Elaine's Tea Shop vs City of Toledo

Jan 20, 2014 blade "page":http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2014/01/20/Elaine-s-Tea-Shoppe-s-sign-stirs-up-tempest-on-a-tree-lawn.html about elaine's tea shop battling the city of toledo over the shop's new sign placement. the biz is located on sylvania ave in west toledo. 

I drive by often, and i'm unsure what the problem is with the sign, except that it violates city code. I patronized elaine's over the years at the store's two previous locations, so I'm rooting for the teapot sign.

from the story:

q.
Elaine Terman, owner of Elaine’s Tea Shoppe in West Toledo, has been embroiled for months in a battle with the city of Toledo about a sign — a conflict that has raised the issue of *municipal code enforcement versus the treatment of small businesses in a city striving to +appear+ more business-friendly.*

“The city of Toledo is again harassing us about our teapot sign out front!” Ms. Terman wrote in a letter posted on Facebook and reposted by dozens of customers.

Ms. Terman *moved her business from Sylvania Township back into Toledo* in June. She had previously been in Toledo but spent nine years in the township.

*“I was a little leery about moving back into Toledo because inspectors in Toledo versus Sylvania Township are a different story,”*  she said.

She also said the city administration blocked her attempt to make her case before the city’s board of zoning appeals, which has the power to grant a variance.

In the meantime, Ms. Terman’s teapot sign remains defiantly — and illegally — placed on the grass strip out front, next to the curb.
q..

maybe the city can get the sheriff to issue a level 3 snow emergency in front of the teashop to send a message to lawbreakers.

photo of the huge offending billboard. 

!http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2014/01/20/800x_b1_cCM_z_cT/CTY-teapot17p-1-20.jpg!

 #toledo - #business - #politics - #moronism