Americans have long had a tradition of being spineless jellyfish, when it comes to ridiculous laws that have been placed on the books in the name of "safety". Officials tend to have the best of intentions and take things a bit too far. Last week, it seems, the city council in Whitehorse, Australia, has taken a page out of the "How To Make Ludicrous Laws That Make Toddlers Cry" handbook from the Americans.
The local city council has deemed these children as "vandals". That's right, "vandals". They draw little fishes and stick figures out of chalk in front of the local Nunawading Cafe in the mornings. It's not like Banksy is doing stencil work on the walls outside, or anything.
Sally White, the owner of the Cafe, said that an inspector had visited them, saying that they had received a complaint, and that the artwork had to stop. The issue centers on a council law that deems it an offense to "destroy, damage, foul, interfere or deface anything located in or on the municipal place or road". They said it also breached local anti-graffiti laws.
The mayor visited the Cafe last week after mounting pressure, saying that he would like to reverse the council's decision, but in the end, it was a safety issue. WHA? A safety issue? According to White,
What have we come to as a world? Have we really become such pussies that we're afraid of sidewalk chalk and toddlers? Are those kids threatening to you? Do you see in any way how they could pose a danger to the community?
I don't fucking get it. I really don't.
The local city council has deemed these children as "vandals". That's right, "vandals". They draw little fishes and stick figures out of chalk in front of the local Nunawading Cafe in the mornings. It's not like Banksy is doing stencil work on the walls outside, or anything.
Sally White, the owner of the Cafe, said that an inspector had visited them, saying that they had received a complaint, and that the artwork had to stop. The issue centers on a council law that deems it an offense to "destroy, damage, foul, interfere or deface anything located in or on the municipal place or road". They said it also breached local anti-graffiti laws.
The mayor visited the Cafe last week after mounting pressure, saying that he would like to reverse the council's decision, but in the end, it was a safety issue. WHA? A safety issue? According to White,
"The mayor said they would like to issue us a permit but can't because it raises health and safety issues, in case somebody fell over a child on the footpath or into the street," she said.The mayor is legitimately afraid that an adult, an adult, will not see a three or four year old on the sidewalk, trip over them, fall into the street, and get hit by an oncoming vehicle. Then again, the city council of Whitehorse, Australia, is not aware that sidewalk chalk can be removed by simply applying a water hose to the offending fishies.
What have we come to as a world? Have we really become such pussies that we're afraid of sidewalk chalk and toddlers? Are those kids threatening to you? Do you see in any way how they could pose a danger to the community?
I don't fucking get it. I really don't.
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