CA City Will Fine Couple $500 For Not Watering Lawn State Will Fine Them If They Do

[Methais]

California City Will Fine Couple $500 For Not Watering Brown Lawn, State Will Fine’em $500 If They Do

http://consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/sprinklebrown.jpg?w=680&h=330

When you’re in a steady relationship, communication is clear. Because when mom says to do one thing, and dad says another, the kids get really confused. Such is the case in California, where the state has issued rules for homeowners to conserve water in the midst of extreme drought, with fines of $500 per day or violating those guidelines, but one city is threatening to fine a couple $500 — unless they water their lawn.
In the epitome of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation, Laura and Mark received notice from Glendora, Calif. that they’d get a $500 penalty for not watering their brown lawn… on the same day the state approved mandatory outdoor watering restrictions with the same fine for violating that attached, $500.

Why is the lawn brown? Because they’re conserving water. Why are they conserving water? Because California asked them to — the state water board chairman even called brown lawns in Cali a “badge of honor.”

But Mom and dad aren’t communicating effectively, it seems.

“Despite the water conservation efforts, we wish to remind you that limited watering is still required to keep landscaping looking healthy and green,” says the letter, according to the Associated Press, setting a 60-day deadline to get the brown green again.

They’re not alone in the confusion, Laura adds.

“My friends in Los Angeles got these letters warning they could be fined if they water, and I got a letter warning that I could be fined for not watering,” she explains. “I felt like I was in an alternate universe.”

While there’s nothing on the books that says local governments can’t fine citizens for brown lawns, Gov. Jerry Brown’s office isn’t a fan of those fees, either.

“These efforts to conserve should not be undermined by the short-sighted actions of a few local jurisdictions, who chose to ignore the statewide crisis we face, the farmers and farmworkers losing their livelihoods, the communities facing drinking water shortages and the state’s shrinking reservoirs,” said Amy Norris, a spokeswoman for the California Environmental Protection Agency, in a written statement.
But local officials say you shouldn’t have to choose between nice landscaping and being drought-conscious — just because there’s a dearth of water doesn’t mean you have the right to drive down property values, by way of drought-resistant landscaping or turf removal programs.
“During a drought or non-drought, residents have the right to maintain their landscaping the way they want to, so long as it’s aesthetically pleasing and it’s not blighted,” said Al Baker, president of the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers.

Another resident who received violation notices in Orange County says she spent $600 installing such drought-resistant landscaping, and still thinks the whole thing is nuts, especially when she sees signs urging residents to conserve water.

“It’s almost crazy because one agency is telling you one thing and another is forcing you to do the opposite,” she said.

California cities issue warnings about brown lawns even while state encourages saving water [Associated Press]

http://consumerist.com/2014/07/18/california-city-will-fine-couple-500-for-not-watering-brown-lawn-state-will-fineem-500-if-they-do/

Seems legit.

[Warriorbird]

https://i.imgflip.com/afsw1.jpg

[Tgo01]

It really is a tough situation. On one hand the state needs to conserve water. On the other hand no one wants to live in a neighborhood where everyone's lawn looks like shit.

The state and local governments should be doing more to help people convert their lawn to something that doesn't need to be watered much or at all. All rocks, baby!

[Latrinsorm]

That's the problem with localized government, all you get are petty fiefdoms that bumble and stumble into each other, trampling individuals in the process. You want coherent standards? You need one overarching body with the power to settle these kind of disputes. Centralization! Ah, that's the stuff.

[Warriorbird]

That's the problem with localized government, all you get are petty fiefdoms that bumble and stumble into each other, trampling individuals in the process. You want coherent standards? You need one overarching body with the power to settle these kind of disputes. Centralization! Ah, that's the stuff.

Like all those countries that aren't as stable as ours and are smaller?

[Latrinsorm]

Like all those countries that aren't as stable as ours and are smaller?Yes, almost exactly like that. But potentially made worse by the artificer's edifice of nationalism.

[Tisket]

artificer's edifice of nationalism.

How long have you been waiting to use that phrase?

[Warriorbird]

Yes, almost exactly like that. But potentially made worse by the artificer's edifice of nationalism.

You're anti nationalism yet pro national government uber alles. Paradox!

[~Rocktar~]

Yano, one possible solution that has been ignored since it was built despite the fact the original plan included it is to line and cover the Colorado River Aqueduct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_Aqueduct). But hey, we also planned to build better dikes in Louisiana, replace depression era bridges nationwide and hundreds of other "shovel ready" infrastructure projects nationwide. Guess it was too important over the last 50 years to buy votes with welfare, union subsidies and pet projects of congress (I am looking at you among others second engine addendum to F-35 project) than to actually maintain the country. And all along, people on both sides have been warning of these kinds of things. Let them suffer, they made their bed now lay in it Left Coast. We need a fence alright, to keep them in California so they have to live with the shit in their own house.

[waywardgs]

Yano, one possible solution that has been ignored since it was built despite the fact the original plan included it is to line and cover the Colorado River Aqueduct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_Aqueduct). But hey, we also planned to build better dikes in Louisiana, replace depression era bridges nationwide and hundreds of other "shovel ready" infrastructure projects nationwide. Guess it was too important over the last 50 years to buy votes with welfare, union subsidies and pet projects of congress (I am looking at you among others second engine addendum to F-35 project) than to actually maintain the country. And all along, people on both sides have been warning of these kinds of things. Let them suffer, they made their bed now lay in it Left Coast. We need a fence alright, to keep them in California so they have to live with the shit in their own house.

Are you proposing some kind of… New Deal?!

[Latrinsorm]

How long have you been waiting to use that phrase?I had artifice first, then I thought of edifice, then I figured why not both? And so it was. The hard part was deciding between artificial edifice and artificer's edifice, and now I'm thinking artifice-edifice might have been the best choice.
You're anti nationalism yet pro national government uber alles. Paradox!Not at all: I'm anti nationalism and pro federalism. "Nation" never exists, not really. "Central" always exists, by definition.

[Methais]

https://i.imgflip.com/afsw1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V9fFTx8bKos/UBou2uIkVhI/AAAAAAAAD3E/8UucabqHvGs/s1600/BradyYard55.jpg


All rocks, baby!

http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=AGAYz OFFjgqZuoGx806PVc$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYvT9lhK8sfaKvG jdxMwwVqkWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4 uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_C ryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

[Warriorbird]

Not at all: I'm anti nationalism and pro federalism. "Nation" never exists, not really. "Central" always exists, by definition.

For Americans "federalism" means the glorious interaction of our federal and state (and even local) governments. I can understand if you don't think of yourself as an American but something like a robot though.

[Thondalar]

6816

[Latrinsorm]

For Americans "federalism" means the glorious interaction of our federal and state (and even local) governments. I can understand if you don't think of yourself as an American but something like a robot though.America, stop pushing. I know what I'm doing.

Alternative response: I didn't say we should do away with local/state governments, just have them utterly dominated by the federal government. If you can think of something more American than utter domination by the federal government, I think you've partaken of too many marijuana reefers end of line goto 0010.

[Warriorbird]

America, stop pushing. I know what I'm doing.

You're definitely channeling our last two Presidents (both of whom you voted for) with this one. Have you been smoking weed like them?

[~Rocktar~]

Are you proposing some kind of… New Deal?!

Way to go extremist retard there. Keep at it, great way to debate, seriously, a well thought out and very effective line of reasoning, or not.

If, in the mid 40's or 50s they had addressed this issue to continue the plans, or hell, since the mid-60s we as a country had done much of anything other than pay people to be poor, support unions like the NEA and CWA, expand the government tremendously in other failed socialist agendas and go with congressional boondoggle projects like the second F-35 engine, the T95 tank, the Bradley IFV and so on and instead spent money on job creators like infrastructure, the super collider and other economic drivers, then perhaps we would not have as much unemployment and debt.

Not every call to actually build/update/replace infrastructure must be a giant, bloated federal make work program. But hey, wasn't that what the stimulus II package supposed to do?

[Jarvan]

I just find it funny that someone says people have a "Right" to maintain their lawns.

Funny.. where exactly is THAT in the constitution?


“During a drought or non-drought, residents have the right to maintain their landscaping the way they want to, so long as it’s aesthetically pleasing and it’s not blighted,” said Al Baker, president of the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers.

It's also funny how Al Baker says they have the RIGHT to maintain it. Then in the next breath, puts a limit on that "right". Interesting.

[Gelston]

Hey Latrin, are you aware that nationalism and federalism are two completely different things? Yes, you are. Stop trolling!

[Moonwitch]

The drought is bad here and if a city wants you to water your lawn they should pay your water bill. Water is expensive in Southern California. Stupid politicians.

[Gelston]

I remember when all the people in California were laughing at all of us who weren't in California about it being so cold where we were and being beach weather there. HEY, WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW?

[Candor]

I remember when all the people in California were laughing at all of us who weren't in California about it being so cold where we were and being beach weather there. HEY, WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW?

Well Archie Bucker said it best:

"California, the land of fruits and nuts...where the nuts are a little fruity and the fruits are a little nutty."

[Ker_Thwap]

Grass lawns are stupid. Fine anyone for having a grass lawn in the west.

I'm renting at the moment, and slowly letting the woods intrude on the lawn. The landlady hasn't complained yet.

[Taernath]

Grass lawns are stupid. Fine anyone for having a grass lawn in the west.

Every time I see a gravel lawn a part of me dies inside.

[Ker_Thwap]

Every time I see a gravel lawn a part of me dies inside.

Yeah, can't say I'm a fan of gravel either. My father tells the story that when he was growing up in Lawrence MA, that his father would paint the concrete green, "so no one would get hurt."

I've let small trees grow in, about 10 feet from each side. My remaining lawn is currently about 10% violets, 10% clover, 10% dandelions, 20% moss/ferns and 50% mixed grasses. I should probably go mow it. Bah.

[Tgo01]

Someone in my old neighborhood in California apparently turned their lawn into all cement. That's one way to cut down on watering I suppose.

[Kembal]

Way to go extremist retard there. Keep at it, great way to debate, seriously, a well thought out and very effective line of reasoning, or not.

If, in the mid 40's or 50s they had addressed this issue to continue the plans, or hell, since the mid-60s we as a country had done much of anything other than pay people to be poor, support unions like the NEA and CWA, expand the government tremendously in other failed socialist agendas and go with congressional boondoggle projects like the second F-35 engine, the T95 tank, the Bradley IFV and so on and instead spent money on job creators like infrastructure, the super collider and other economic drivers, then perhaps we would not have as much unemployment and debt.

Not every call to actually build/update/replace infrastructure must be a giant, bloated federal make work program. But hey, wasn't that what the stimulus II package supposed to do?

Pretty sure CA's water problems have nothing to do with your rant here. CA's water infrastructure isn't as dilapidated as other states. (most of the US is rated at a D or D- for their water infrastructure. CA is rated at a C) It's a drought, plain and simple.

And the stimulus worked really well, at least in my industry. (which, ironically, is the water industry) Should've been more of it.

[Moonwitch]

I remember when all the people in California were laughing at all of us who weren't in California about it being so cold where we were and being beach weather there. HEY, WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW?

I did not laugh. It actually scared me a little with the deep freeze and our drought and I live in NorCal. We had a really cold Nov/Dec for our area. That's getting down into the 20s for weeks. Hopefully the predictions will be correct and we will have a wet winter. It rained up north today. That helps with fire threats at least. My brother lives in Michigan and my niece sent me pictures of all the snow. 70 degrees in February is not a good sign unless you live in San Diego.

[Latrinsorm]

Hey Latrin, are you aware that nationalism and federalism are two completely different things? Yes, you are. Stop trolling!I was the federalist accused of nationalism! You should be on my side!

[~Rocktar~]

Pretty sure CA's water problems have nothing to do with your rant here. CA's water infrastructure isn't as dilapidated as other states. (most of the US is rated at a D or D- for their water infrastructure. CA is rated at a C) It's a drought, plain and simple.

And the stimulus worked really well, at least in my industry. (which, ironically, is the water industry) Should've been more of it.

Go look up how much water is lost to evaporation and ground seepage then decide if it isn't relevant.

[Valthissa]

Go look up how much water is lost to evaporation and ground seepage then decide if it isn't relevant.

If I remember my water cycle correctly the answer is (eventually) 100%

but it comes back, right?

[Kembal]

Go look up how much water is lost to evaporation and ground seepage then decide if it isn't relevant.

If you have CA-specific stats on ground seepage (or what the industry calls non-revenue water), I'd be happy to look at them and revise my opinion if warranted.