Favorite Petition Signer Comments of the week
10/Mon/08 20:03
skateboarding is not a crime.... especially at you own house...
I understand...why skateboarding is illegal in most public places... because of the sew happy society we live in today... it is a liability issue.
the"noise" problem seems to me to be just another excuse to attack the only sacred place we (skateboarders) have left.. our own homes.
please try to classify skateboarding with all other sports..
skateboarders enjoy skateboarding because its fun.
much like other people love to golf or play basket ball..
the backyard mini-ramp is a important part in any skateboarders life... its the skateboarders American dream scenario: (a backyard mini ramp) much like many americans dream of white picket fences, pretty wifes, good jobs, and nice cars..
please dont steal our dreams...
we are not gang memebers or vandals.. please try to believe that..
thank you
I understand...why skateboarding is illegal in most public places... because of the sew happy society we live in today... it is a liability issue.
the"noise" problem seems to me to be just another excuse to attack the only sacred place we (skateboarders) have left.. our own homes.
please try to classify skateboarding with all other sports..
skateboarders enjoy skateboarding because its fun.
much like other people love to golf or play basket ball..
the backyard mini-ramp is a important part in any skateboarders life... its the skateboarders American dream scenario: (a backyard mini ramp) much like many americans dream of white picket fences, pretty wifes, good jobs, and nice cars..
please dont steal our dreams...
we are not gang memebers or vandals.. please try to believe that..
thank you
Mini Ramp Owners...
10/Thu/08 10:02
Dear Mini Ramp Owners: I would like to reach out to all of you who own mini ramps, and ask for your help. Do any of you have a neighbor who would be willing to write down a few positive comments regarding you as a neighbor, and highlight the fact that your ramp does not bother them? I ask for this as ammunition needed for the final round in fighting this ordinance. The truth of the matter is that this ordinance was created in the first place because of a small minority of neighbors in our city who have complained profusely about mini ramps. I have one of these such neighbors. If you have a neighbor who has no problem with you, or your ramp we could really use a brief written statement from those neighbors to strengthen our cause. You can reach me at slcminiramp@gmail.com . Thanks for your continued support.
Progress...
10/Thu/08 09:52
This morning at 7:30 am the Salt Lake Valley Health Department held a hearing in regard to our case. They have TEMPORARILY suspended the ordinance until April 1st of 2009.
What does this mean? Basically this means that our voice is being heard, and they realize that this ordinance will need further consideration. They stated that they would be conducting “a study” on backyard skate ramps. I have no idea how they intend to study back yard ramps specifically. I intend to reach out to the Health department and obtain a little more information in regard to this “study”.
The good news for now is...we have made an impact, and our side has been heard. Our ramps are safe in our back yards for the time being. Come spring time we will likely need to ban back together for one last push to ensure that our right to keep our ramps is protected indefinitely. Thanks for all your support.
What does this mean? Basically this means that our voice is being heard, and they realize that this ordinance will need further consideration. They stated that they would be conducting “a study” on backyard skate ramps. I have no idea how they intend to study back yard ramps specifically. I intend to reach out to the Health department and obtain a little more information in regard to this “study”.
The good news for now is...we have made an impact, and our side has been heard. Our ramps are safe in our back yards for the time being. Come spring time we will likely need to ban back together for one last push to ensure that our right to keep our ramps is protected indefinitely. Thanks for all your support.
Making Headway! : )
09/Wed/08 21:44
Day by day this thing continues to spread, and capture the attention of skaters, and non-skaters alike. Locally in SLC we have had a story in the Salt Lake Tribune which can be read here. We have also captured enough attention locally to attract the local news team to pay a visit to cover the story (found here). It sounds like people are going to start listening to what we have to say on the issue. Word! Thanks for all your support every one. They wouldn’t be listening if you hadn’t spoke up, and signed the petition. Your voice is being heard! We’ll keep you posted as this develops.
Over 1000 signatures in a week!
09/Wed/08 07:37
Thanks to everyone. In little over a week we have obtained around 1300 signatures, and it continues to grow. Support has poured in both locally, and on a national level. Both passionate individuals, and organizations have been supportive. We have been interviewed by local publications in Salt Lake City, to national organization such as ESPN.com. It is clear that this issue resinates with a large group of people across the nation, and that people are unwilling to sit complacent as basic rights such as this are stripped from us. Thanks for all your support in making our campaign successful. Our quest to save the heritage of the mini-ramp in SLC looks promising.
Favorite Petition Signer Comments of the week...
09/Mon/08 10:56
I receive a copy of all the petitions that you people sign. You’re all able to make comments, and it has been really awesome to see what people have to say on the issue. Bellow is a comment from one of our supporters I wanted to share with you. Just awesome...
“I see a great conflict in the massively accepted down town event of mountain
dew tour and the revenue it brings the city all the while attempting to
eliminate the very source of free expression with a blind blanket law.
You office dwelling fools will never have skateboarders submit to shallow
power play attempts, it isn't one of your corralled sports it is a freedom
you will never contain nor understand.
Your children that can't stand your imbalanced persecution style threats of
punishment will grow only larger in number as they out skate your weak
attempts of control.
We always own the streets we will build when and where we see a personal
need much as you do your filthy homogenized mall traps of consumption.
For reference google burnside and skatetopia and get a dose of what the soul
of skateboarding is.
in short, lay down your laws and start the riot. Go ahead and push, true
skaters don't ask permission to live free, take your silly ignorant dose of
self importance and tack it up next to your pedigree.
We roll with or with out you , always have, that's why you sit back and
watch in the shadows with secret envy and puzzlement sipping on your
corporate latte and wishing you had an ounce of the courage it takes.”
“I see a great conflict in the massively accepted down town event of mountain
dew tour and the revenue it brings the city all the while attempting to
eliminate the very source of free expression with a blind blanket law.
You office dwelling fools will never have skateboarders submit to shallow
power play attempts, it isn't one of your corralled sports it is a freedom
you will never contain nor understand.
Your children that can't stand your imbalanced persecution style threats of
punishment will grow only larger in number as they out skate your weak
attempts of control.
We always own the streets we will build when and where we see a personal
need much as you do your filthy homogenized mall traps of consumption.
For reference google burnside and skatetopia and get a dose of what the soul
of skateboarding is.
in short, lay down your laws and start the riot. Go ahead and push, true
skaters don't ask permission to live free, take your silly ignorant dose of
self importance and tack it up next to your pedigree.
We roll with or with out you , always have, that's why you sit back and
watch in the shadows with secret envy and puzzlement sipping on your
corporate latte and wishing you had an ounce of the courage it takes.”
Visits from officials...
09/Mon/08 10:17
In the past week my home has been visited on 3 occasions by city officials in reference to my now “illegal” mini-ramp. First an entire group of individuals from the SLVHD. Unfortunately I was not home at the time to welcome our friends from the Health Department to my property. I was out working, but my girlfriend was at home. She said she as vacuuming, and saw some people walking around in our front yard. She opened the door, and said the group of people looked a little startled. They asked for permission to inspect my back yard, but my girlfriend insisted that they must speak to the owner of the house for permission, and that person is me. They continued to push, but my girl insisted, and off they go. As they are walking away my girlfriend hears one of them say, “Maybe one of the neighbors will let us in their back yard so we can look into his back yard?” She watched the Health Department workers walk to both houses to each side of my property only to find no one is home. About one half hour later the Health Department workers drive by again as my girlfriend is working in the yard. She waves at them just to let them know she’s aware of their weirdness. I have to say I am amazed that these people have nothing better to do them pile into a car, and drive around wasting their day like this. Three days later a solid knock on my front door at 9:am sharp. This time it’s the local sheriff. I open the door to a uniform, and he tells me that a new ordinance has been passed which prohibits people from having skate ramps, and that they believe I have one on my property. I laugh, and say, “Well, yeah, I’m completely aware of the new ordinance, and yes I do in fact have a ramp in my yard.” Then the officer chat’’s with me a little more, and asks if he can see the ramp. He was being pretty cool, so I said, “Come on back”. I lead him back to the mini, he leans up against it, looks at me, and says, “You know what the truth is?”, “I could really care less if you have one of these in your yard.” “I had a neighbor who had one of these things for years, and it never bothered me.” He smiled, and gave me a forewarning that I would have a string of others who would be sent to my house concerning my ramp. Sure enough, about 3 days later another knock on the door. This time around it is the Salt Lake County building inspectors. This visit was awesome because the Health Department sent them over to make sure I didn’t have anything that required a specific building permit due to size restrictions. The inspectors weren’t even aware of the new ordinance, or that a mini-ramp was why they would be visiting my home. After explaining the situation to these guys they just looked at each other with confusion, and I laughed. They took two looks at my ramp, and said, “we could care less if you have this ramp in your yard, and it’s not breaking any county building regulations, not does it need a permit.” They felt just as the officer did, and that having the ramp was no big deal. They forewarned me that their would now be yet another group to come by, and the next would be someone from “Zoning”. The zoning individual will be the one to tell me that my ramp is breaking a new ordinance, and must be removed from my property. In the end of the day, the people who created this ordinance have wasted a lot of peoples time, and will look foolish in front of a very large group of people once we over turn this foolish ordinance. I would like to throw out a quick thanks to the Sheriff, as well as the building inspectors for being such reasonable, and real people. It was refreshing to deal with them because this entire situation has been anything but reasonable. Aside from that, we’ll keep everyone updated as more interaction with this situation develops.
SLVHD Response....Not good enough
09/Fri/08 16:22
Now that the inbox of many SLVHD directors are flooded with our response to the biased “No Sporting Ramps” ordinance, they have offered a reply. It reads as follows....
Dear Concerned Resident: Thank you for your comments relating to the recently adopted Salt Lake Valley Health Department Noise Ordinance and its regulations on sporting ramps. The Salt Lake City Council Office has researched the issue and confirmed that due to the Health Department’s jurisdiction over incorporated and unincorporated areas, Salt Lake City is unable to make changes to the existing ordinance. However, I have been informed that the ordinance is being enforced on a complaint driven basis. The basis for the development of this specific regulation relates to the above-ground status of the structures. The above-ground construction affects the lower structures due to the impact of sound being amplified by repetitive noise. If a violation is located and enforced upon, there is an option provided by the Health Department for an administrative hearing process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact James Bennett or Diane Keay at 801.468.2750 or click on any of the links for a shortcut to their email address. You may also contact the main office of the Salt Lake Valley Department of Health.
Translation of the above statement: So basically what they are saying here is that they are unwilling to change the ordinance, and that it is “COMPLAINT DRIVEN”. This just means that they don’t know where all the ramps are yet. It also means that if you happen to have a fussy neighbor that doesn’t care for, or understand the sport of skateboarding that you will be forced to remove your ramp. I know this because this is exactly the reason I have ended up creating this website in the first place. They stated that there is an “option provided by the Health Department for an administrative hearing process”. This is nothing more then a bureaucratic way of telling you that you can go ahead, and jump through a bunch of hoops just to be told that you can’t have a miniramp anyway. I know this because I personally called, and spoke with one Mr. James Bennett to ask him what my options might be in this situation. I spoke with him in a very civilized manner, and explained my side of the story. I had just invested nearly $3000 in Ramp-Armor to resurface the ramp, so please hear me out here. I explained that I am a 30 year old man who skates my ramp no more then a few afternoons per week to get a little needed exercise, and mental escape from the daily grind. I am anything but disruptive with my ramp. He went on to argue in circles with me until it was clear they had no interest in listening to me, or any of my reasons for believing that owning a ramp is a right I deserve to have. Neither Mr. James Bennett nor anyone else from the SLVHD informed me of the option to go through the “administrative hearing process”, but instead told me that I had no options except to tear down my ramp, and remove it from my property immediately. Funny now they have added the “option” to go through an administrative process after their inbox has been flooded with a passion for skateboarding. Not good enough! People are allowed to use a skill saw in their yard from 7:am to 10:pm, but a mini-ramp is unacceptable?!?! Not Good Enough, and WE THE PEOPLE will not accept this reply.
“Salt Lake City is unable to make changes to the existing ordinance”???? This also translates to: We don’t care what our citizens think, and are unwilling to listen to their concerns....especially those who are involved in skateboarding.
Dear Concerned Resident: Thank you for your comments relating to the recently adopted Salt Lake Valley Health Department Noise Ordinance and its regulations on sporting ramps. The Salt Lake City Council Office has researched the issue and confirmed that due to the Health Department’s jurisdiction over incorporated and unincorporated areas, Salt Lake City is unable to make changes to the existing ordinance. However, I have been informed that the ordinance is being enforced on a complaint driven basis. The basis for the development of this specific regulation relates to the above-ground status of the structures. The above-ground construction affects the lower structures due to the impact of sound being amplified by repetitive noise. If a violation is located and enforced upon, there is an option provided by the Health Department for an administrative hearing process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact James Bennett or Diane Keay at 801.468.2750 or click on any of the links for a shortcut to their email address. You may also contact the main office of the Salt Lake Valley Department of Health.
Translation of the above statement: So basically what they are saying here is that they are unwilling to change the ordinance, and that it is “COMPLAINT DRIVEN”. This just means that they don’t know where all the ramps are yet. It also means that if you happen to have a fussy neighbor that doesn’t care for, or understand the sport of skateboarding that you will be forced to remove your ramp. I know this because this is exactly the reason I have ended up creating this website in the first place. They stated that there is an “option provided by the Health Department for an administrative hearing process”. This is nothing more then a bureaucratic way of telling you that you can go ahead, and jump through a bunch of hoops just to be told that you can’t have a miniramp anyway. I know this because I personally called, and spoke with one Mr. James Bennett to ask him what my options might be in this situation. I spoke with him in a very civilized manner, and explained my side of the story. I had just invested nearly $3000 in Ramp-Armor to resurface the ramp, so please hear me out here. I explained that I am a 30 year old man who skates my ramp no more then a few afternoons per week to get a little needed exercise, and mental escape from the daily grind. I am anything but disruptive with my ramp. He went on to argue in circles with me until it was clear they had no interest in listening to me, or any of my reasons for believing that owning a ramp is a right I deserve to have. Neither Mr. James Bennett nor anyone else from the SLVHD informed me of the option to go through the “administrative hearing process”, but instead told me that I had no options except to tear down my ramp, and remove it from my property immediately. Funny now they have added the “option” to go through an administrative process after their inbox has been flooded with a passion for skateboarding. Not good enough! People are allowed to use a skill saw in their yard from 7:am to 10:pm, but a mini-ramp is unacceptable?!?! Not Good Enough, and WE THE PEOPLE will not accept this reply.
“Salt Lake City is unable to make changes to the existing ordinance”???? This also translates to: We don’t care what our citizens think, and are unwilling to listen to their concerns....especially those who are involved in skateboarding.