. I can recall the scandal, I don't think it was illegal, when Greek immigrants began moving in and replacing their roses, hydrangeas, and peonies with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Never really understood what the fuss was all about at the time, although several years later a Vietnamese family moved in and replaced their entire front lawn with a farm.
HOAs
I am less sympathetic to those with HOA issues, as more often than not the rules were in place when they purchased, had they only bothered to read them. I'm not fond of HOAs, and would prefer to purchase a home without one, but could easily live with one if I had to. My current home is subject to an HOA, although if I have any complaints it is more due to lack of enforcement than over enforcement. We don't have a lot of rules, but there is one house we refer to as Fort Wilderness, with an eight foot high wall build of scrap lumber out front, probably wouldn't look so bad if he knew what a level was. It's been vandalized twice with 'honk if I'm ugly'. Doesn't bother me that much, but then again, I don't live across the street from it and only have to look at it as I drive by.Laundry: Yes, Couches: No ?
So, what are your opinions on issues such as these? Excessive? Appropriate? Feel free to share your local or HOA stories.I do recall a story of a man who owned a vineyard who was sued by neighbors for erecting a hedge that blocked their view of the vineyard. Never heard how it came out though.
Cheers!
