Villa Park Turns Big Brother… I Say “Good!”
An editorial article in the OC Register this Sunday caught my eye (“Villa Park is watching“). It was a commentary on Villa Park’s new regulations on soliciting. Per the article, in July, the City passed an anti-soliciting ordinance that makes “it illegal to drop flyers off at people’s front doors or solicit anything before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and it requires that those who distribute flyers pay $100 for a permit.” Also, “Anyone who distributes such materials or solicits business must avoid homes on the city’s ‘do not solicit’ registry.”
Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, a public supporter of the new regulation, claims that it’s to help keep “burglars and other evlidoers” out of the city. What’s funny, is that Pauly was recenlty investigated for posting her political signs on properties (and of those who didn’t even support her). So, what? Keep those thugs out, but put my signs and political PR in your yards… great message from one of the Villa Park’s leaders. There’s also been a movement to recall Pauly from office, but has not been successful.
While the OC Register’s editor seems to be up in arms about this new regulation: “We didn’t know it was the role of the government to ‘get a handle’ on who is ‘supposed’ to be there. It’s pretty creepy for a city to want to register and monitor visitors. It’s another reminder of how local officials are eager to tax, regulate and monitor our lives – all for our own good, of course.” To this, I say, have you ever been home alone and two large men come knocking on your door at 9 p.m. trying to sell you candy bars for whatever cause? While, of course, they could have been legitimate and really trying to help their after school program (or whatever it was), it was still a little scary. I’ve never wished my husband was home and that we had a bigger dog more. And, haven’t you heard of these strings of break-in’s recently targeting elderly woman? Someone posing as a solicitor is a perfect way for someone to gauge a house for a break-in.
If I lived in Villa Park, would I sign up on this “do not solicit” list? You bet! Do I feel bad for the Girl Scouts and other non-profits (who are supposed to be exempt, but there doesn’t seem to be any protection in the regulation)? Eh, kind of. Do I think it’s a little strict and a little bit too much big brother? Sure. However, in this case, I would be willing to sacrifice a little personal freedom for additional protection. Besides, why the heck do you really need to be coming to my house 7 p.m. or leaving me your business cards on my doorstep? If I need a tree trimmer, I’ll ask my neighbors for a reference… or, heaven forbid, I’d look in the yellow pages.
