Comments on: Enforcement of Landscape Ordinance Comes at a Bad Time

By: Greg Curcio Rochester NY Landscaper

Greg Curcio Rochester NY Landscaper — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:33:51 +0000

It's amazing how unfriendly our government is for small business. I understand a government wanting to keep up certain codes to maintain quality but it seems like they believe business should just be ready to make these kind of changes at any moment. Rochester NY Landscaper

By: M. D. Vaden Portland Landscaping & Tree

M. D. Vaden Portland Landscaping & Tree — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:55:01 +0000

This does not sound much different from how some parts of the Portland area function.

Its probably worth noting that the city demands changes for aesthetics from business owners, but the business folks are not able to demand aesthetic changes for the city.

Its not so much that the city government does nothing, but that the city puts itself in the position to be the judge for what is aesthetic landscaping or appearance.

MDV / Oregon

By: independentvoter

independentvoter — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:03:14 +0000

Here’s the thing they want all you SHEEP to act alike, talk alike, and fit into the little box provided for you by the GOVERNMENT.. There is NO uniqueness to CHICAGO anymore.. it’s like the Stepford wives looking UNIFORM is like living in PUBLIC HOUSING those all looked too.. I was born and raised in Chicago I moved out 5 years ago when the city leaders (all the 50 ALDERMEN) all decided that whatever Daley wanted Daley got and they have no intention of stopping him..The question I have is WHY is it SO important to make everyone the same??? Will all businesses be require to have UNIFORMS in the future too? How about the citizens? all the buildings could look the same, be furnished the same, have the same pet, the same cars, NOW that would give a REAL uniform look to the city.. As you read this article you see some of the people actually agreed with this mandate at first, like there was a law AGAINST them doing landscaping or fencing around their business if they so CHOOSE to do so.. It’s outragious the way Daley first squanders your tax dollars than raises fees and demands you spend even more to comply with his FANTASY.. WHY are you letting him get away with it I never seen so many spineless people in my life..

By: Jim Lewis, Portland Oregon Landscaping

Jim Lewis, Portland Oregon Landscaping — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:43:12 +0000

This is a difficult issue for me. On one hand, I understand the ordinance. It’s there to raise the value of the area / neighborhood. It helps make sure the whole area stays looking clean and nice and therefore more people will frequent that area for business. It benefits all businesses in the area.

On the other hand, as a business owner, I hate it when the government adds more rules and regulations that cost me real money – often times money that I don’t have. So I am sympathetic to business owners in this situation.

The solution is to give business owners several years to get in compliance. That accomplishes the goal of the ordinance while allowing the businesses plenty of time to save up for the costs associated with compliance.

Portland Oregon Landscaping

By: Cairns Bobcat Hire

Cairns Bobcat Hire — Mon, 31 May 2010 10:15:49 +0000

It’s crazy and completely unfair how hard small business owners are getting hit by city councils. These cost should be contributed to at least partially by the city. I recently had to pay $6000 to reconstruct a fence around my shed.

Tony.

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:05:40 +0000

What do wrought iron fencing, trees and shrubs have to do with property cleanliness? What gives Dictator Daley and his zoning commission the right to tell you that you must put fencing around your property and you must plant trees (numerous trees), they even tell you what kind of trees to plant. When the mayor is in front of the news cameras he is acting so concerned about the people, and he is saying how people are losing their jobs and their homes and they can’t afford to pay all the tax increases and everything else that is being thrown at them. But when the cameras are not there he is demanding that the struggling businesses obey the landscape ordinance or they will be closed down. Where are they supposed to get the thousands upon thousands of dollars to comply? Where are they supposed to get the thousands of dollars for the deposit that the city wants to hold? Would you let the city hold your money? Do you think you would ever see it again? Soon all the small businesses(the backbone of the city) will be gone. Is that the only thing that will make the mayor happy? You used to be proud to say you were from Chicago, but that has changed. The city is giving up and everyone has Dictator Daley to thank for that.

By: Tim Randall

Tim Randall — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:12:47 +0000

Let the debate start now!

By: Galewood

Galewood — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:03:26 +0000

While it’s unfortunate timing for the enforcement of this ordinance perhaps the owners of these businesses need to recognized they are parts of a community. As such they need to make their properties community assets instead of community eyesores.

By: Michael P. Scott

Michael P. Scott — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:13:52 +0000

It is such nonsense that has caused me to give Da Mare duh name, “Mayor Flowerpot.” Chicago has become a city of pretty flowers on Michigan Avenue and a rusted infrastructure. When an El bridge collapses because of fist sized rust holes and hundreds are killed and wounded, maybe then Chicagoans will come to realize that infrastructure comes first. Flowers and “beans” and parks come AFTER the hard (and truly expensive) work has been done.

First Dicky must retire, resign, decide not to run.