When someone takes advantage of a situation, it's just easier for the people in charge of that situation to simply say "nyet" to any other possible interpretation for future opportunities. While it's pretty stereotypical of government, the private sector isn't always immune to this kind of backwards thinking.
Today's example comes from Rapid City, where statues of all 42 past U.S. Presidents can be found throughout the Downtown. As noted in today's story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, dressing statues is nothing new. But, according to DMO pro Julie Jensen, some of the decorations in her town had turned political and/or religious a few years ago, so the City slammed the door shut on any statue adornment by anybody.
Recently, however, the Calvary Lutheran Church began dressing the past Presidents in knitted hats, scarves and mittens with tags encouraging those who were cold to take them. Predictably, within 24-hours, the City ordered the church to remove the knitted gifts that were intended for the less fortunate.
There is a happy ending to the story, however, as Mayor Steve Allender recently issued a proclamation that exempted groups from the ordinance during the winter months if the clothing was intended for the needy.
"It was a dumb policy," said the Mayor, as he tweeted "Even Presidents wear hats and scarves."
I so want to shake his hand.
Photo Credit: Calvary Lutheran Church
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