porch couch

[tribalstar]

My roomate sent this email out to some of our friends...we want a rebellion...I thought it would be olay to put it on here...

hello friends,

this is a sincere request for a mass collective local action for social justice.

the situation:

by-law has asked me to remove my darling porch couch due to a by-law that considers it household waste: any porch furniture must be recently purchased and specifically designed lawn sets. my rocking chair is also considered household waste.

i have been disputing this for the past year and have reached the top of the top.

my contest is due to the following: (in no particular order)

- patio furniture sets are expensive, refusing low income families and students from the right to sit comfortably on their porches due to inability for such an expenditure is directly discriminating against the poor

(having worked with several very-low income families (due to disability support) as a support worker, it is very frustrating for them to be further discriminated against due to their income level).

- this by-law encourages sending solid furniture to the dump for replacement with flimsy plastic (or wood, again, if you can afford it)... the municipality encouraging unnecessary waste and consumption behaviours? awesome.

- whose property is this? (1. the first by-law notice came following an inspection for which no one had complained, and no one was home; 2. how is it that i do not have rights to the set up of my porch?) what happened to private property rights here?

- what are porches for? (i thought sitting was a good idea) again, property rights?

as i'm sure you've noticed, this couch is used constantly and is clearly not household waste. i am frustrated that i may be forced to throw it out - and my rocking chair - as i have no room for them indoors but beyond the couch

there are many deeper injustices in this by-law.

there's alot of talk out there damning the man, and wanting to help internationally with social injustices. here is an opportunity for you to start locally. pick an above point, or make up your own and call

Cheryl Sherwinsky [the top of the line by-law enforcer) at 519-747-8592

(9-5, M-F)

and tell her what you think. make a stand; you can do it in under 5 minutes.

it's time to get up, stand up and work for the world we want to be a part of.

even if you agree with none of the above this is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of something fun and razz some by-law f'ckers.

ps. there may also some consideration of circulating a petition at the universities... students like porch couches....

[bouche]

bylaws are usually the most discriminating of all rules. they make you feel like you're still in highschool.

I think at the same time they are worth challenging, like highschool rules are sometimes worth challenging ...t-shirts etc...

[tribalstar]

No doubt...thanks bouche...

[Alexis]

if what you're trying to do doesn't work, perhaps a slip cover for said couch would help prettify it and if it's new could fit into their loophole of recently purchased as a recently purchased upgrade, improvement or repair.

and keep an eye out for evil neighbours. someone called the by law people in on you and isn't fessing up to it. they don't just show up randomly. my old landlord used the backyard as a dumping ground for previous tenants crap (couch, chair, table, a harvested motorcycle) for years before someone called the city and a by law officer came out.