Man's Revenge Against City Hall: Sex Shop!

Posted by Alex in Politics on March 1, 2009 at 2:40 pm

Here’s a "man fights City Hall" story, with a twist: when Old Town Alexandria’s architectural review committee forbid Michael Zarlenga from altering historic property and renovating his store, he decided to exact a little revenge:

To many in Old Town Alexandria, the sex shop that opened recently on King Street is nothing short of scandalous, a historical desecration just blocks from the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee.

But to Michael Zarlenga, it’s justice.

Zarlenga spent $350,000 on plans to expand his hunting and fishing store, the Trophy Room. He worked with city officials for almost two years and thought he had their support — until the architectural review board told him he couldn’t alter the historic property.

Furious and out of money, Zarlenga rented the space to its newest occupant, Le Tache.

"I can’t say I didn’t know it would ruffle feathers," said Zarlenga, 41. "Actually, I was hoping for a fast-food chain because I thought that would be more annoying to the city."

Allison Klein of the Washington Post has more on the story: Link (Photo: Tracy A. Woodward)

Previously on Neatorama: Man Fights City Hall … With Signage

 
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Man Fights City Hall ... With Signage

Posted by Alex in Car & Vehicle, Crime & Law on January 13, 2009 at 12:19 am

Anthony Herman is fighting City Hall, and he’s not shy about it: the used car salesman used all weapons at his disposal including his business signage which he used to call out the Mayor and the Polk City councilmen:

Herman contends Polk City for years has harassed him with zoning violations, tied him up with lawyers and sent squad cars to deliver letters to his Johnston home in a bid to embarrass him. Polk City, for its part, has alleged that Herman ran an illegal salvage operation from 300 Sandpiper Court and routinely dumped vehicle fluids into the city’s storm sewers.

The dispute, which spills through five Polk County court files, turned nasty last fall, when the Mighty Good sign for three days described Polk City Mayor Gary Heuertz as "a lieing little Nazi turd."

The commentary returned last week, when Herman’s sign began telling Polk City residents that "Our mayor and council sure are ass holes."

City leaders say Herman’s messages have drawn complaints from some residents – mostly parents who came across them while transporting small, reading-age children – but insist that the city has no plans to try to interfere with his right to free speech.

"A lot of people are coming out of the woodwork to look at it," Heuertz said of the sign. "So tourism’s not a problem … .

Link – via Arbroath

(Photo: Rodney White/The Register)

 
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