<html><div style='background-color:#336600'><P><BR>Robert and SOKC:</P>
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<P>This regulatory snafu sounds like a bad situation. What problem does the city have with this 'home' operation? Does she need a sales tax permit? Is this a zoning issue or does it have health code issues? I agree that it would be much easier to allow the small operation to exist in peace. Sounds like her business has been pretty benign and a good economic contributor to the N. Western community, which could benefit from smart growth development. On the other hand it's good to know there's options like CSA's and the Coop. as alternative paths.</P>
<P>PS-Good luck with the Coop dinner this weekend. Anna, Harper, and I can't come cause we'll be tied up this year with Tulsa Neighborhood Block Party Day. Here's to another great food policy year in Oklahoma.</P>
<P>Seneca Scott <BR><BR></P></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"Robert Waldrop" <bwaldrop@cox.net></I><BR>To: <I><okc@sustainableokc.org></I><BR>Subject: <I>[Okc] An agriculture-regulatory outrage in OKC</I><BR>Date: <I>Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:41:56 -0500</I><BR>>In the summer before we organized the Oklahoma<BR>>Food Cooperative, while we were working on the<BR>>details, I was up on North Western in OKC and<BR>>noticed a little sign in front of a house, "Fresh<BR>>Vegetables for Sale". I stopped and bought some<BR>>potatoes. They were very good. The lady there<BR>>has 3 acres and for many years has grown<BR>>vegetables on her property and sold them. It's<BR>>not exactly a Wal Mart scale operation.<BR>><BR>>She called me this morning and told me that this<BR>>year the city told her she had to have a
license.<BR>>She went down to get one, but was told that she<BR>>couldn't sell ANYTHING from her home.<BR>><BR>>We talked a bit about the co-op, and I also<BR>>explained the CSA concept to her. She is going to<BR>>think about her options and decide early in the<BR>>spring whether she will continue to grow and sell<BR>>vegetables or just stop market gardening<BR>>altogether.<BR>><BR>>The culprits here are the Oklahoma City Council<BR>>and whoever is in charge of their licensing<BR>>operation.<BR>><BR>>I invite everybody to send emails/letters to the<BR>>mayor of Oklahoma City, and their city council<BR>>persons and let them know what you think about<BR>>this regulatory travesty. People who live outside<BR>>of Oklahoma City should contact the Mayor of<BR>>Oklahoma City.<BR>><BR>>You'd think the city
would welcome this kind of<BR>>entrepreneurial activity. It creates wealth and<BR>>increases the quality of life for everyone in the<BR>>city. It's about time Oklahoma City government<BR>>started to operate to embrace the core values of<BR>>our cooperative: economic viability,<BR>>environmental sustainability, and social justice.<BR>><BR>>Robert Waldrop<BR>>Oklahoma Food Cooperative<BR>><BR>>CONTACT INFO FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL<BR>><BR>>Mick Cornett, Mayor , mayor@okc.gov<BR>>00 N Walker, 3rd Floor<BR>>Oklahoma City, OK 73102<BR>>405-297-2424<BR>>fax 405-297-3759<BR>><BR>>Note: if sending snail mail, the addresses below<BR>>will all be Oklahoma City, OK 73102.<BR>><BR>>Garry Mars, Ward 1, ward1@okc.gov ,<BR>>His contact info was not listed at the City's<BR>>website, but it looks
like they all have the same<BR>>fax number, 297-3003<BR>><BR>>Sam Bowman, Ward 2, ward2@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2402<BR>>405 297-3003 Fax<BR>><BR>>Lawrence McAtee, Jr., Ward 3 ward3@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2404<BR>>405 297-3003 Fax<BR>><BR>>Pete White, Ward 4, ward4@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2402<BR>>Fax 405 297-3003<BR>><BR>>Jerry Foshee, Ward 5, ward5@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2569<BR>>Fax 405 297-3003<BR>><BR>>Ann Simank, Ward 6, ward6@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2402<BR>>Fax 405 297-3003<BR>><BR>>Willa Johnson, Ward 7, ward7@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd floor<BR>>405 297-2569<BR>>Fax 405 297-3003<BR>><BR>>Patrick J. Ryan, Ward 8, ward8@okc.gov<BR>>200 N Walker, 3rd
floor<BR>>405 297-2404<BR>>Fax 405 297-3003<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>To unsubscribe or change to digest delivery mode:<BR>>http://www.sustainableokc.org/mailman/listinfo/okc<BR>>Go to the bottom of the website, enter your email address, and then edit your options.<BR>><BR>>To subscribe:<BR>>http://www.sustainableokc.org/mailman/listinfo/okc<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></div></html>