police hearing
I brought Doug along as a character witness to my police commission hearing. You know, I’m getting my permit to be a junk gatherer in San Francisco.
“What do I say,” Doug asked me.
“Start every sentence with, ‘My Dad’s a judge in Alameda’, no matter how irrelevant it is. Things’ll be fine.”
Well, Doug never got his chance at the mic. The zoning board denied me on grounds that my home address, which was required on forms so they could mail me my permit, is not zoned for a junk gathering operation. Of course this was dealt with already at the Police Department where it was written out that I wouldn’t be using my residence to store any objects. It’s only a mailing address. But the Police commission can’t override the zoning board so I have to have another hearing on the 30th. In the meantime I have to convince the zoning board I won’t be running a recycling factory out of my bedroom.
Don’t you all reasy run a Junk business? And is it not out of your rented apartment? Isn’t it easier to just continue working off the books? What is the benefits of being an actual legit Junk gatherer?
Comment by al — June 9, 2010 @ 11:57 pm
Man i am tired….. all reasy = all ready…. What is = What are…. Thanks
Comment by al — June 9, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
That’s a fair question. The benefit of being legit is taking time to go through the process, understanding how our government works, having a broader idea of what it is to be a businessman.
I applied for a permit to take garbage from a person’s home or business and bring it to the dump. I operate out of another person’s home, or my trucks. People do not bring me there CRV cans for cash refunds. I do not have a scrap metal business out by the bees (RIP). I applied for a very specific license, I paid the $700 or so, I took time to come to a hearing, and the two departments can’t even look over one another’s paper work.
I am learning that there is inefficiency and a lack of respect for people’s time on a grand scale in government. The bailiff pulled me aside and said, “Go to room 451 and ask for Sharon. She will give you Paul’s direct line over at city planning. Talk to him about this.”
So I go to that room but Sharon had just stepped out. The other woman there wouldn’t give me Paul’s direct line, even though I had the bailiff’s name. So I asked that woman for Sharon’s direct line, which she grudgingly gave me. So I called Sharon, left a message, she called back with Paul’s number, who I called and left a message for. Getting bored? I am. Let’s see how long this takes…
Comment by Rolston — June 10, 2010 @ 8:05 am
This is legitimately fascinating. Like a Dostoevski story, but without the self-loathing.
Comment by Nate Lane — June 10, 2010 @ 9:02 pm
That sucks they didn’t even look at your other paperwork or ask you. Perhaps there was something that wasn’t 100% perfect, but even so, who knows how to fill out crappy forms perfectly anyway?
I imagine being a legit junk hauler will let you bid on more contracts too, especially with governments (city, etc) around there.
Comment by Belcat — June 11, 2010 @ 9:47 am
It’s probably hard for the government to present what appears to be a well defined process for this when you’re probably the first junk gatherer to bother to apply for a permit. Just think, you could have spent that money on the latest iPhone!
Comment by Lyle_S — June 11, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
I’m beginning to think I do have the wrong permit Lyle. But guess who told me that’s the permit I needed? The Police Department! I called the planning board, they apologized, and said they got my application that morning of the hearing so didn’t have time to go over it. Well, doesn’t that make everything better….I’m going through with this because I am going to get that metal badge that says Junk Gatherer and I don’t care if it costs $700. The new Iphone will only cost me $200 if I sign a new contract….
Comment by Rolston — June 12, 2010 @ 11:52 pm