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Cross in elderly LA woman's yard stirs controversy
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44604840/ns/us_news/
9/21/11
LOS ANGELES — A nearly 25-foot cross in the front yard of an elderly woman's home is stirring controversy in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
Neighbors complain the cross is an eyesore that is attracting unwanted attention to their San Fernando Valley cul-de-sac and hurting their property values.
The cross has drops of blood-red paint in the area where Jesus' hands and feet would have been nailed. It also features a crown of thorns and a sign that says, "Jesus I trust in you."
"When you turn down our cul-de-sac, it looks like there is a church on our street," Laurie Biener of the West Hills neighborhood told the Daily News (http://bit.ly/o2JvuK ).
Neighbors' complaints have prompted city building inspectors to take a look at the cross. They're expected to determine this week whether it complies with zoning rules or should be removed.
Homeowner Laly Dobener said she erected the cross to express her devotion to her Catholic faith and hopes her religious freedom will be protected.
"I don't understand what my neighbors are so upset about," the 72-year-old told the newspaper. "This cross isn't hurting anyone."
9/21/11
LOS ANGELES — A nearly 25-foot cross in the front yard of an elderly woman's home is stirring controversy in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
Neighbors complain the cross is an eyesore that is attracting unwanted attention to their San Fernando Valley cul-de-sac and hurting their property values.
The cross has drops of blood-red paint in the area where Jesus' hands and feet would have been nailed. It also features a crown of thorns and a sign that says, "Jesus I trust in you."
"When you turn down our cul-de-sac, it looks like there is a church on our street," Laurie Biener of the West Hills neighborhood told the Daily News (http://bit.ly/o2JvuK ).
Neighbors' complaints have prompted city building inspectors to take a look at the cross. They're expected to determine this week whether it complies with zoning rules or should be removed.
Homeowner Laly Dobener said she erected the cross to express her devotion to her Catholic faith and hopes her religious freedom will be protected.
"I don't understand what my neighbors are so upset about," the 72-year-old told the newspaper. "This cross isn't hurting anyone."
I think some people just like to gripe. A crackhouse next door I could understand, I can even understand someone having an old car up on a jack and working on it in a deed restricted ares. But what harm can having a cross in your own yard do to someone else? I mean come on! Maybe it confronts them with their own shortcomings? People need to get a grip.
I am not Catholic, and I wouldnt care to have a large cross in my yard, but its her yard.
I think its an eyesore to have anything other than nature in your yard, but everyone is different. Some like those giant art things make out of junk metal.(cringe)
Some like statues. Some like flags...even pot flags. Some like creepy halloween stuff all over their yard year round. People should be able to have their yards how they want them.
I'd never consider doing anything like this. I don't understand the personal benefit of doing so and see no benefit for the community at large. IMO
In my home town, there was this real eccentric couple who adorned their yard with all kids of stuff.... half of a car, wooden tipis, random park benches made out of everything under the sun, and before too long the place looked like a salvage yard. The city came after them and made them clean their yard up.
In my home town, there was this real eccentric couple who adorned their yard with all kids of stuff.... half of a car, wooden tipis, random park benches made out of everything under the sun, and before too long the place looked like a salvage yard. The city came after them and made them clean their yard up.
The 25 foot cross demonstrates why developed communities should have zoning regulations.
I think I'll put up a 25-foot swastika in my front yard.
It's not doing anyone harm, so no one should care...
It's not doing anyone harm, so no one should care...
Ya know, I love a nice cross. But a 25 foot decoration in any front yard is an eye sore.
I guess I should explain myself more clearly. IF and I mean IF one lives in an area that IS deed restricted and have rules as to what they can and cannot display in their yard, AND the 25 ft (extreme size I agree) cross is breaking the rules, then of course she should have to take it down. Obviously, IF there are no deed restrictions and the fellow next door is allowed to have a car up on a jack and work on it in his own driveway, or if the house next to him is a crackhouse, and if there is no KKK or hood on the cross, and it is NOT a swastica or anything else that does harm, then it in fact is the old womans business. So to clarify myself, it depends on where you live and what the rules are if any. WITHIN the confines of common sense el. I dont call a swastica harmless considering what it stands for do you?
Did anyone hear of the goofiness in some California town that is trying to limit a home owner as to how many guests they can have over for a bible study group?
Heard that on the news yesterday or perhaps early this morning. (Bricey got no coffee this morning) The town is going to try to make them purchase all of the permits a church would have to have.
Heard that on the news yesterday or perhaps early this morning. (Bricey got no coffee this morning) The town is going to try to make them purchase all of the permits a church would have to have.
I think the comment of the swastika was for me because I said people should be able to have what they want in their yard.
I find a lot of things harmful that maybe others dont. I dont like that people will promote drugs with flags, or promote other acts I believe are harmful to society, but people generally have as "decor" what they stand for. I may not like it, I may find it offnesive, I may think its contributing to the decline of society, but I feel if its in their yard they have a right to have those things. I do think there should be limits on the size of these things people have, for example..if a neighbor can not see past the "decor' its blocking their veiw..then thats not ok. In a perfect world people would be considerate of one another, but we all know that will not happen. If we tell her she cant have a 25 foot cross, then the neighbor next door can not have 25 feet of their house have a mural on the outside, becaue that may be offensive, and the other neighbor can not have a flag pole flying the marajuna flag, and then there is the neigbhor that has a 30 foot bird feeder...that just happens to be a very ugly color and shape...art to them, ugly to me. I dont know...just my opinion.
I find a lot of things harmful that maybe others dont. I dont like that people will promote drugs with flags, or promote other acts I believe are harmful to society, but people generally have as "decor" what they stand for. I may not like it, I may find it offnesive, I may think its contributing to the decline of society, but I feel if its in their yard they have a right to have those things. I do think there should be limits on the size of these things people have, for example..if a neighbor can not see past the "decor' its blocking their veiw..then thats not ok. In a perfect world people would be considerate of one another, but we all know that will not happen. If we tell her she cant have a 25 foot cross, then the neighbor next door can not have 25 feet of their house have a mural on the outside, becaue that may be offensive, and the other neighbor can not have a flag pole flying the marajuna flag, and then there is the neigbhor that has a 30 foot bird feeder...that just happens to be a very ugly color and shape...art to them, ugly to me. I dont know...just my opinion.
I have heard that issue before. Is there a parking issue going on?
I think it all boils down to courtesy. Shame people dont seem to care about their neighbors anymore. How did we ever live all these years without all the petty garbage I have no clue.
I agree...
I'll agree that a cross is pretty harmless, as far as yard'displays go. I was using the swastika to make a point (I don't think I made it very well, mind you!).
It could be ANYTHING (a cross, a swastika, a gigantic Santa, a 25-foot tall statue of ME), but I think a 25-foot tall anything, be it a cross or otherwise, goes against the unwritten "being a good neighbor" rules.
I know the cross isn't bothering anyone, and stands for good, wholesome, Christian values, and I have no problem with that aspect of it (what it represents), but I see her neighbors side of it and understand their wanting it removed.
I see both sides, but I have to go with the neighbors in this instance.
It could be ANYTHING (a cross, a swastika, a gigantic Santa, a 25-foot tall statue of ME), but I think a 25-foot tall anything, be it a cross or otherwise, goes against the unwritten "being a good neighbor" rules.
I know the cross isn't bothering anyone, and stands for good, wholesome, Christian values, and I have no problem with that aspect of it (what it represents), but I see her neighbors side of it and understand their wanting it removed.
I see both sides, but I have to go with the neighbors in this instance.
I agree with everyone here. It isn't so much the cross that is bothering, it is the 25 foot ornament that concerns me... when does this thing become a liability? What is or how is this thing attacked to the ground? What is it made of? Can it be destroyed or knocked over by wind? Will it fall on my house? Will it fall on a passer by? A vehicle???? Who is being "attracted" to the neighborhood because of the sign?
A lot of questions for a lawyer (s) to get his hands on.
A lot of questions for a lawyer (s) to get his hands on.
Brice....you last question made me laugh..
Who is being attracted to the neighborhood because of the sign...
Probably a lot of those mean old Catholics want to come and do something sinister like pray in front of it or somthing....lol
Who is being attracted to the neighborhood because of the sign...
Probably a lot of those mean old Catholics want to come and do something sinister like pray in front of it or somthing....lol
El, I agree. I think a 25 foot anything is obnoxious.
Let's face it-------------- can you be 'gratuitously' Christian? 25 feet with blood droplets and all? That is trying to make a statement rather than showing one's faith. I think this old lady has felt ignored her whole life and doesn't want to go out like that---------- so she has found a way to get some press. I'll stick with the story about the most faithful sit in the back of the church rather than rushing in, sitting up front and making a big show of it.
Just my opinion.
Let's face it-------------- can you be 'gratuitously' Christian? 25 feet with blood droplets and all? That is trying to make a statement rather than showing one's faith. I think this old lady has felt ignored her whole life and doesn't want to go out like that---------- so she has found a way to get some press. I'll stick with the story about the most faithful sit in the back of the church rather than rushing in, sitting up front and making a big show of it.
Just my opinion.
LOL... well, I've seen the fall out from stuff like this. I mentioned some eccentric folks above and told their story. The side stories surrounding that issue pertained to the neighbors complaining that traffic in their neighborhood was many times worse than it normally was, people were turning around or parking in peoples driveways.... people didn't know who was a looky-lou or who was someone casing the neighborhood.... it was a big deal for about 2 weeks until the news finally let it go.
Brice.. that makes sense...it would be annoying to have visitors driving in your neighborhood..especially if there were a lot of triffic or they used your driveway to turn around. Good point
I also agree. A 25 foot anything would make me insane. Then again, I get uptight when people don't mow their lawns or leave a rusted out van in their yard (I am nattering about one of my neighbors). Things like that do bring down property values, and make the neighborhood look junky. I do think zoning should deal with it, no matter what the actual symbol is.
Trust me, I know what you mean...lol I wish everyone wanted to live like me, but alas they dont. lol Sooo my yard is kept up, my neighbors...all do their own thing...talk about frustration....try having a neighbor burning plastic or syrofoam on days you want to have your windows open or another shooting extremely loud guns...or a neighbor that has zero interest in cleanliness. Somehow we all manage to not kill one another though.
We dont have those issues where I live as it is deed restricted. Here if you miss cutting your grass one week the homeowner gets it done by the association and gets billed 60 bucks. Not even allowed to have any kind of vehicle with writing on it. Such as a dry cleaning or air conditioner repair truck. There is a designated area for those to be parked at or they get fined. Yet at the same time now, when the mortgage crisis hit and the banks started foreclosing on homes, the banks are letting those homes go to hell and no one is fining the banks!!! It is very strict here other than the foreclosures where the pools are stagnant and snakes hide out in waist length lawns.
Thats an expensive place to live if you are elderly and in poor health!
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