Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Regulate This

Remember Max's enthusiasm for the pumpkin stand? Well, it's taken a small hit. You know that old saying where it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission? Turns out that's also true when it comes to selling orange fruit.

Max called the City of Abq to make sure there were no requirements to setting up again in the Quanz parking lot. Ha!! Apparently it matters to whom you speak at city offices. Two years ago he got someone who told him all we needed was our 501 c 3 letter in case anyone ever asked. That advice served us well the last two years. This year we now need:

  • a temporary food license for raw produce
  • a solicitors' license
  • two passport pictures to put on above mentioned license
  • permit for any temporary structures built--two blueprint drawings of each structure
  • two site plans for whole site
  • administrative amendment for land usage--one copy of original Quanz site plan, five copies of proposed pumpkin stand with all structures, displays, parking, etc.
  • a written letter of permission from the owner of Quanz allowing us to use the place
  • a letter describing in detail our intentions


Hopefully by December 1st we can get all requirements met to open up the pumpkin stand.

Doesn't pay to inquire.

14 comments:

Our life is a bowl of Barry's said...

Isn't that so frustrating? Everyone sells a different story....irritating..grrrr.....hope you all can get it done!!

Unknown said...

Wow, that is just crazy. but it is too bad that it works that way. It always depend who you talk to!!

Melissa said...

Oh my goodeness!! That's crazy!! That's a lot of things needed!!

Andrea said...

Oh my goodness!! Why don't you do all that and jump up and down and do a little dance!! what the heck!! That is crazy!! Maybe Max should call back tomorrow and see if he gets someone else?

Auntie Nee said...

WOW!!!! Thats no fun at all.

MaskedMan said...

Distinctly sounds to my suspicious mind like someone at City Hall wants to crush small produce stands completely. Those are seriously excessive requirements, in my mind.

Whatta buncha baloney.
>:(

Cindy said...

That's ridiculous! Can you pretend you never asked and play dumb? Sorry, just thinking out loud here:/

Samantha said...

But the good news is, you'll also be able to sell zucchini. ;) And possibly carrots.

Bob said...

Government bureaucracy at work! I feel so much better now about government-managed healthcare. (You knew that kind of remark was bound to come up sooner or later, didn't you?!)

Robin said...

That's just crazy! Will you be able to get it all done?

Keri said...

Moly Cow! Ridiculous!

TjandMark said...

"God is GREAT, Beer is good, and PEOPLE are crazy"...especially pencil pushers. Good luck. It does look doable, just tiresome. We initially had similar problems with selling meat at the farmers market. This year though, some more influential people decided to make a go of it too, and they were able to point out that the requirements were unnecessary. Sooo, my advice, get some influential people.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Isn't beaurocracy swell?
That's just such a shame that they make you go through such hoops. I see people vending on our highways all the time. Have they got all the required permits, I wonder?

Anonymous said...

City employees must be bored....take names, always helps to throw it back at 'em when they change the rules!