CT: $50 per day fine for unraked leaves

[KBCraig]

http://www.wfsb.com/news/17450813/detail.html#-

Residents Face Daily Fines For Leafy Yards
Residents Will Face $50 Per Day Fines, Town Says

POSTED: 3:27 pm EDT September 11, 2008
UPDATED: 7:40 pm EDT September 11, 2008

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. -- Beginning this fall, homeowners who don't pick up their own leaves if they're not on the curb in time for the vacuum truck face a $50 per day fine.

"The leaves stay all winter, and come springtime, they're in the neighbors' yards, they're in the basins, and it's causing a real public safety issue, but we had no real clout before," said town manager Bonnie Therrien. "We'll send a letter, and we'll outline that you have five days to pick it up, and if it isn't done, then we'll be going out, and you'll get the cost of whatever it is and the cost of our staff to go out there and clean them up."

However, residents said, the leaves fall at their own pace. They said they don't believe they have any other options if they don't get the leaves to the curb in time for the vacuum truck.

"Where am I supposed to put the leaves?" asked resident Rocco Cristofaro. "I can't eat them. They should do something about that."

"They should come and pick them up, because it's not our fault that the trees lose their leaves," said Hector Rodriguez. "It's not our fault."

Town officials said they don't want the revenue from the fines, they just want clean streets.

"We're hoping this will bring a lot of attention to people that even though we can't finish doing it, you have to finish getting the leaves off the roads and the sidewalks," said Therrien.

[Pat McCotter]

GOD: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the USA? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, Withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds.

I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass Growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, sir -- just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will Grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and Saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stoke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in The spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and Protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to Enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You'd better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great Piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the Winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy Something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in Place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us Tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a real stupid movie about -

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

[doobie]

GOD: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the USA? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, Withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds.
.....
.....

hahhahahahahahahah!  awesome Pat!

[Lloyd Danforth]

Mt niece lives in Wethersfield. My sister says its the same in Windsor, although, it may be just for the sidewalks.  She said if it goes on long enough they send someone to rake and then bill you. Trespass!
I was thinking about how this would fly in Grafton. Had a good laugh!

[doobie]

Rake the leaves into the street in the middle of the night.... no longer your problem!

[FTL_Ian]

Leaves are a public safety problem?   

Look out for the leaves!  Don't let them touch you!

[Giggan]

Reminds me of Concord trying to ban leaf blowers last year. I don't know what even prompted that to become an issue. Perhaps a union of high school rakers lobbied for the ban.

[KBCraig]

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a real stupid movie about -

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Mt niece lives in Wethersfield.

You're the two I had in mind when I posted this article. I'm glad Lloyd escaped, and sorry PatMc and Gloria had to temporarily retreat to Connecticut.

[Pat K]

Maybe every one should rake their leaves,
then dump them on Bonnie's lawn.