Pantagraph.com | News | Neighbors: One-man car show 'embarrassment for the neighborhood'

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Btown83 wrote on May 23, 2008 3:55 PM:

" Whats the difference betweeing anything hurting a neighboors property values being outlawed and anything that helps neighboors property values being mandated?
Should someone be fined by the government for not having professional landscaping be required?
Where the line needs to be drawn seems impossible to fairly determine "

knowing is half the battle wrote on May 22, 2008 9:17 PM:

" I expected more comments on this one. Every person in America has a neighbor like this. "

Bizzyboddy wrote on May 22, 2008 4:54 PM:

" Nobody should be allowed to have more than 2 vehicles "

tuesday wrote on May 20, 2008 2:52 PM:

" I saw herkevs comment. Ironically "herkev" was on one of the license plates of the cars that "littered" lee st. "

Common Sense Guy wrote on May 20, 2008 2:37 PM:

" Hey, stinkinsteve: It should be illegal to be fat and ugly, especially fat. These people are a burden to society with their higher propensity for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Let's ticket them! These facts are true, but it is not politically correct to say it. "

stinkinsteve wrote on May 20, 2008 12:43 AM:

" this happens to more then this guy. i had one vehicle in my driveway off a back alley that i was getting ticketed and threatened to being towed by the city. the body was in good shape, parked in front of my garage and was reasonable hidden by bushes/fences from the street. this was not causing anyone problems. still i received tickets for this. i just moved it in the garage and had the tickets dismissed but i felt harrassed by the whole situation. and now someone wants the city to be able to just steal my car from my property ?? they already allow this practice in california. our little freedoms keep flying out the window in the name of political correctness. pretty soon it will be illegal to be fat and ugly too. "

Common Sense Guy wrote on May 16, 2008 8:34 PM:

" One purpose of government is to protect individuals and this is what is being done here. Individuals are being hurt financially by others who are selfish and who insist on their own "rights"; sometimes compromise is necessary. Without government, the world would be in chaos. "

The Original JD wrote on May 16, 2008 1:23 PM:

" The problem here is one of private property. Little by little, the socialist mentality of society has attacked any aspect of individuality and privacy. People no longer take the lives into their own hands, and instead expect others to cater to their desires. In this case, if the cars were on the road, I could see the city having something to say about it. But since others are scared of their property values, and do not wish to move, they expect the city to force the owner of the private property to cater to others. Socialism at it's best. "

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on May 16, 2008 11:43 AM:

" TO: COCOA

Not sure why my last post didn't go through so I'll try again.
So by your statement I should be able to outlaw RR tracks from near my home since they do me "harm" in lowering my property value? Or I should be able to sue the City of Bloomington for the increase in crime which has lowered my property value? What about having Markowitz arrested for the eyesore I now must look at daily? All of these have caused me "harm" by your definition. Do you see where this is going? Who has the right to say something "looks" trashy? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this guy is causing no physical, mental, or emotional harm to ANYONE. Leave him alone. If this country was more concerned about themselves and less concerned with their neighbors maybe the world would be a better place. "

turtle wrote on May 16, 2008 5:45 AM:

" I may be late adding my 2 cents worth but then I am a turtle.........

If you reread the article - the man in question here is NOT the property owner, but rather it is his girlfriends property and SHE is getting the tickets not him.

At one time, I was a property owner and had a vehicle in the yard that I was saving to have repaired. The city came and told me I had 24 hrs to remove it (it had been there at least a couple of months before they came) due to city ordinance. If this is a rule of our city, and it is, then as adults we should abide. This in return teaches our children that we all answer to someone and when you answer you do it with respect!

Once all these gathered cars are dispursed, that neighborhood will once again start to look descent again. Keep your campaign going Roger and Diane - you have a large backing! "

cocoa wrote on May 15, 2008 5:49 PM:

" to: Gov't oppressed Mule - You state that as long as something isn't hurting others, the gov't should have no say. In this case, having a junk yard parked across the street or near a property for sale could certainly "hurt" another person - a property owner trying to sell their house! Not many people would look at a house for sale that was across from, or in close proximity to, a house with all those cars parked and a big old panel truck in the yard covered in graffiti. If I were their neighbor I would be furious! And I'd also be giving coffee and cookies to any city inspector that came by and ticketed the people creating the eye sore that was driving prospective buyers from my property! "

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on May 15, 2008 2:33 PM:

" TO: COMMON SENSE GUY

Sorry, wrong. I do own my property and I'll be d**ned if the gov't is going to come in and tell me what I can or cannot place on my property because they don't like it. They didn't pay for it and they aren't going to tell me how to decorate. As long as it is not harming others the gov't has no rights to violate their own citizens private property. HEIL FURHER STOCKTON! "

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on May 15, 2008 2:31 PM:

" TO: JEN

What about car dealerships? From your statements cops should be allowed to tow vehicles off of dealership's lots because they are 1. private property and2. Have massive amounts of unlicensed vehicles on them. LONG LIVE FACISM! HEIL STOCKTON! "

gkc wrote on May 15, 2008 2:28 PM:

" the halloween truck was a great decoration. I have driven by your house many times and I don't see a problem - with the exception of the truck you park everything neatly in the driveway. Normal has an ordinance that a vehicle must be licensed, operable, driven at least every 8 weeks to be in your driveway - my guess is Bloomington is the same so move them all around every 8 weeks or so and put a sign on your car that says when it was last driven. That is what I decided to do when my busy body neighbor turned me in for a vehicle that HAD been driven a week before. Guess he wasn't watching me all day long! "

JimmyChooGirl wrote on May 15, 2008 1:25 PM:

" Common Sense Guy - That's exactly what I was trying to say but everyone is too worried about our freedom being taken away to acknowledge the common sense of property value and trying to sell your house when you have a junk yard next to it. "

herkev wrote on May 15, 2008 12:42 PM:

" Personally I think this cop has a personnel vendetta against these people. The city has no right to come onto their property and take what ain't their's. Where is the freedom that we are suppose to have, as you can see we don't have any the city, goverment and of course the president all have there freedom. Even the cops they have their freedom, just because they have a gun and badge they can do whatever they want. As you can see their is one already trying to get off the allegations. And we all know who that is!!!! We have no freedom in this country!!!! I think what they are doing is wrong(the city). Keep fighting kevin and julie file a lawsuit against the city!!!! Fight for your Rights!!! "

Common Sense Guy wrote on May 15, 2008 11:17 AM:

" I would like to bet that nearly all of you commentators that are against what the city is trying to do are not property owners. If you were and you cared for your property and its value and your neighbors, you would be presenting a different argument. "

The One wrote on May 15, 2008 11:02 AM:

" The bottom line here is that the city should not be allowed to go "after" one person. This is why neighborhoods have covenants, to protect their values from falling. The problem with this particular neighborhood is that most homes will not be in compliance with whatever covenants are put in place. Some neighbors take really good care of their property and other do not. This is the unfortunate reality of living in this part of town, however it would be a long road and a lot of work but they could get it done. "

squirrelioni wrote on May 14, 2008 4:55 PM:

" to jen: Why should they be allowed to tow them if they are unliscensed? Does state law require a vehicle have a liscence plate to sit still on private property? I dont think it does. Now if they arent legally owed (having a title in his name for each vehicle) then there might be a case for towing them off the property, but lack of liscense plate when its not required for a vehicle that does not travel upon the road is another story "

otis wrote on May 14, 2008 3:57 PM:

" i hope the city goes after this pair of neigborhood bullys and take every dime they have "

noone wrote on May 14, 2008 3:50 PM:

" leave this guy alone. it's on HIS PROPERTY no one person, no government, no neighbor has a right to ell someone what to do on their land. i hope this guy sues the crap out of the city and wins. i'd like to see him buy a thousand cars and park one on every street in town. want to buy my oldsmobile, i'll sell it to you cheap. "

my 2cents wrote on May 14, 2008 2:59 PM:

" AMEN BigBrother! It is not a question of whether or not he "needs" those vehicles. Nor is it a question of how many empty car lots he could buy to store his vehicles on. The question is does the government have the right to change the rules/laws/ordinances simply to pursicute one person, TWICE! I don't see this man as a trouble maker like someone else stated. I see him as a person with the gonads to stand up to the system. maybe he is doing us all a favor that will affect the future, just food for thought. GO KEVIN! POWER TO THE PEOPLE! "

BigBrother wrote on May 14, 2008 1:13 PM:

" The city started this by first changing the parking ordinance on Lee street targeting this citizen in the first place. Since that has not worked they are now suggesting to change yet another law in another neighborhood to go after this one person. Am I the only person that finds this inappropriate behavior and pretty close to unconstitutional? Turning our police department into judge, jury, and executioner is not the answer. The states attorney can expedite any case, and bring this in front of a real judge and jury. Giving any person the authority to sieze personal property without due process just doesnt go over with me. "

OODUCK wrote on May 14, 2008 1:08 PM:

" Surely he can find a empty car lot in this town, buy the property have more room for the cars and no one would think twice about it. We have does a dime a dozen. "

bngurl wrote on May 14, 2008 12:56 PM:

" Why does one person need that many cars? Hello, you can only drive one car at a time. I can understand people that have 2 maybe 3 cars ..but that many cars. That is ridiculous. The government should take them away. "

The One wrote on May 14, 2008 12:16 PM:

" The government has NO RIGHT to take your private property! Wake up people. This is Bloomington government 101. Get the legal department to sue you for something that is not illegal. Just so they can get more money from you. Then when they lose they rewrite the rules (notice I did not say laws because 1/2 of what they do is illegal and they know it, it's just that no one has the @#$@# to stand up to them) in opposition to one person so they can then go back and say "Now you're breaking the rules". I do not know this guy but I have had run ins with the city legal department and THEY DO NOT CARE IF IT IS LEGAL OR NOT- they want the money!! You have a constitutional right to protect your property from ANYONE. Someday the city is going to mess with the wrong person then we will be on CNN news. I am not anti government I'm anti out of control government "

jen1991 wrote on May 14, 2008 11:45 AM:

" Squirrelioni: If any of the vehicles are unlicense as the article states, then they shoudl most definitely be allowed to tow them. "

Dymz wrote on May 14, 2008 11:41 AM:

" If it's his property, he should be able to do what he likes. Oops! I keep forgetting. That would be if he lived in a free country. Thou shalt not do whatever big brother doesn't want you to do. I'm smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer in my own home...while it's still legal. I'm sure big brother will take that right away from me soon too. In my own best interest because "they" know what's best for me. I forget, is it still okay to eat eggs? Filled my prescription for Chantix to quit smoking the other day, only to find out it's linked to depression and suicide. Wait, I'm no expert. I'll just do what they tell me.

I don't know what my point is...I don't even know the guy. He's not hurting anyone though. I have more important things to worry about...like running out of gas, my grocery bill and trying not to die. "

so what wrote on May 14, 2008 11:39 AM:

" At this point, the guy is just being a trouble maker. He's trying to see what he can stir up. Unfortunately, this guy thrives on the attention...whether it is positive or negative. "

so what wrote on May 14, 2008 11:38 AM:

" To Big Brother: Get over it. If it was the property next to yours, you'd be the first one to complain!! "

BigBrother wrote on May 14, 2008 10:47 AM:

" This is discriminatory when the city council targets one individual. An ordinance to limit the number of vehicles on a private single family home may fly, but appointing a gestapo officer to determine towing from private property is going beyound the realm of justice. Yes I said gestapo!!!! Thats what it is when the government comes on your private property and illigally siezes private property. Due process is guaranteed and private property is protected by the constitution. Making laws to specifically go after one individual is wrong in my book. "

2 cents wrote on May 14, 2008 9:53 AM:

" Part 2

People who exhibit compulsive hoarding tend to absorb glucose into the brain differently than people who do not exhibit this behavior. The difference in cerebral metabolism of glucose is greatest in the rear and central parts of the brain.

A 2004 University of Iowa study found that damage to the frontal lobes of the brain can lead to poor judgment and emotional disturbances, while damage to the right mesial prefrontal cortex of the brain tends to cause compulsive hoarding.

OCD disorders are treated with various antidepressants: from the Tricyclic antidepressant family clomipramine (brand name Anafranil); and from the SSRI families paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), and citalopram (Celexa). With existing drug therapy OCD symptoms can be controlled, but not cured. Several of these compounds have been tested successfully in conjunction with OCD hoarding, but paroxetine in particular is indicated for treatment of compulsive hoarding. A 2006 study of this usage of the drug to treat compulsive hoarding was conducted by the University of California, San Diego. OCD disorders are also treated with psychotherapy.

"

lindini wrote on May 14, 2008 9:52 AM:

" This fight has gotten too personal on both sides for a reasonable conclusion to be drawn. Changing city rules in order to prosecute one man seems unreasonable to me. What kind of reprocusions will this have on the city as a whole? I don't want the goverment telling me how I can decorate my property. As many have said, I may not like my neighbors choice in house paint, lawn ornaments, ect but it should be the right of the property owner to do what they like as long as it is not a danger to the public of some sort. Being ugly should not be against the law. "

my 2cents wrote on May 14, 2008 9:45 AM:

" While I do understand the complaints of the people that live in vicinity, I think this guy is not getting a "fair shake" from the city. The Pantagraph may want to take another stab at contacting him to get his side. I have spoken to him personally and he has some surprising and enlightening stories to tell. The way I understand it is that he has tried to do everything to be "within the law". But it seems that city officials keep changing the rules on him because of their personal opinions with no regard to the verbage of the law. Pantagraph please try to get a comment from him again. I think many people would find what he has to say very interesting. Lets hear the other side! "

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on May 14, 2008 9:36 AM:

" They're numbing all our senses with their b.s. and their lies.
It's no secret it's done right before our eyes.
Lest you forget about your cozy little home, the very place you live in but you never truly own
It's the craft of the creator, we act out their design
A society of secrets with the television mind.
And if you don't cooperate they'll lock your butt away,
With the very money that IRS took away!
"

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on May 14, 2008 9:21 AM:

" This is just one more step towards complete gov't control. First they tell you how to run your business', then they tell you what they find acceptable in your yard, next they'll tell you what is acceptable in your house, then in your mind. The THIRD REICH MARCHES ON! HEIL STOCKTON! "

Country Boy wrote on May 14, 2008 8:34 AM:

" Dont get me wrong, I am an avid restoration car nut BUT restore them!! I have seen the same cars that sat at his old house sitting at his new house, some 2-3 years with nothing being done to them! Its an eyesore, either fix them up or sell them to someone that will. Better yet move out of town where you can park them and not be hassled. There is certain limits and I think they have been exceeded for a long time. Just look at his old address, they actually had to change the parking limits on the street to get his junk out of there! How about all the neighbors who could not park their running and registered cars in front of their own homes because of his junk sitting on the streets with no plates and flat tires.
Clean it up! "

Billy the Bard wrote on May 14, 2008 8:31 AM:

" It is a bit of a scary thing when the gov't starts invading your private property. However, people should start thinking of their property as more of a service--not an eyesore. Perhaps they don't want to stop at collecting junk cars. Feel free to start dropping off all your garbage for them to rummage through... "

JimmyChooGirl wrote on May 14, 2008 8:29 AM:

" I think this guy should be able to do what he likes in his own yard BUT...if I was his neighbor and trying to sell my house, I would be furious. If your neighborhood is nice looking, your house is more likely to sell faster. If your neighborhood is a junk yard, even one home and the rest are nice, you are going to have a tougher time selling your house. I personally wouldn't want to look at a bunch of cars everyday or a bunch of angel, frog and fairy statues like I have seen at many homes here in town. I would think if this guy really cared about his vehicles he would have them stored properly, not outside where they can rust and ruin the value of his own home. "

blogger wrote on May 14, 2008 8:12 AM:

" Well- I can tell you I had a vehicle parked in my own back yard several years ago (east side) because my daughter was grounded off the car for a month. It just so happend that the plates expires while it was back there which I didn't think much about b/c the car was not in use. It took the city no more then 2-weeks to roll up behind my alley and ticket the car for expired registration. On my own property! I was ticked off but paid it anway. I find it hard to believe that they are so ontop of my situation and let this thing go on and on and on. Pst. "

michelle24 wrote on May 14, 2008 7:48 AM:

" Oh, yeah! we loved the Halloween decorations you had in the past! :) Thanks! "

Freedm Aint Free wrote on May 14, 2008 7:04 AM:

" Keep fighting Kevin & Julie. Not everyone in Bloomington-Normal is set against you. By the way, my family thoroughly enjoyed your holiday decorations this past season, very creatively involving this van/truck being complained about now.

Keep your heads up. "

Tom Terrific wrote on May 14, 2008 7:02 AM:

" Does he still have the two dune buggies? "

michelle24 wrote on May 14, 2008 6:51 AM:

" I gotta give this dude credit--he dos'nt give up as far as keeping his toys together! Good luck to ya, I hope you're able to find space somewhere else. "

buckeye wrote on May 14, 2008 6:51 AM:

" I like the fread truck , Its his yard why should a bunch of buisy body nieghbors worry about what he does with his property . They need to get over it and get a life .Besides it seems like neighborhood improvement to me. And maby thoes vehicles will stop all the bullets flying around on the west side. "

me wrote on May 14, 2008 6:50 AM:

" my husband brought home an car and parked it in our backyard to be fixed. our neighborhood watchman(he has nothing better to do with his life) call on it. we were told we had to have it graveled where it was at, had to be operable and that we had to have it licenced to sit there. we have done it in the past. my husband fixes cars. he had one in the shop at the time and had to take car of that 1st. so we ended up having to put the car in storage. i could see if we just let it sit there for years but that wasn't the case. ps: the neighbor has at least 4 trucks at his place "

DT wrote on May 14, 2008 6:41 AM:

" There are people who would be as offended by having a homosexual couple living in the house next door. The response would be "How does that hurt you?" (That IS Alan Combs response.) Cars or homosexuals: let's be consistent in our treatment of ownership rights. "

VOA wrote on May 14, 2008 6:16 AM:

" Yeah, let's run him out of town! And while we're at it, get rid of all those folks who have 79 yard ornaments scattered all over. And let's not stop there! Christmas lights distract me from driving properly, Get rid of them before someone is killed! I can't stand those people who have flowers everywhere, they attract bees and Japanese Beetles, and those dang trees just attract birds.....nasty, nasty birds. Get rid of the Raider, Illiniwek, cigarettes, books, etc............ "

chickster wrote on May 14, 2008 6:12 AM:

" I could not have that as a neighbor! That is just plain lazy and gross! Keep your place cleaned up!!!! Where do you think the rats are coming from? "

ML wrote on May 14, 2008 5:42 AM:

" Zeva, one person's junk is another person's treasure. For instance, I'm sure that your family treasures you, correct...?

I was in the understanding that this is a free country. We are approaching a slippery slope when the government can step in and deem something "ugly" and confiscate it.

“This is not only an embarrassment for the neighborhood, but it should be an embarrassment for the city,” Diane Kemp said." What should be an embarrassment for the city is the rising crime that has been occurring and the fact that nothing gets resolved with any of it. Murders, stabbings, robberies...they all go unsolved in Bloomington. And the government is focused on taking someone's harmless property? Examples such as this are the reason that I moved out of Bloomington.

"

Zeva wrote on May 14, 2008 1:29 AM:

" I agree with changing the ordinance to keep people from collecting JUNK!!! In my neighborhood we have two junk cars and a huge pile of trees that broke off and are just laying there collecting termites. I'm referring to a huge pile of trees too. It would take a month to clean up the yard. If they can tax us and take raises then let them pass an ordinance to clean up your yard. "

FYI wrote on May 14, 2008 1:11 AM:

" I thought there was a rule against parking in the front/streetside yards where there is no paving/gravel(ie not in the driveway). This guy has been a jerk for years, but it's not right to single him out, when there are over a dozen vehicles with invalid tags parked behind the old 'diesel dicks' on Madison street where EVERYONE has to look at them...especially the crushed panel van that came from the property up the street when a tree crushed it and the house. How about a privacy fence requirement or institute a limit of 1 'unused'/non-working' vehicle per property. The junkyard off Madison, being a business(if you consider it that still), should be required to erect a privacy fence like the one on west Washington does. "

Waffle of Justice wrote on May 13, 2008 10:35 PM:

" I all for having your "toys" but if you cannot afford to restore the vehicles, or even give them proper storage maybe you shouldn't have them... just an idea. "

squirrelioni wrote on May 13, 2008 10:35 PM:

" Should the guy respect the neighborhood and clean up these vehicles? Yes.
Should the neighbors be upset about how this makes the area look? Probably.
Should the city be able to tow a legally owned vehicle from a private property? No.
Should the city be able to, in effect force you to register a vehicle to simply park it on your property as suggested by this story? No.
The bottom line in my opinion is that, yes this guy seems to be creating a nuisance, and im sure its unsightly, but i dont think that we need to grant the city the authority to come on to private property and remove legally owned property simply because its unsightly to some. "

cocoa wrote on May 13, 2008 9:54 PM:

" I bet this is related to the big orange and green panel truck parked in a yard on Seminary. It's been there since last fall and has a message about a Fred Martin on it. C'mon people, enough is enough! Have some respect for your neighbors and the neighborhood in general! Collect cars if that's your thing, but either fix them or find appropriate storage for them! That truck on Seminary has been an eyesore for months, but at least now I know what the message is about. "

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