Nov 13 2009
Welcome to Cary, N.C. (Please Leave Your Constitution at the Town Line)
Town officials pressured David Bowden on Thursday, saying they will levy fines against the Cary man if he doesn’t remove or tone down a bright protest sign painted in huge, orange letters on the front of his house.
He has seven days.
In a statement, town officials say attempts to negotiate with Bowden have failed to resolve an impasse that started in July, when he had “Screwed By The Town of Cary” painted on his home at 305 SW Maynard Road.
I’ve driven past this house. Honestly, I think the sign provides a nice contrast from the suburban monotony along Maynard.
Bowden, who says his house was damaged by runoff caused by town road construction, refuses to budge. The slogan is a free speech issue, he says, a stance that has the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.
Like the odd comet or the government voluntarily making itself smaller, sometimes incredibly rare things happen that you didn’t ever imagine seeing in your lifetime, and this is one of them. I am actually going to agree with the ACLU. I guess even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Town officials offered to install a trench drain and new drainage pipe to re-route water away from Bowden’s home. Bowden declined the offer and issued his own ultimatum: The sign wouldn’t come down until the town buys his house. Bowden also declined third-party mediation, according to a town statement issued Thursday.
Is this guy being a stubborn jerk? You bet. Can he and should he work with the town to resolve this? Probably. Should the government force him? Nope, no, and Hell No. His house, his paint, his complaint. If he had a blaring bullhorn that would be one thing, but a bad paint job is another.
Sorry neighbors. If this is really getting to you, plant a hedge or something.
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If one were trying to sell his house in that neighborhood the cost of his ‘protest’ would be my property value.
It seems the city should go ahead with mitigating the drainage problem. They apparently were able to proceed with their initial work without Bowden’s approval, which started the problem.
Bowden, like most folks, now wants to make money off this (buy my home, for MY asking price, of course). What a tool.
I agree with the ACLU, however, to the point of his right to protest. Limit that when his protest is unreasonable (declining mediation, demanding compensation in the form of buying his house).
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