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Opinion: Let's not fill jail with those who violate city code

First they came for Bullet Bob. Now the city of Clovis is after little ol’ ladies who can’t push a lawn mower.

Violate city decrees, and you just might find yourself in front of a judge facing “fines, fees and possible jail time.” That’s what we learned at Thursday’s city commission meeting.

Bullet Bob Vilandry’s crime was posting signs at his collectibles store on Main Street. The signs asked motorists to reserve a couple of spaces for Vilandry’s customers who otherwise routinely have to walk a block or more because the restaurant next door is so popular.

The judge fined Bullet Bob $49 -- this time. If he does it again, he just might get fined $500 and put in the pokey for 30 days.

If Vilandry doesn’t watch his step, he might have to share a cell with fellow criminals who host too many garage sales or let their weeds grow too tall.

Sorry, Granny. Too bad if you’re living on Social Security and can’t afford yard maintenance. You’d best lean on your walker and get a garden hoe after that vegetation -- or else.

It seems nearly 5,000 citations for city code violations were issued last year.

The city used to cite code violators, then check back five days later and give them a good talking to, then send them a formal written warning before taking any action. But there won’t be any more coddling these perps.

“If we return to the property after five days and the violation has not been corrected, we will be notifying municipal court,” code enforcement officer Daron Roach told commissioners last week.

We get it. Close proximity to our neighbors sometimes requires guidelines and compliance to help us get along.

But there’s a difference between that lazy guy with 10-foot weeds camouflaging the junk cars in his yard and an octogenarian who couldn’t push a lawnmower through the yard if he could afford one.

Some of the residents the city is threatening to jail are poor, sick or just trying to make a living. And they’re not hurting a soul.

Instead of threatening the rabble, why can’t the royals at City Hall first spend a little time trying to understand why their ordinances are being violated?

Maybe lead an effort to recruit volunteers to help the poor and elderly clean up their spaces? Maybe let Bullet Bob put up a couple of 30-minute parking signs – not quite long enough to eat at that popular restaurant but plenty of time to run in and check out those used Dr. Seuss books he picked up last week?

City Hall is supposed to be our public servant, not our feared overseer.

David Stevens is publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at:

[email protected]

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