Michigan Woman Faces 93 Days in Jail for Planting a Vegetable Garden. Photo Credit: Julie BassUPDATE: Charges have been dropped by the city of Oak Park.
See the end of this post for details. It just doesn't get more ridiculous than this. Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan -- a mother of 6, law-abiding citizen, and gardener -- is facing 93 days in jail after being charged with a misdemeanor. Her crime? Planting a vegetable garden in the front yard.Bass says that she planted the garden after her front yard was torn up for some sewer repairs.
Her garden consists of 5 raised beds, where she grows a mix of squashes, corn, tomatoes, flowers, and other veggies. About the City Ordinance Supposedly, Bass is in noncompliance with a city ordinance that states that only "suitable" plant material is allowed on the lawn area of residences. About Oak Park This is not some gated community with HOA regulations.
What's Being Done This story is gaining traction all over the web. How to Help 1. What do you think? UPDATE: Charges Dropped! According to Mrs. Earthquakes. The 10 Biggest Job Hunt Myths.
Gay Marriage Bill Passes In New York; Governor Cuomo Signs Same Sex Marriage Bill Into Law. Gay couples and proponents of gay rights have a reason to celebrate tonight, as the New York State Senate has passed a bill that allows same sex marriage.
New York will be the sixth, and largest, state in the union to adopt gay marriage. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law at 11:15pm on Friday, which means the law will take effect on July 24, 2011. The decision, which passed 33-29, was the culmination of weeks of contentious debate and negotiations between Governor Cuomo and the GOP-controlled Senate. After the bill passed in the Assembly, it was unclear if the bill had secured enough votes to pass in the Senate. When a few notable undecideds joined the cause --including Republican Roy McDonald who famously defended his decision, saying "fuck it, I don't care what you think. "We are leaders and we join other proud states that recognize our families and the battle will now go on in other states," said Sen. "We've been waiting. "I am spellbound. U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As 'Historic Moment'
GENEVA — The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries.
The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing "grave concern" about abuses because of sexual orientation and commissioning a global report on discrimination against gays. But activists called it an important shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and they credited the Obama administration's push for gay rights at home and abroad. "This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love," U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement. Following tense negotiations, members of the Geneva-based U.N. The White House in a statement strongly backed the declaration. The Society Pages. NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts.