Stick and Stones May Break My Bones but Failed Litigation must hurt......

So I'm poking around Lancaster's healthy rumor-mill when the thought occurs to me, "I wonder whatever happen to that lawsuit that was filed when a certain school board member was asked to pick up her toys and go home?" Well, now I know! After finding an attorney with enough extra time on their hands to take the case... convincing someone besides herself that this was a useful and necessary pursuit, and spending money on court costs to have the issue heard by a local judge...... wait for it..... drum roll please..... nothing? Yep, that's right, nothing. The judge practically threw the case out of his or her court and probably disinfected the chamber to rid it of the stench of unnecessary litigation! THIS and other empty cases like it are why city services costs so much. THIS is why there are 15 "Slippery When Wet" signs placed over a 3 inch spot of water on a grocery store floor. THIS is why "Not Responsible for Injury" signs have to be placed on coffee cups in countless baristas around the country! Useless, time consuming, improper and petty attempts to "make a point" at the expense of the court's time and often the judge's patience. I'm a little surprised the judge didn't light the lawsuit on fire, throw it in the trash, and order the bailiff to escort the plaintiff out of the building on general principle!

It's ashamed that when faced with the honorable choice of bowing out gracefully or showing oneself to be petty and vindictive we often choose the latter. I'm not happy the case was ruled one way or the other, only sad it ever was a case at all.

Is There No End to the Madness?

I know it may be... scratch that... it IS crude but the saying,"Fart in the tub and bite the bubble" comes to mind as I hear about Lancaster's recent decision to prohibit an established business from expanding due to rezoning of the area in which the shop is located. Granted, it's a tattoo shop and nobody likes tattoo shops... right? Except, believe it or not, they pay taxes like any other business. They have customers like any other business, and are as concerned about their store appearance and perception in the community as any other business. After all, who wants to get a 'dancing pig over a plate of skulls' tattooed in a dirty parlor? (Don't answer that Tommy)

In any case, businesses look at decisions related to businesses when they consider potential growth or expansion into an area. Yes, they look at other factors such as supporting infrastructure, tax abatement opportunities, surrounding demographics, and population as well but more than anything a business wants to know if a city will be supportive or restrictive once the shovel is put away and the customers begin to come. They don't understand or trust a governing body that decides cases based on arbitrary personal concerns or feelings. If you'll vote to restrict a tattoo parlor because you think they're beneath you, who's to say you won't vote against a "Super Target" because you had a bad shopping experience once or a UPS Distribution Center because you have an adversity to the color brown?

To add insult to injury, the city attorney has to instruct you on how to reverse a decision you JUST MADE? I really hope I heard that one wrong...

Having met and spoken with Marcus Knight, I know him to be an intelligent and formidable leader so it pains me to know he has to endure association with this nonsense. I'm pretty sure, somewhere in the far corners of the city offices is a private room that he uses just to scream at the top of his lungs in frustration! If that's the case, someone should clear a path, prop the door open and wait for it... he'll be visiting that room soon.