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| Topic: This angers me | |
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Talk about busybodies!
State to mom: Stop baby-sitting neighbors' kids
AP – By JAMES PRICHARD, Associated Press Writer – Tue Sep 29, 7:23 pm ET IRVING TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Each day before the school bus comes to pick up the neighborhood's children, Lisa Snyder did a favor for three of her fellow moms, welcoming their children into her home for about an hour before they left for school. Regulators who oversee child care, however, don't see it as charity. Days after the start of the new school year, Snyder received a letter from the Michigan Department of Human Services warning her that if she continued, she'd be violating a law aimed at the operators of unlicensed day care centers. "I was freaked out. I was blown away," she said. "I got on the phone immediately, called my husband, then I called all the girls" — that is, the mothers whose kids she watches — "every one of them." Snyder's predicament has led to a debate in Michigan about whether a law that says no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers needs to be changed. It also has irked parents who say they depend on such friendly offers to help them balance work and family. On Tuesday, agency Director Ismael Ahmed said good neighbors should be allowed to help each other ensure their children are safe. Gov. Jennifer Granholm instructed Ahmed to work with the state Legislature to change the law, he said. "Being a good neighbor means helping your neighbors who are in need," Ahmed said in a written statement. "This could be as simple as providing a cup of sugar, monitoring their house while they're on vacation or making sure their children are safe while they wait for the school bus." Snyder learned that the agency was responding to a neighbor's complaint. Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said the agency was following standard procedure in its response. "But we feel this (law) really gets in the way of common sense," Boyd said. "We want to protect kids, but the law needs to be reasonable," she said. "When the governor learned of this, she acted quickly and called the director personally to ask him to intervene." State Rep. Brian Calley, R-Portland, said he was working to draft legislation that would exempt situations like Snyder's from coverage under Michigan's current day care regulations. The bill will make it clear that people who aren't in business as day care providers don't need to be licensed, Calley said. "These are just kids that wait for the bus every morning," he said. "This is not a day care." Snyder, 35, lives in a rural subdivision in Barry County's Irving Township about 25 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. Her tidy, comfortable three-bedroom home is a designated school bus stop. The three neighbor children she watched — plus Snyder's first-grader, Grace — attend school about six miles away in Middleville. Snyder said she started watching the other children this school year to help her friends; they often baby-sit for each other during evenings and weekends. After receiving the state agency's letter, she said she called the agency and tried to explain that she wasn't running a day care center or accepting money from her friends. Under state law, no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers. Snyder said she stopped watching the other children immediately after receiving the letter, which was well within the four-week period. "I've lived in this community for 35 years and everyone I know has done some form of this," said Francie Brummel, 42, who would drop off her second-grade son, Colson, before heading to her job as deputy treasurer of the nearby city of Hastings. Other moms say they regularly deal with similar situations. Amy Cowan, 34, of Grosse Pointe Farms, a Detroit suburb, said she often takes turns with her sister, neighbor and friend watching each other's children. "The worst part of this whole thing, with the state of the economy ... two parents have to work," said Cowan, a corporate sales representative with a 5-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter. "When you throw in the fact that the state is getting involved, it gives women a hard time for going back to work. "I applaud the lady who takes in her neighbors' kids while they're waiting for the bus. She's enabling her peers to go to work and get a paycheck. The state should be thankful for that." Amy Maciaszek, 42, of McHenry, Ill., who works in direct sales, said she believes the state agency was "trying to be overprotective." "I think it does take a village and that's the best way," said Maciaszek, who has a 6-year-old boy and twin 3-year-old daughters. "Unfortunately you do have to be careful about that. These mothers are trying to do the right thing." Note the bold sentence in the story. What the hell ever happened to people minding their own damn business?? |
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Absolutely deplorable. Now I'm pissed too.
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Those neighbors should feel grateful to have such a kind person in their neighborhood. I just don't understand....
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Yeap, this whole thing came directly from the work of the neighborhood busybody........really sad too that someone has to go thur all this hassle when they are just trying to help other people to be able to go to work.
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i would almost bet the complaining neighbor is a licensed day care provider
the type of person children should be around (yep yep yep) 
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i would almost bet the complaining neighbor is a licensed day care provider the type of person children should be around (yep yep yep)
Trying to drum up some business! I think one of the reasons we even have issues with overly-strict laws of this nature is due in part to so many people running underground businesses. I saw a lot of this living in southern california. You know, its one thing for a person to make a hobby out of looking for great car deals, then flipping them, you know, like one or two a month - but some people run full blown black market car dealerships, and some of them are defrauding people. Same thing for people making food for others - one time, 1/3 the people in my building got food poisoning from the Burrito Man. People are breeding dogs - lots of them - for sale in their basement. And of course people want to protect their kids... and the kids of other people... without having to put the effort in themselves to research who is running the place. In craigslist in this area there were some people complaining/posting warning messages that they felt their kids were endangered by the unsafe practices of one of the underground CL day care places. People get over-protective about kids. I'm not saying I'm for or against any of this, I'm saying that I think this is one little part of the cause and effect in this picture. I think California is passing a new law re: selling cars. If I understood it, it seems draconian and over the top to me, but I think its partly in response to consumers being taken advantage of by underground car dealers. Mr_Music, As far as people minding their own business - I definitely stick my nose in other peoples business when I think they or their property is being wronged/endangered, and I can help. Or when people tell lies about others. I'm guessing you really mean 'why can't people leave a harmless situation alone', and I agree with you. But since I've had "mind your own business" thrown in my face by people whose anti-social acts I thwarted, I'm no fan of 'mind your own business' as a 'good value we should adhere to'. |
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I hope this event and news story leads people to change the law. We are already separated from each other, from our neighbors, in so many ways. And now its illegal to watch too many of our neighbors kids for too long, for free.
Is it still legal for me to give my neighbors tomatoes or zucchini - or do I need a farming license? |
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And in Michigan, I am sure there is some tax they want to collect too.
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Talk about busybodies! State to mom: Stop baby-sitting neighbors' kids
AP – By JAMES PRICHARD, Associated Press Writer – Tue Sep 29, 7:23 pm ET IRVING TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Each day before the school bus comes to pick up the neighborhood's children, Lisa Snyder did a favor for three of her fellow moms, welcoming their children into her home for about an hour before they left for school. Regulators who oversee child care, however, don't see it as charity. Days after the start of the new school year, Snyder received a letter from the Michigan Department of Human Services warning her that if she continued, she'd be violating a law aimed at the operators of unlicensed day care centers. "I was freaked out. I was blown away," she said. "I got on the phone immediately, called my husband, then I called all the girls" — that is, the mothers whose kids she watches — "every one of them." Snyder's predicament has led to a debate in Michigan about whether a law that says no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers needs to be changed. It also has irked parents who say they depend on such friendly offers to help them balance work and family. On Tuesday, agency Director Ismael Ahmed said good neighbors should be allowed to help each other ensure their children are safe. Gov. Jennifer Granholm instructed Ahmed to work with the state Legislature to change the law, he said. "Being a good neighbor means helping your neighbors who are in need," Ahmed said in a written statement. "This could be as simple as providing a cup of sugar, monitoring their house while they're on vacation or making sure their children are safe while they wait for the school bus." Snyder learned that the agency was responding to a neighbor's complaint. Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said the agency was following standard procedure in its response. "But we feel this (law) really gets in the way of common sense," Boyd said. "We want to protect kids, but the law needs to be reasonable," she said. "When the governor learned of this, she acted quickly and called the director personally to ask him to intervene." State Rep. Brian Calley, R-Portland, said he was working to draft legislation that would exempt situations like Snyder's from coverage under Michigan's current day care regulations. The bill will make it clear that people who aren't in business as day care providers don't need to be licensed, Calley said. "These are just kids that wait for the bus every morning," he said. "This is not a day care." Snyder, 35, lives in a rural subdivision in Barry County's Irving Township about 25 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. Her tidy, comfortable three-bedroom home is a designated school bus stop. The three neighbor children she watched — plus Snyder's first-grader, Grace — attend school about six miles away in Middleville. Snyder said she started watching the other children this school year to help her friends; they often baby-sit for each other during evenings and weekends. After receiving the state agency's letter, she said she called the agency and tried to explain that she wasn't running a day care center or accepting money from her friends. Under state law, no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers. Snyder said she stopped watching the other children immediately after receiving the letter, which was well within the four-week period. "I've lived in this community for 35 years and everyone I know has done some form of this," said Francie Brummel, 42, who would drop off her second-grade son, Colson, before heading to her job as deputy treasurer of the nearby city of Hastings. Other moms say they regularly deal with similar situations. Amy Cowan, 34, of Grosse Pointe Farms, a Detroit suburb, said she often takes turns with her sister, neighbor and friend watching each other's children. "The worst part of this whole thing, with the state of the economy ... two parents have to work," said Cowan, a corporate sales representative with a 5-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter. "When you throw in the fact that the state is getting involved, it gives women a hard time for going back to work. "I applaud the lady who takes in her neighbors' kids while they're waiting for the bus. She's enabling her peers to go to work and get a paycheck. The state should be thankful for that." Amy Maciaszek, 42, of McHenry, Ill., who works in direct sales, said she believes the state agency was "trying to be overprotective." "I think it does take a village and that's the best way," said Maciaszek, who has a 6-year-old boy and twin 3-year-old daughters. "Unfortunately you do have to be careful about that. These mothers are trying to do the right thing." Note the bold sentence in the story. What the hell ever happened to people minding their own damn business?? Some neighbor is pissed off because she is watching them for free and they would probably charge these parents for the same service, and do it WITHOUT A LICENSE! |
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Sooooooooo....
technically, she is a criminal for breaking the law. The parents of the kids are letting thier children stay unattended with a known criminal. I got $20 that says CPS is gonna go after those irresponsible parents. |
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Sooooooooo.... technically, she is a criminal for breaking the law. The parents of the kids are letting thier children stay unattended with a known criminal. I got $20 that says CPS is gonna go after those irresponsible parents. Yes,these children need to be protected from................... Oh, yeah, a good neighbor in what sounds like a real community. ?????? |
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Absolutely, she is a provider that pays fees to be a provider. To be fair, if the woman is gaining income from watching the kids, SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL THE FEES OF A CHILd CARE PROVIDER. If there is no monetary gain, then the person doing the reporting should forever remain silent and put the matter to bed.
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Michigan government is notorious for that sort of thing:
STATE OF MICHIGAN Reply to: GRAND RAPIDS DISTRICT OFFICE STATE OFFICE BUILDING 6TH FLOOR 350 OTTAWA NW GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503-2341 JOHN ENGLER, Governor DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HOLLISTER BUILDING, PO BOX 30473, LANSING MI 48909-7973 INTERNET: http://www.deq.state.mi us RUSSELL J. HARDING, Director December 17, 1997 CERTIFIED Mr. Ryan DeVries 2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339 Dear Mr. DeVries: SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm Count-,), It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files show that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301,. Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially, failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division 616-356-0269 dlp:bjc cc: LWMD, Lansing MontcaImCEA Pierson Township Lieutenant Mary C. Sherzer, DNR LED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reply: Stephen and Rosalind Tvedten 2530 Hayes Street Marne, MI 49435-9751 616-677-1261 616-677-1262 Fax steve@getipm.com 1/6/98 David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division Grand Rapids District Office State Office Bldg., 6th Floor 350 Ottawa, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2341 Dear Mr. Price: Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response. First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris". I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no dam way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated. My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said dam representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter -- being unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda first. As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy - or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice! In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem; bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. Sincerely, Stephen L.Tvedten xc: PETA |
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Pffffffft! That is freakin' typical! I've heard that Michigan is a P I T A state...just gives me one more reason not to visit...
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Note the bold sentence in the story. What the hell ever happened to people minding their own damn business??
You can thank your Socialist Govt. It seems they make laws to fit the few, not the majority. Bob Out |
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and people actually wonder why I left the state of Michigan and have no intentions of ever moving back.
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and people actually wonder why I left the state of Michigan and have no intentions of ever moving back. How are you and the kids? Hope all worked out with your CS. |
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Edited by
daniel48706
on
Wed 09/30/09 07:02 AM
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neighbor should just mind own business.
  can't stand nosey neighbors.
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i would almost bet the complaining neighbor is a licensed day care provider Or just someone holding a grudge against one of the other two ladies. |
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