oak park hates veggies

[Neko-chan]

A response regarding a badly written article:

http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/my-side/

I can't help but giggle.

On another note, the July 14th entry to the blog says the charges have been dropped, but no one informed the attorney, the family, and the papers were signed by a different judge they'd never even heard of.

Instead, they're complaining about their dogs now?

http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com/

 

[Maggies Pop]

I think it's ridiculous that the city drops the charges but then quickly finds something else to charger her with that's even more than the first time. And again, it's on something that is a non-issue! I have never been to Oak Park, but me thinks it sucketh!

 

[Neko-chan]

I certainly wouldn't want to live there, but I totally would urge everyone to put up front yard gardens. I mean, there comes a point when things just can't be coped with anymore. If the majority of people had front yard gardens...you can't charge 'em all. You'd have the entire populous in a rage. And some very annjoyed judges.

 

[Neko-chan]

My bad, I misread a post, the charges were dismissed, rather than dropped:

http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/trying-to-be-clear/

i would really like for people to read the post i wrote last night. i think it clears up misunderstandings, and it does a pretty good job of giving our position.

but some people still seem not to have the facts. i will try to briefly, and without too much commentary

1- the charges against us were not actually "dropped". they were dismissed by some judge we have never heard of or seen. we hope this person is a real judge, and had the real authority to dismiss our case, but we are going to double-check on that today

2- the dismissal without prejudice means that the prosecutor can come back at any time and reinstate the garden charge as well (he has already reinstated the dog license charge, but i will get to that in a minute). there has been no final disposition of the case, so we can't take a deep breath and relax.

3- the prosecutor wants more time to review the ordinance. not that he has given up on the garden charge. to the contrary, he wants more time to look things over. i think usually the prosecutor in normal cases would ask the judge for a continuance or an adjournment or something. why they handled it this way is a suspicious mystery...

4- we still have our same court date- july 26th. we still have to appear for a pre-trial, only this time it will be for 2 misdemeanors (the dogs), instead of 1 misdemeanor for the garden.

5- when we got the citation for the dog licenses we cleared it up right away. we went in that friday, only to find that our government is closed on friday due to budget cuts (!). we went back as soon as we were able the following week and took care of it. we paid the license fees. we paid late fees. we got proof from them that the dogs were current and paid up, and we took this proof to court and we showed it to the prosecutor.

6- our current and valid dog licenses were shown on at least on TV news program, and i'm sure were re-broadcast many times over. there is no controversy about whether or not our dogs are licensed. they weren't current and now they are. that's it.

7- i can't think of anything else to clarify, but please keep the word out there that we are not off the hook. a lot of places have been printing and posting "charges were dropped!"- but that's only part of the story, and gives the incorrect impression that we have won. that's not true, and i really worry that if the focus goes away, they will renew their prosecution/persecution of us. please take it upon yourself to correct errors in other places and to spread the truth.

we can't do this without you!!!! thank your continued support!!!!!!!!!!!! -julie

I for one remained boggled by the dog license thing. Why is it neccessary to publicise the dog licenses?

 

[Marianne]

I remain boggled over the entire thing.

 

[Wifezilla]

No kidding. The whole thing is just bizarre. It does sound like the "purple bellies" are waiting for the spotlight to fade so they can pounce again.

 

[gettinaclue]

No kidding. The whole thing is just bizarre. It does sound like the "purple bellies" are waiting for the spotlight to fade so they can pounce again.

I totally agree.

 

[Denim Deb]

Of course by then, the problem will have compounded. According to the interview, 20 more families were planning to plant front yard gardens. Are they going to prosecute all of them? This is the kind of thing that does a town no good.

 

[Neko-chan]

I honestly hope that it becomes so common they won't be able to afford the bad press. They'd never be re-elected, and the town populace would be shouting for their demise.