Nicholas H. Horton

There are people in Searcy who make their entire living off of yard sales--I know them, they live in my Ward. Now they are without any source of income. The ordinance is vague, overreaching, and unnecessary.

Nick, yard sales are intended to be just that-a sale in a homeowner's yard to, in effect, sell unwanted personal items and make a little extra money. We do have zoning laws which prohibit businesses in residential areas; we have retailers who pay for buildings, city permits, pay sales taxes, etc. who don't really appreciate that someone can ignore ... Read Morethese zoning laws, taxes and etc and just set up shop on their front lawn. You should also realize that we want to keep our city beautiful and signs posted (and NEVER picked up after the sale is over) prohibits this. Basically, what I believe the city council is saying in regard to the ordinance on yard sales is that if a person is having MORE THAN 2 sales per quarter (per household) they are, in effect, opening a business and they should have to abide by the same laws others do.

I understand your points and appreciate your perspective. I simply think that this ordinance is overreaching and unnecessary. Yard sales are not a problem and the city council has many other important issues that need to be addressed--like our repaving roads and restoring our rights under the AR Constitution.

Of course we want to keep our city clean--why don't we let the Code Enforcer take down yard sale signs instead of paying him to impose fines on citizens who are trying to make some money in a tough economy? There are people in Searcy who make their entire living on yard sales--perhaps they do not have the luxury of an education, opening a business, etc. This ordinance is devastating to them and their families.

In general, I think business over-regulated. Why should we "force yard salers to recognize the same laws as everyone else" when the existing laws are already too stringent? ... Read More

I simply believe that a yard sale is an essential right. It represents the right of every citizen to be independent and provide for themselves in a free-market economy. We cannot simply look at this issue in terms of people "getting rid of old junk." There are people who make their living off of these sales and they are hurting. I have met them--they live in my ward. I think they should have the right to provide for themselves. Thank you for your thoughts.

Great article. Was it in DCitizen? Cannot access from their page w/o a subscription.

I loved reading the Searcy Daily Citizen whenever I would visit my Grandparents throughout the years.

It's a shame they are the first newspaper web site I've ever been to which requires the viewer to purchase a subscription before you can see *ANY* content. :o( #FAIL