Man kills himself over Council vote

[jennie]

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/05/owner...ref=mpstoryview

Man kills self in front of City Council after zoning decision

* Story Highlights

* NEW: Barber shop popular with 101st Airborne soldiers

* Barber shop owner wanted his home rezoned as commercial

* Before shooting self, man said: "Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here"

* Audience of about 50 ushered into hallway, where several people were sobbing

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday night after members voted against his request to rezone his property, witnesses said.

art.piper.ap.jpg

Mayor Johnny Piper, third from left, talks with City Council members and others outside City Hall

Ronald "Bo" Ward, owner of Bo's Barber Shop, had told the council his business would go under if he couldn't get his home rezoned as commercial. After the 5-7 vote Thursday night, Ward stood and walked toward the council.

"Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here," he said before shooting himself in the head with a small handgun.

............................................

It struck me that his behaviour was not so different than many people who seem desperate, seem to believe everything is a tragedy waiting to happen to them personally. It is such a shame that someone allows himself to become so bent out of shape and unstable over such an issue.

Should they have rezoned for him to prevent this personal tragedy?

[M.Dancer]

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday ............................................

It struck me that his behaviour was not so different than many people who seem desperate, seem to believe everything is a tragedy waiting to happen to them personally. It is such a shame that someone allows himself to become so bent out of shape and unstable over such an issue.

Should they have rezoned for him to prevent this personal tragedy?

This is in the wrong forum

[mikedavid00]

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/05/owner...ref=mpstoryview

Man kills self in front of City Council after zoning decision

Dang!! you made my turn on the radio.. i was listening to Norah Jones!!

I thought you mean Toronto city council!!

[kengs333]

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/05/owner...ref=mpstoryview

Man kills self in front of City Council after zoning decision

* Story Highlights

* NEW: Barber shop popular with 101st Airborne soldiers

* Barber shop owner wanted his home rezoned as commercial

* Before shooting self, man said: "Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here"

* Audience of about 50 ushered into hallway, where several people were sobbing

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday night after members voted against his request to rezone his property, witnesses said.

art.piper.ap.jpg

Mayor Johnny Piper, third from left, talks with City Council members and others outside City Hall

Ronald "Bo" Ward, owner of Bo's Barber Shop, had told the council his business would go under if he couldn't get his home rezoned as commercial. After the 5-7 vote Thursday night, Ward stood and walked toward the council.

"Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here," he said before shooting himself in the head with a small handgun.

............................................

It struck me that his behaviour was not so different than many people who seem desperate, seem to believe everything is a tragedy waiting to happen to them personally. It is such a shame that someone allows himself to become so bent out of shape and unstable over such an issue.

Should they have rezoned for him to prevent this personal tragedy?

What do you mean, "bent out of shape"? The guy made a living through his business, probably was just getting by, and for some reason the city can't change the property to commercial. Why? Not everyone is Donald Trump, having the ability to re-invent themselves when the need arises. All his hardwork, his independence was what was voted on. Killing oneself is a little extreme, but who wouldn't be indignant if in his position?

[shavluk]

It sadly comes down to the who voted against it as 5 had given it the nod.

As an ex real estate professional for the simple cost of a proper method this probably would have passed.

Seems a shame he didn't realize what he was dealing with and dealt accordingly.

With my political work my existence is always been pulled out from under me.

This latest chess move of mine has come down to a supreme court action between the city and the federal government to remove me, have your enemy's pay for the games is what I do.

He had many options to what he chose , sadly most never know the pressure he obviously felt.

Obviously wasn't a cannabis user.

And must not have been an alcohol user either as they were not shot instead of him.

Now when the mayors friend buys it and the zoning changes easily will anyone notice?

Edited October 7, 2007 by shavluk

[Shakeyhands]

sad...long term solution for what mayhave been a temporary problem...

makes one wonder if he hadn't hada gun would he still be with us. Its too easy to put the gun to ones head and pull.

[bush_cheney2004]

This is in the wrong forum

Yep, unless a Clarksville, Tennessee suicide has something to do with Canadian provincial politics.

[capricorn]

Poor soul. No doubt he was on the brink well before he committed suicide. One thing we can be thankful is that he did not commit violence against anyone else.

[kengs333]

Yep, unless a Clarksville, Tennessee suicide has something to do with Canadian provincial politics.

Does it come as a surprise, though?

[ScottSA]

It sadly comes down to the who voted against it as 5 had given it the nod.

As an ex real estate professional for the simple cost of a proper method this probably would have passed.

Seems a shame he didn't realize what he was dealing with and dealt accordingly.

With my political work my existence is always been pulled out from under me.

This latest chess move of mine has come down to a supreme court action between the city and the federal government to remove me, have your enemy's pay for the games is what I do.

He had many options to what he chose , sadly most never know the pressure he obviously felt.

Obviously wasn't a cannabis user.

And must not have been an alcohol user either as they were not shot instead of him.

Now when the mayors friend buys it and the zoning changes easily will anyone notice?

Why aren't you under professional care?

[Wilber]

Where was this home? You live in a nice residential area and one guy in the middle of it manages to get his rezoned as commercial because after all he is just some schnook running a little barbering business in his basement. He says he is doing it because it will increase his property value so he can get a loan. Increases his property value. There's a hint. Turns around and sell sit to some other business for far more than the other homes in the neighbourhood. New owner tears house down and puts in who knows what kind of business next door to you. After all, it's still zoned commercial, that's why he bought it. No wonder they turned it down. If they hadn't some of them might have got shot by the neigbours who didn't want one of Shavluks newly legalized grows next door.

[Moxie]

Poor soul. No doubt he was on the brink well before he committed suicide. One thing we can be thankful is that he did not commit violence against anyone else.

That's what I think also, he was unstable and this issue pushed him over the edge. However, my local council are facist nazies, we have garbage police that dig through our trash lest we toss in a piece of contraband paper. Gaspppppppppppppppppp, recyclables in the garbage is a serious offense in my town.

[capricorn]

However, my local council are facist nazies, we have garbage police that dig through our trash lest we toss in a piece of contraband paper. Gaspppppppppppppppppp, recyclables in the garbage is a serious offense in my town.

I saw a media story about a group of Canadian anti-smoking physicians digging through garbage left at curbside looking for contraband cigarette packages.

[ScottSA]

That's what I think also, he was unstable and this issue pushed him over the edge. However, my local council are facist nazies, we have garbage police that dig through our trash lest we toss in a piece of contraband paper. Gaspppppppppppppppppp, recyclables in the garbage is a serious offense in my town.

You're kidding, right?

[kengs333]

That's what I think also, he was unstable and this issue pushed him over the edge. However, my local council are facist nazies, we have garbage police that dig through our trash lest we toss in a piece of contraband paper. Gaspppppppppppppppppp, recyclables in the garbage is a serious offense in my town.

I think the point of is to divert materials that are recyclable from ending up in the landfill. Most landfills have limited capacities, and there is always a huge problem when it comes to finding a new site. Nobody likes to have a stinking landfill within smelling distance of their valuable country home, right? If this constitutes "facist nazies [sic]" behaviour to you, then I'd suggest you have much growing up to do.

[jazzer]

Why aren't you under professional care?

Why don't you quit insulting people?

[Guest American Woman]

I know I wouldn't want any of my neighbors' homes zoned commercial. I live where I do because I want to live in a residential area. Since this man owned his property, he should have sold it and bought in an area that was zoned commercial. While it's sad that he killed himself, it isn't anyone else's fault. At least he didn't harm anyone else, as others have already pointed out. Seems too many want to take others out along with them these days.

[shavluk]

I know I wouldn't want any of my neighbors' homes zoned commercial. I live where I do because I want to live in a residential area. Since this man owned his property, he should have sold it and bought in an area that was zoned commercial. While it's sad that he killed himself, it isn't anyone else's fault. At least he didn't harm anyone else, as others have already pointed out. Seems too many want to take others out along with them these days.

With all due respect, but what happens in reality is zoning is changed this way all the time.

Its a natural process done as the neighborhood grows and I think it was mentioned he was doing it for years and it probably with a little more effort could have been approved (he had 5-7)

I just wonder why the fact that he must have had a business license because he operated for years , wasn't the reason for a simple suit to remedy the fact that they excepted payment for the license.

No this happens all the time. What mostly happens is at busy intersections real estate agents go and buy a bunch of the properties individually then sell the rezoned chunk to MacDonald's for 5-10 times as much as each individual would have gotten. Done it myself.

Like I said,,,

WATCH WHO BUYS IT AND DONT BE SUPRISED IF IT MAY BE THE GUY THAT ALREADY OWNED THE OTHER , LETS SAY 5 A JOINING PROPERTIES AND WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO GOLF WITH THE MAYOR ,,,, SADLY !

[Wilber]

You don't rezone one property in an area, you rezone the whole area. There are public hearings before an area is rezoned. Maybe the neighbours said no way. If the council did it anyway and it drove residential values down, the city could be held libel. The reason we have zoning is so that people know what they are buying.

There are several people on my street run businesses out of their homes. My next door neighbour is an accountant. Two doors over on the other side is a vet. They have business licenses but the street is zoned residential. There is no way the rest of us would put up with their places being zoned commercial if they didn't do it for the rest of us. Their property value would go up and ours would go down. The link doesn't go into much detail except that it seems the guy had a similar operation but wanted his place rezoned just to increase his property value so he could get a loan. If that's the only reason, I'm surprised he got five votes.

[Moxie]

I think the point of is to divert materials that are recyclable from ending up in the landfill. Most landfills have limited capacities, and there is always a huge problem when it comes to finding a new site. Nobody likes to have a stinking landfill within smelling distance of their valuable country home, right? If this constitutes "facist nazies [sic]" behaviour to you, then I'd suggest you have much growing up to do.

No Scot I'm not kidding, it appears the left leaning socialist fools think a piece of paper in the garbage is a criminal offense. Considering the rise in crime by youths in NS I'd think they would use the police for real criminals. Yes it's punishable by a fine and big ole sticker on your trash.

They are facist nazies, digging through my trash without proper training or hazmat gear is just stupid. My neighbour has an infant and handling my dirty sanitary pads and diapers without proper gear and training is planly stupid. Then again that's what the eco terrorist/idiots advocate, oh and I'm a green to the core. I doubt the mayor would know what a composter is if it feel on her nazi head, and the local contractor hauls the recyclables to the dump. Only I've been forced to clean them first. Recycling is another leftest idea run amok, Fifth Estate should do an undercover episode on where these products end up. The DUMP.

As for growing up keng, tisk tisk another attack from a the left on this forum. It's becoming a habit with you flakes isn't it? Don't dish it out sooky if you can't handle a rebuttal with the same kind of insulting language. I suppose it beat the lefts tripe and snot and bawlings and rantings on their soap box (play pin) Racist, bigot, hater. Ya all need to get a new dictionary.

[shavluk]

You don't rezone one property in an area, you rezone the whole area. There are public hearings before an area is rezoned. Maybe the neighbours said no way. If the council did it anyway and it drove residential values down, the city could be held libel. The reason we have zoning is so that people know what they are buying.

There are several people on my street run businesses out of their homes. My next door neighbour is an accountant. Two doors over on the other side is a vet. They have business licenses but the street is zoned residential. There is no way the rest of us would put up with their places being zoned commercial if they didn't do it for the rest of us. Their property value would go up and ours would go down. The link doesn't go into much detail except that it seems the guy had a similar operation but wanted his place rezoned just to increase his property value so he could get a loan. If that's the only reason, I'm surprised he got five votes.

****You don't rezone one property in an area, you rezone the whole area***

Wrong !!PERIOD !!

******The link doesn't go into much detail******

stop there because your description of your neighbors activity would never have 5 votes it would be zero votes in your case,,

so we know your thoughts are probably wrong.

[Posit]

****You don't rezone one property in an area, you rezone the whole area***

Wrong !!PERIOD !!

******The link doesn't go into much detail******

stop there because your description of your neighbors activity would never have 5 votes it would be zero votes in your case,,

so we know your thoughts are probably wrong.

In Ontario municipalities must provide an Official Plan which identifies long term (25 year period usually) where growth can occur and where commercial growth can expand to. All Zoning By-laws must conform to the Official Plan. While an Official Plan might identify neighbourhoods and districts, the Zoning By-laws describe specific plots of land based in a reasonable commercial, industrial or residential use, or for open space or agricultural use. They are not taken lightly and when someone applies for a rezoning, there must be sound and reasonable planning reasons to allow an amendment to the zoning. If the zoning is prohibited under the Official Plan it must be denied unless an amendment has been made to the Official Plan (this is a much more difficult, costly and time-consuming process). If the proposed zoning would create an undesirable condition, such as increased traffic, increased pollution or noise, then it would not likely to succeed. Very rarely would a council take emotional arguments or complaints about the applicants seriously and all rezoning must meet certain tests of eligibility to be approved.

The point is that simply applying for a rezoning does not make it right and if the application was turned down it would likely have been denied on the basis of planning principles alone. There is nothing sinister or underhanded about it. It is just the laws of the municipality. People who start up businesses in their homes are not exempted from having to comply regardless if the costs of moving, ruin the business. If the margins on a small business are that low, then the business was not successful at all.

Edited October 8, 2007 by Posit

[ScottSA]

If the people liable to kill themselves every time the government rules against them were to be encouraged to do just that, the gene pool would be quite a bit better served. I fail to see what all the discussion is about, frankly. Some guy killed himself. If he didn't do it over this thing, he would have done it over something else. Very sad, but what does it have to do with zoning laws?

[Visionseeker]

If the people liable to kill themselves every time the government rules against them were to be encouraged to do just that, the gene pool would be quite a bit better served. I fail to see what all the discussion is about, frankly. Some guy killed himself. If he didn't do it over this thing, he would have done it over something else. Very sad, but what does it have to do with zoning laws?

Though I don’t share ScottSA’s tact, I have to agree that attributing this man’s suicide to a re-zoning issue is wrong. While it may very well have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, one needs to look at the load that the camel was bearing to really understand what happened here.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Very true. There was more going on than was reported.