It’s gratifying to read in recent months that anti-bullying campaigns have been launched nationwide— including Dearborn Public Schools. Years ago, I was in disbelief when I learned one of my daughters was being bullied by other girls at Lindbergh Elementary. It prompted family discussions about how to stand up to bullies and a phone call to one of the moms. Finally, upon my daughter’s graduation from Dearborn High, she received an overdue apology from one of the girls. Better late than never!
Fast forward a few years with no kids at home—my husband and I suspect we are being “bullied.” It’s not our neighbors or anyone we know, so it feels even more threatening.
On top of that, we’ve been cautioned not to speak up with warnings of “don’t fight City Hall” or “pick your battles carefully” from neighbors with rental properties, local business people who have to deal with the City and others who live or work in Dearborn.
"The Beast" - Classic vehicle or public nuisance?
Our situation started with a “notice of violation” (not a fine) from the Residential Services Department on September 16, 2011 about removing an illegal, commercial vehicle from our property. This prompted my husband Peder to contact the field inspector who insisted we had a commercial vehicle. The vehicle in question is a customized, classic1968 C10 Chevy panel wagon that my husband uses as a daily driver, to car shows and cruises during the summer and has vinyl graphics on the outside for his website, MyNewMarketplace.com.
In truth, it’s a colorful vehicle that we call “The Beast.” However, it’s not “commercial” according to our usage and to state and local law. With the exception of winter months when it goes into hibernation, it’s parked in our private driveway accessible and visible from Cherry Hill.
To make a really long story, short — Peder applied for an “exemption” through the Police Department to keep the “Beast” parked at our residence, obtaining signatures from all of the surrounding neighbors. Then the traffic commission invited him to a meeting and unanimously agreed that it wasn’t a commercial vehicle, so an exemption was not granted. They added, “It’s up to the City’s legal department to prove it is.”
When the City realized it’s not a commercial vehicle, the City then claimed it was against the signage ordinance as they saw it as a “rolling billboard.” When they realized that didn’t apply, the final attempt is now it is a public nuisance.
We received a citation by mail to call the Court, and then a notice to appear for an “arraignment” on misdemeanor charges for a “public nuisance.” This is a criminal charge! Because the house is titled in my name, yours truly must respond “Guilty” or “Not Guilty.”
Obviously, we’ve made someone very mad to go to all this effort, time and expense with taxpayer money. We’re both self-employed entrepreneurs and small business owners who think “out of the box.” We love Dearborn, but we don’t like this feeling of being “bullied” or “boxed in.” If we tell our kids to stand up for themselves against bullies, we have to stand up, too! That may make us different, but hopefully a jury will decide we’re not a “public nuisance.”
After two pre-trial court hearing dates, where the City’s only offer was “Plead Guilty and pay up to a $500 Fine” or 90 days in jail, so we’re standing our ground. We’ll be in court at 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning, March 30, 2012 for a jury trial in 19th District Court with Judge Hultgren.
If you agree this is outrageous, we welcome your support on Friday. Join us in court!
Sincerely,
Margaret Blohm – Dearborn resident
How absolutely ridiculous. This is a complete waste of your time and energy and a waste of taxpayers $$…and for what?
The city is crazy. The vehicle in this story is clearly not hurting anyone. The family needs to post a Facebook event and let the world know to show up in court. I support you. Will pray for an end to this insanity.
Crap like this is why people are moving OUT of Dearborn !!!!
Stand up for your rights. I should think all reasonable people in the city will back you. Do you even get to know who your ‘accuser’ is? Perhaps they should pay the cost for all this wasted time/money. Frivolous for sure. I agree with Millie, gather support on Facebook or elsewhere so that your accuser is clearly outnumbered by supporters. It’s time for reason to prevail.
This is ridiculous. I wish the city would focus on the people who treat their property like a garbage can. I was warned once that the next time I left my trash can out all night after the garbage was collected I would get a citation. This happened ONCE for me and it had just slipped my mind to bring them in the garage that night. However, we have two very close neighbors with yards that look like Sanford and Son. One of the neighbors allows her sons and his friends to throw their empty bottles and chip bags all over the place and they blow onto my property. Some parts of these houses are in total disrepair. Yet, I’m the one who is threatened with a citation for leaving a trash can out once? Give me a break.
Scott. We don’t know who complained to the City, maybe we will find out in court.. Thanks for your support.
Is the city really that desperate for money?! We’re being nickle-and-dimed for whatever they can come up with. Pretty soon, sitting on your front porch will be a violation. What about the houses that are left empty and unattended to? What about the traffic around the schools and the illegal parking issues. Really? A car is more important than a life?? Wow.
Good for you for standing your ground! You have my support.
this is soo wrong..i drive everyday on cherryhill when i take my daughter to bryant junior high..and i see the truck..so what if its parked in the driveway?? give me a break dearborn..grow up!!
Horrible! Obviously there are people in our city who have too much time on their hands. You are being bullied!!! And I second previous comments. This is why people are moving out of Dearborn! I can’t *wait* to get out!
The two of you (lovely people, by the way) are an asset to Dearborn. You promote the city, you live in the city, you have business in the city. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
The ordinance department has been, IMHO, a bit on the rabid side, but only about people who are decent, upstanding citizens. If you push back, or threaten to hire a lawyer, or point out the 500 other people in your neighborhood who are violating ordinances (as one of my crazy neighbors does, even though he has SEVERAL violations in plain view on his property) then they back off and slink away.
I can’t make it to court to support you, but I’m there in spirit! Give ’em hell!
Start a change.org petition…this is ridiculous!
I had the same thing happen to me several years ago, I was targeted by my next door neighbor who claimed my work van was a commercial vehicle(1996 Ford E250), it was not a commercial vehicle per the owns city’s guidelines. I found out it was my next door neighbor when I did the support petition from my neighbors and he was the only one not willing to sign and actually told me to my face to move, because he didn’t like me, my wife, or my dogs. Needless to say, I fought it, won, and he was the one who moved. Keep the faith !!
That’s crazy. I once had a notice on the door that I had to remove my bird feeder or pay $75. I called the city to ask if there was an ordinance against bird feeders and within minutes there was another notice on my door for some frivolous thing. Meanwhile, neighbors have containers for garbage in their front yards, old appliances standing outside for months, and nothing happens. Much depends on how visible your home is, making it easier for an inspector to see it without much trouble. I don’t understand why the city takes everything to court where they lose case after case and sink into more debt.
Gosh! Unbelievable. I hope you guys win! Maybe if they put up a flag (that clips in the window) that said “funeral” the neighbors would understand that this is a hearse for clowns. Clown funerals are sad not a public nuisance!
People have nothing better to do!!! There are cars that should be in the junk yard but they are parked in the driveway!!!
Fight for your rights!!! I will be looking forward to the verdict and praying for you!
JJeb
I grew up in Dearborn my whole life… And saw all kinds of cars parked in driveways from classic too new with graphics etc … This has absolutely no basis in law… So, if I had a classic muscle/ race car with Ford dealer logos, like I have seen growing up my whole life that would now be illegal? I am an Eagle Scout, and spent a day in “Scouts in Government Day” with Judge Hultgren…before he was a Judge… All I can say is, if he doesn’t throw this out of court on its ear and dismiss it, I will forever lower my opinion of him as a reasonable, logical and just city official.. I only wish I heard about this earlier so I could appeal to Judge Hultgren for you.
This city hall are bullies and crooked dirty………..the problem is really on behalf of the voters who have, decade after decade, blindly voted the same people into office…i hear all the time that tom tafelski is being groomed to take oriellys spot when he decides to retire….how arrogant ro rhink their jobs are a lock. They dont have to worry about their job so they simply do what they want…the pass laws to pass the time. You can polish a turd but its still a piece of sh*t and when i walk into city hall it smells sh**ty.
Which is why im planning on running for council this year…we need other citozens who want to overtake the council and restore dearborn back to financial porsperity, a place where people want to live AND do business without being forced to pay city hall for the privelige of opening a store in the city.
I pass your car every day- I think it’s pretty. They need to back off a non- issue.
Update on the “Beast” and the City of Dearborn. The city wanted to postpone the jury trial, as their only witness, the Field inspector who wrote the ticket, had family issues and could not be there. A new date of May14th was set up. After discussions with the city attorney, we reached an agreement. The city took the misdemeanor down to a civil infraction, and a $100 fine. We did this as it is ridiculous for the city to spend more tax payer’s money on something “stupid” like this. We also made it very clear that another citation from the city concerning parking the “Beast” in our drive way will result in a law suit against the city with request of damages.
So the “Beast” will be parked in our drive way, and hopefully the city is starting to re-invent itself and concentrate on what is important.
The vehicle disappeared for a while. I understand times are tough. Although I have not personally complained, technically having it on the driveway it is in violation of Dearborn Hills deed restrictions.
Martin.
It was in storage over the winter. This is the text from the deed No commercial vehicle or trailer shall be kept parked or stored in any such garage, private driveway, lot or streets of the subdivision. The vehicle is NOT an commercial vehicle. Check up the State and local description of a commercial vehicle
Mr and Mrs Blohm, thank you for reminding me that there are good people in Dearborn and that fighting for what is right can and should be done! You two make me proud to live in Dearborn. All I can say is the more I hear about local politics, the more i get a bad taste in my mouth. Nick Vanderburg, I shall remember your name!!!!