Dear Editor,
We know a retired mechanic who supplements his income by repairing cars. His shop is in his carport behind his house, facing an alley and not visible from the street. His little business is not smelly nor near as noisy as barking dogs or trains that rumble through his neighborhood. He provides a wonderful service to senior citizens and others by charging reasonable rates that they can afford.
So now the five members of our overzealous city council have decided, over the objections of the many he serves, that he must close down his shop.
There are many others in Neosho who try to provide for their families by working at (usually part-time) home businesses. This is called “free enterprise.” In Neosho, it will soon be “regulated enterprise.”
If a church, school or individual wants a sign on their own property, why not as long as signs are not safety hazards such as driver distractions? If we must eliminate large or distracting signs, we could start with the ugly flashing one in front of the “Civic” (your tax dollars at work).
There are also many beautiful bushes in our town that exceed the council’s eight-foot limit. As long as the shrub does not block the view of an intersection, what’s the harm of taxpayers landscaping their property in a way they enjoy? Our council was elected to conduct city business, not set up a police state that stifles free enterprise and harasses property owners. Rummage sales, small shops, and individual freedoms are all part of Americana. A handful of domineering leaders should not be allowed to regulate them out of existence. Fortunately, in America, there are still some things we can do:
n We can make our voices heard and reason with our council;
n That failing (as apparently it has) we can petition our council with as many signatures as necessary to demand a vote of the people on each of these regulations;
n If the right to petition is somehow denied us, we can vote to remove those who would use their power to force their ideas upon us. Then we can vote for those who would serve, rather than rule.
Will Neoshoans have the backbone to preserve their small town values?
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Willson,
Neosho
