LETTERS: Garage sales permits a bad idea


  • By
  • | 4:00 a.m. September 8, 2012
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Opinion
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Thanks for including the new restaurant department, Eat it and Weep

Dear Editor:
It was such a refreshing surprise to find your new department, Eat It And Weep. Many of us who are transplants from large, metropolitan areas enjoy the "small town" atmosphere of Palm Coast and Flagler County, but we do miss a large selection of restaurants.

This feeling is slightly erroneous, as there truly are a decent selection of local restaurants in the area, but, we often cannot find them! And, in some cases, we don't even know they exist!

Thank you for introducing Eat It and Weep. I shall look forward to it each week, giving me the opportunity to not only discover new places, but to actually set foot in the establishment.

One piece of advice: Please don't just restrict it to new restaurants. One of the things I have experienced since moving to Palm Coast is the lack of advertising about businesses, restaurants, etc. My recommendation is to include a featured restaurant in the column, along with announcing new restaurants. This would help the restaurant, plus give readers the opportunity to try new places. There are more restaurants than we realize spread throughout Flagler County.

Nancy Remmers
Palm Coast

Editor’s Note: Thanks for the feedback. We’ve included Eat it and Weep again this week, on Page 16. For all owners and employees of restaurants, please send notes about new hires, new items on the menu or other happenings to [email protected].

Garage sale permit is going too far; what’s next?

Dear Editor:
I strongly oppose the licensing of garage sales for the city of Palm Coast.

It’s the old saying, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.” And, “Don’t major on the minors.”

Reserve licensing and permitting for major infractions, not minor ones!

The current code enforcement policies of Palm Coast do not need to be expanded because it works well. The Code Enforcement Department interfaces with residents daily, professionally addressing the violations that occur from messy yards to parking infractions to yard sales.

Finally, this new license reflects a trend by the city to expand its control over the lives of its residents and the size of city government programs. A bigger government means a larger fiscal demand on the taxpayers. Increased city regulations restrict the freedoms of citizens.

When will it end? How much of my freedom and money will be demanded of me next year? Will I need to register and pay license fees to paint my front door, to ride a bicycle on the trails, to use Christmas lights during the holidays or to put my flower pots in my yard? This may seem exaggerated but not unrealistic.

The taxpayers are the ones who pay city salaries, own property and hire the city to represent them, not to be controlled/financially burdened by them. The city exists for the taxpayers and not the reverse! My neighborhood is outraged by this direction, and the city needs to reconsider imposing new fees/regulations in our lives.

Linda L. Spilling-Markey
Palm Coast

Editor’s Note: See Page 2 for an update on garage sales. The city voted to waive the $5 fee but will require the permit.

People need to stop whining about garage sales; could be worse

Dear Editor:
I think all you people who are objecting to the permit to have a garage sale need to stop your sniveling!

How can you object to this simple, little fee, that our city fathers are telling us is imperative to keep us under control?

Keep in mind that when you are asked to present yourselves before City Hall to have your lung capacity checked so you can get your "air" permit, you will find the $5 fee for a garage sale very minimal.

Mary Lipa
Palm Coast

 

 

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