Originally Posted by
t00nces2
I have lived in my home for 25 years and a gentleman down the street has lived here all that time and longer. He has been a horder/scrapper the whole time I have lived here. I am on a first name basis and am friendly with the man.
The area has grown over that time to a point where what was one a fairly rural area hes become more suburban. Someone has complained to the point where the county is coming after the man with large fines in an attempt to drive him off his property ($250K... this is going by what he has told me just today, and I really have no reason to doubt what he says. His yard is a mess, but it is HIS yard). He asked me to write him a note to bring to court as a note to what I think of his character and my opinion of the issue as he presented it.
This is the note I wrote:
To Whom It May Concern,
I understand there have been complaints regarding a The Guy, His Address. Mr. Ward has never been a bother to me or been in any way detrimental to our neighborhood in any way I am aware of. I have peacefully existed with Mr. Ward for 25 years and I do not believe he should be harassed for living his life in a way others may object to so long as no one is harmed, and no one has been harmed that I am aware of.
This is the United States of America and he has the Constitutional freedom to pursue happiness within the boundaries of his property. He has been here as long as I have, and I know that with very few exceptions, anyone who complains moved in fully aware of the presence of Mr. Ward.
My name, address..
I am interested in your thought on the letter and any changes I might consider before printing it and leaving it for him to use to help his case
Thank you.
Your neighbors messy yard is detrimental to surrounding property values, if you want to support your friend pay the $25.00 to have a lawyer write your character reference letter.
I agree that his property status should fall under the grandfather clause.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_clause
A
grandfather clause (or grandfather policy) is a provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases. Those exempt from the new rule are said to have
grandfather rights or
acquired rights. Frequently, the exemption is limited; it may extend for a set time, or it may be lost under certain circumstances. For example, a "grandfathered power plant" might be exempt from new, more restrictive pollution laws, but the exception may be revoked and the new rules would apply if the plant were expanded. Often, such a provision is used as a
compromise or out of practicality, to allow new rules to be enacted without upsetting a well-established logistical or
political situation. This extends the idea of a rule not being
retroactively applied.
The term originated in late nineteenth-century legislation and constitutional amendments passed by a number of U.S.
Southern states, which created new requirements for literacy tests, payment of
poll taxes, and/or residency and property restrictions to register to vote. States in some cases exempted those whose ancestors (
grandfathers) had the right to vote before the
Civil War, or as of a particular date, from such requirements. The intent and effect of such rules was to prevent poor and illiterate African-American former slaves and their descendants from voting, but without denying poor and illiterate whites the right to vote. Although these original grandfather clauses were eventually ruled unconstitutional, the terms
grandfather clause and
grandfather have been adapted to other uses.
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