Mayor says he wants to fix the problem by creating other types of licenses.
Out in the suburbs, cutting grass in the summertime is one of those classic starter jobs, an opportunity for teenagers to get out of the house, make a little money, and gain a little independence. Everyone's got a lawn, no one wants to mow it, and, hey, all these kids don't have anything to do while they're out of school for a few months.
Alainna Parris, of Gardendale, Ala., was engaged in that bit of Americana this spring, offering to cut her neighbors' lawns for $20, $30, or $40. She was, that is, until someone working for another lawn service threatened to report her to city officials for cutting lawns without a license, according to ABC 33/40 in Birmingham.
A business license from the city costs $110.
"One of the men that cuts several yards made a remark to one of our neighbors, 'that if he saw her cutting grass again that he was going to call Gardendale because she didn't have a business license,'" Elton Campbell, Alainna's grandmother, told the television station.
"He's coming after a kid when a kid is at least trying to do work. There's kids at home on iPads and electronics and not wanting to go outside," Parris said, according to ABC 33/40.
A $110 license might not be a major burden to most businesses, but is probably more than someone cutting lawns for $20 a pop would be able to afford. Alainna says she's working in the summer to pay for "admissions and trips" that she wants to take, but the government's cut will put a damper on that.
And, sure, the business license application is just two pages long and doesn't require too much unreasonable information. But then there's the promise (on page two) that "upon receipt of the completed form, the municipality will provide you any additional forms and information regarding other specific requirements to you in order to complete the licensing process."
Sounds fun. At least she's getting a good lesson in what it's like to be an adult.
When ABC 33/40 asked Gardendale Mayor Stan Hogeland about the complint lodged against Alainna, he said sending someone after a child making extra money over the summer is not a priority, and said he "would love" to have a provision in the city's rules to make it easier for teenagers to make money doing jobs like cutting grass.
Would he favor letting them do that without a license? Whoa, now, let's not get crazy.
"Maybe a temporary license during the summer months that targets teenagers," he suggests.
Eric Boehm is a reporter at Reason.
Poster Comment:
"One of the men that cuts several yards made a remark to one of our neighbors, 'that if he saw her cutting grass again that he was going to call Gardendale because she didn't have a business license,'" Elton Campbell, Alainna's grandmother, told the television station.
misterwhite - were you the asshole who ratted the kid out? Maybe it was nolu spam.
#1: A K A Stone To: Deckard (#0)
A K A Stone posted on 2017-06-02 07:50:45 Reply Private Reply
#2: Pinguinite To: A K A Stone (#1)
Aside from that being obvious vandalism and potentially dangerous, the people complaining are not the local residents upset at their neighbors for having an unprofessional yard worker cutting their grass. They are instead the professional lawn care business owners that see these teens as competition cutting into their market, so to speak. By complaining, they keep these kids out of the market, gaining more business for themselves.
Pinguinite posted on 2017-06-02 09:58:57 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: A K A Stone (#1)
Even better, burn down their house. At night. With them inside. If they run out, shoot them.
That'll teach 'em.
misterwhite posted on 2017-06-02 10:03:09 Reply Private Reply
#4: Tooconservative To: Deckard (#0)
You can also have safety and labor law problems. This girl looks to be around 15. But what if you have a 10yo? An 8yo? A 6yo? (And, yes, I once knew someone who let his 6yo son cut grass for money when he was 6yo on a crappy old riding lawn mower way out in the boonies with no one around while Papa was at the local bar. So such hillbilly asshole parents do exist.)
I'm kinda surprised that I haven't see any jackboots-persecuting-cute-kids-selling-lemonade stories on FNC this year. These have been a staple of rightwing mutterings for years.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-06-02 10:08:02 Reply Private Reply
#5: Tooconservative To: misterwhite (#3)
Seems like a workable solution.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-06-02 10:10:03 Reply Private Reply
#6: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
So. Will she work to petition the city to change the law? Will she go door-to- door to get signatures?
Nah. It's not that important to her. Just important enough to complain to the local media so everyone will make an exception just for her. She's just a kid ... sniff ... She's just trying to raise money for the homeless and the sick... sniff
misterwhite posted on 2017-06-02 10:11:01 Reply Private Reply
#7: misterwhite To: Tooconservative (#5)
Well, hey.
A little girl is trying to work and save money for some stuffed animal she wants and some guy comes along who follows the rules, trying to support his family, complains?
He deserves to die. Simple as that. And she should be allowed to sell lemonade, too. So there.
misterwhite posted on 2017-06-02 10:40:25 Reply Private Reply
#8: Tooconservative To: misterwhite (#7)
Maybe she could sell burritos and lemonade door-to-door from her riding lawn mower, all without a license. And she could have a handgun to shoot anyone who objects.
Now that would make America great again.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-06-02 10:53:09 Reply Private Reply
#9: misterwhite To: Tooconservative (#8)
Be still, my heart.
misterwhite posted on 2017-06-02 11:02:14 Reply Private Reply
#10: Stoner To: misterwhite (#3)
Yeah, now your talking. If they are still kicking after shooting them, put a bayonet through their throat.
Stoner posted on 2017-06-03 16:53:20 Reply Private Reply
#11: Hondo68 To: Stoner (#10)
Nuts!
Hondo68 posted on 2017-06-03 21:17:26 Reply Private Reply
#12: Fred Mertz To: hondo68 (#11)
Fred Mertz posted on 2017-06-04 03:13:49 Reply Private Reply
#13: goldilucky To: Pinguinite (#2)
Well the professional lawn care business owners have a point. These kids are undercutting their competitors by cheaper labor.
Now where else have we heard of something like this before? The illegals taking the jobs Americans won't do for cheaper labor.
So what's left for those kids as far as making real money? Believe me those kids know but they ain't about to tell you.
goldilucky posted on 2017-06-06 07:35:17 Reply Private Reply