I read an article about a retired nurse in Baltimore City that has been paying a water bill for a vacant lot she owns for 19 years.  The property has NO house and NO meter and never has. She gave up trying to stop the bills. Why does she continue to pay? “Because she’s afraid of what the City would do if she did not pay”.

All too often we take the word or the statement of, in my
case the person reviewing a permit application, as IT. You can’t build your house or shed or deck or whatever because so and so said you can’t. Did that person say why? Did that person show you the code reference denying your application? Did that person simply say NO, because that’s the way we’ve been reviewing that particular request? Are you afraid to question their decision for fear of retribution when you re-submit or when you apply for another permit? These people are humans just like you and me and are entitled to their opinions and interpretations but it still boils down to what is written in the code. Ask to speak to the supervisor, ask to speak to the supervisor’s supervisor. Ask them to show you where the code says……. Ask them what are your alternatives. These folks work for the government, and their job is to HELP!

I think it’s time we start expecting our government to do just that, HELP, not find a reason to say NO. I have always said that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. 

Together let’s get things done.