Town Threatens Donut Shop Over Mural by Students

[@professorhawk9070]

That feel when your city can't fix the roads but can waste time/money attacking small businesses for engaging with the community.

[@jeremydale4548]

That should be illegal. I mean, sure a small business could be doing shady shit but this is not an example of that

[@naarealy]

FR

[@brt5273]

...and they will die on this hill.

[@daleallen7634]

@@brt5273 : One can only hope!!!!

[@stevedixon921]

A one dollar bond would be better than a zero dollar bond, but I'm no lawyer, just someone who knows how stupid people can get. Many of those community positions are voted in (just no one bothers to vote so they keep their jobs indefinitely), so maybe replace them and fill those road holes with those holes (two holes make a whole?). The inconsistent application of the 'sign law' is a key issue here. The mall can have a massive mural sign, but not an ice cream shop? Good grief.

[@chuck6290]

You'd think these towns would realize how bullying small business owners often blows out of proportion... not just making the town leadership look foolish to their own community but showing their foolishness to the entire world.

[@valentinius62]

They can't help themselves. They think they're gods.

[@ianbattles7290]

Streisand Effect - trying to hide information often leads to that information becoming widely disseminated.

[@Nevir202]

Given even the tiniest bit of power people immediately go insane it seems. My mom's condo complex HOA decided to pass a rule that nobody can park commercial vehicles anywhere on condo property. Guy owns a private taxi/chauffer service, so he has sticker of the name of his company and phone number on the door of a regular sedan, they wanted to force him to park it outside the complex on the street. They finally "relented" and said he "only" needed to make sure he kept a car cover on it at all times.

[@JonathanLedbetter]

It also makes the small town appear "business unfriendly".

[@SuperChicken666]

​@@Nevir202 Reminds me of the Stanford Prison Experiment where the students playing the role of guards started taking their roles way too seriously.😊

[@larrypaulhus9294]

I grew up in New Hampshire. For a state that prides itself as the "Live Free or Die" state, the officials in Conway, NH have lost all sense and sensibility.

[@RubyMorton]

I thought tombstone went plumb dumd. With diapers for horses. Yup Wild West 😂

[@mindseyemelodies]

sounds more like something here in Canada

[@philmckay9973]

Town official is socially connected to the ppl who wanted the building

[@andyvonbourske6405]

America with the most people in jail per capita still calls itself "the land of the free" so this doesn't surprise me.

[@CobaltLobster]

I still live in NH and I know people that live in Conway. The town government is basically full of bullies, like most small towns in NH.

[@TheDpbundy39]

Coming from a small town I can almost guess what is happening. When the bakery was about to close Town officials or one of their friends or family wanted to buy the property BUT the Levitts bought it first, now the town is going out of its way to make up "violations" . Even if the Levitts win this case you can bet the town health inspector, water inspector, and building code enforcement will come next.

[@kensnyder9372]

So will I J !!

[@byronmill]

The present owner is Young. Leavitts was the name of the bakery when Young bought it.

[@toddrf]

You must be as cynical as me because this was exactly my thought.

[@TheDpbundy39]

@@byronmill My apologies, thank you for helping me out.

[@BryanTorok]

I was thinking this building inspector is the male version of a "Karen" or HOA president, but your theory makes great sense as to why the town officials are going after this so strongly.

[@jamesodell3064]

Time to elect a new mayor and council members.

[@NHindividualist]

It's a town. It has a select board and town manager, not a council and mayor. But yes, they need a change.

[@daleallen7634]

@@NHindividualist : I'm reminded of the famous line from one of the Batman movies: "This town needs an enema."!!!!

[@davemartin8409]

I doubt the current Board members made the bylaws 3 or 4 decades ago. The code was probably written to protect a monopoly at the time, ignoring constitutional law at the time.

[@quantum3d]

An update is that the town has backed off enforcing the ordinance against Leavitts and the case is now before a District Court Judge and nothing will be done until he makes a final decision. I've lived in this area for decades and I think the town officials have their priorities totally wrong. The Leavitt's sign was completely unobtrusive, you can see it from the road but if you're not looking for it you wouldn't even notice. As far as the Settlers Green sign it's in a large shopping area and I didn't even know it was there. If the Town of Conway really wanted to "preserve the look of the town" they should stop allowing these 4 story hotels to be built on every single lot that comes up for sale. I call them simply "abominations" and they are the REAL eyesores in this town, not these signs.

[@hermesten1000]

LOL, preserve the "look of the town." The only thing they want to preserve is their power and bank accounts.

[@pouncepounce7417]

@Karl with a K There is a certain smart form of stupid small town politicians can have

[@aimerw]

It seems like such things that may possibly be eyesores should go for some form of local community vote, and then that gets weighed against the necessity of the function - with alternatives being chosen if that bears out. It may be that it is possible to make those 4 story hotels not look like such an eyesore, and if the community feels that way then such should be pushed before permission to build them is given. If the developer doesn't care for it after such alternatives have been required then so be it - someone else will do so.

[@patriciaboies8298]

Are the city officials born and bred NH persons? Or out of staters?

[@user60521123]

The main reason people get sick of governments is that they stretch and enforce laws or regulations in ways that are completely unnecessary and don’t benefit anyone. All this local government is sowing is causing a burden to a local donut shop. Does anyone want to pay taxes to enforce such nonsense?

[@lisagrafton2529]

I bet this town also requires a paid permit to hang up a shop sign! They're mad they couldn't get their kickback $$ from a mural! Soon, they'll have a statute with restrictions on murals! My suggestion, vote out every member, and replace them with people who believe in little government input!

[@georgesheffield1580]

HOA mentality again

[@drink15]

@@georgesheffield1580 Bad HOA mentality

[@deesmith8576]

@@georgesheffield1580 should of just clamed it garfiti they would of said stunning and brave after that

[@ryanc473]

Absolutely, I want my taxes to go exclusively to the enforcement of nonsense like this! After all, it's the only way I can feel like my government is actually doing something, and frankly, it makes a massive difference in my life if the local shop has a 19 ft sign vs a 25 ft sign. That's a wonderful use of my tax dollars, enforcement of silly nonsense like this! I mean, think of the children. I have no idea why the children would be involved, or even whose children I'm talking about, but that seems to be one of a politician's favorite lines, so obviously it applies here. (Note, just because people on the internet can't always see obvious sarcasm, I don't mean a single thing I just wrote, I'm trying to point out the absurdity of the situation. It's sad I even need this disclaimer, and I'm betting that most people who read at least half of the comment got it immediately, but, well, satire/sarcasm nowadays can be a touchy subject (see the prior video about the onion's amicus brief, or the follow up babylon bee one))

[@leavittsbakery]

Thank you so much for explaining this so well! Donuts on us next time you're up here. 😂

[@pinetree2473]

I'm in Maine. Don't know quite when but I'll be making the trip over there to see you - oh, and the donuts.

[@jamiecook4557]

That mural is freaking beautiful! We’ve got your back!

[@Pizzaguy1022]

God bless your willingness to fight pettiness. We are all the better for your example.

[@neilaslayer]

I subscribed to your new KZbin channel to honor your fight.

[@playsinmud]

Does the city not realize that it's in the LIVE FREE or Die state?? 😆😆😆

[@earthwindflier]

And the state motto emblazoned on all NH vehicle license plates? "Live Free or Die".

[@LostInThe0zone]

I thought of that as soon as Steve said where this situation was.

[@Omniseed]

Live free from having to see other people's art, under any circumstances

[@CantankerousDave]

*Void where prohibited by law

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

I guess they died there.

[@MrTruckerf]

New Hampshire must now be full of dead people.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

The worst thing is people who sit on the Conway New Hampshire council must honestly believe they are in the in the right. These control freaks would rather go up against every business in their own town and waste hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting in court, in a case they are going to lose, rather than simply amend the sign code, or even just not selectively enforce it anymore. Its disgusting.

[@tookitogo]

Exactly the same kind of people who like to run HOAs: small, insecure people who derive their self-worth by bullying others.

[@lawrencebraun7616]

The same thing happened to Sonny Bono. He had a restaurant, Wanted to put up a billboard for advertise for his restaurant. The city of Palm Springs stopped it. Sonny ran mayor and won. Got his billboard put up

[@shannonp1656]

I remember something about building materials used. No matter, he ran for mayor to stick it to TPTB.

[@phlodel]

In retaliation, the city planted a tree on a ski slope.

[@adjwindu70]

@phlodel yeah, joke about his skiing death... very tasteful

[@shannonp1656]

@@phlodel Poor taste, but that is one thing that makes humor humorous. Not complaining, just observing.

[@realtijuana5998]

@@adjwindu70 C'mon, man we're talking about Sonny effing Bono here. What taste?!

[@lesliemandic9673]

It’s a darling mural, if NH was closer I would go and buy a donut today. Thanks Steve for bringing these crazy cases to light. The town council sounds like an HOA Scrooge to me.

[@bombero3368]

It’s a mural paying homage to a business that has been part of the community for over 40 years.

[@billruss6704]

Don't confuse the issue with facts.

[@beavonator]

Lol

[@AnAmericanPatriot1555]

I looked up the mural. It painted on part of the existing structure just above the roof. One of those walls to make the building look larger that it is. Looks like a quiet area. Doesn’t look like there is anything wrong with it to me. I could see how the building looked before and after the work. Authority run amuck.

[@OurDee]

"The town reportedly agreed in federal court on Wednesday to not enforce the sign ordinance for now." According to the Conway Daily Sun, "there won’t be any enforcement against Leavitt’s mural at least until the time the judge makes a final decision on the case."

[@dknowles60]

the Towns needs a good Fed Gov Court spanking

[@RobDeHaven]

If I were a taxpayer in Conway, NH, I'd be really upset that the town officials are going to WASTE taxpayer money over this boondoggle instead of fixing their vague statute. As for the donut shop, I hope they are victorious in their legal quest and set an example for everyone else to not just roll over to pettiness from a code enforcement person or an appeals board that clearly is not serving the people of the town.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Imagine if they dared to also rent out UHaul trucks there? The horror...

[@108gk]

It seems like some judge should have pointed the fact that code enforcement is toothless in this case. Ultimately law enforcement will have to get involved. They might not be too enthusiastic about participating in donut endangerment. 🍩

[@charlesphilhower1452]

@@108gk Code enforcement does have the power to levy fines that can cause problems, unpaid fines become tax liens.

[@charlesphilhower1452]

The fact that it is art and not a commercial sign should be a factor as far as the code enforcement is concerned.😊

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@charlesphilhower1452 A reasonable person would think so, but municipal code enforcement is about revenue generation as much as it is about conformity to local ordinances.

[@mikep490]

Our city has a similar sign law. A store that specializes in exotic fish (and supplies) got around it by painting the side of their building with a beautiful mural of exotic fish in a lagoon. There are quite a number of murals around town and they add a lot of interest to the city.

[@dcast777]

Some bureaucrats really let their power go to their head. Hopefully they are put in their place.

[@robertwilliams2995]

Time to elect a new town council

[@jeremydale4548]

There REALLY needs to be regular psych screenings on politicians. So that we can rat out the idiots like Majorie Greene and trump

[@freethebirds3578]

My first thought was "This Code Enforcement guy is out for revenge because he or someone connected to him, was going to buy the bakery to build a gas station.

[@ostlandr]

As Heinlein put it, "In a mature society, the terms 'civil servant' and 'civil master' are semantically equal."

[@nealdaleyjr7625]

Sometimes that place is in the ground. Some never learn.

[@ken2tou]

As a mural artist, I agree. The mural is art. The sign is distinctly displayed on the wall and not part of the mural. That is some great work by the students! 👍🏼

[@Erin-Thor]

I would have painted bright red ❌’s over every doughnut, but not covering them up, just to comply and say it has been corrected to stand as an example to the city councils decision. Reminds me of a news article of a Day-Care painting a mural on an interior wall of Disney Characters, and Disney sued them. WB went in and repainted the mural with their characters for free. Best WB advertising ever. 🤣👍🏽❤️

[@kaboom4679]

Alternately , rework the donuts so they are all instead huge flaming balls with a portrait of Satan holding a torch . We're it me , in a similar situation , I would turn this into a huge colab with the art community to see who could come up with the best ideas to lampoon the city and it's officials , and have a new one every week or so .

[@jeromethiel4323]

Sadly, due to our legal system, Disney is obliged to defend their TM or risk losing it. So no, Disney could not just let it slide. Had the day care asked first, and gotten permission, then there would have been no issue. While i think Disney is evil, they were only doing what they had to do do defend their IP. Most people don't realize this, having never owned a TM. I had to find out the hard way, as i am part owner of a company who owns several trade marks. And you have to defend them or they aren't worth anything.

[@GoldenSun3DS]

@Jerome Thiel And who owns our legal systems? Corporations like Disney through bribery, I mean lobbying. Disney is still pure evil, just like every other gigantic Corporation. It's survival of the most evil when it comes to Corporations because evil is profitable. They'd be outcompeted by more evil Corporations if they weren't willing to be evil doing things like outsourcing labor to practically slave labor wages in countries like China. So even if this one thing they did was somehow justified, that doesn't make them not evil.

[@tankman7711]

@@kaboom4679 LMAO @ flaming balls and the devil! Rename the shop ' Brimstone & Sulphur Coffee shop'.

[@jeromethiel4323]

@@GoldenSun3DS There are lot's of reasons to hate the Disney corporation. But that specific incident you brought up was justified. You want to hate on Disney, join the club! But not for that incident.

[@MyName-tb9oz]

Thank you SO MUCH for promoting the Institute for Justice! I've been telling people about I4J for years and years. "The Institute for Justice are the people who really are fighting for your freedom." -- Me

[@Warrentheo]

I worked at a Tax Service office in Alaska, they had a ton of American flags out during Tax season... Local code enforcement came and tried to tell us that we were excessively advertising with too many signs... We pointed out the Supreme Court ruling that said American flags are not advertising signs, the local code enforcement guy said that Supreme Court rulings didn't apply in Alaska, only in America...

[@Warrentheo]

@@andycurran3327 No, after 4 or 5 attempts at convincing the code enforcement that Alaska was one of these United States, we just let him write the ticket, and got the judge to dismiss it... The whole situation was surreal...

[@booterone1]

I would have told the person that the United States 🇺🇸 of America purchased Alaska in 1867. 😂

[@Warrentheo]

@@booterone1 We should have thought of that at the time 😂

[@booterone1]

@@Warrentheo I would have loved to have heard what the judge said.

[@Warrentheo]

@@booterone1 Unfortunately the owner was the one there, I didn't get to see it either, but yah, the code guy never bothered us after that, I always wondered if he got a chewing out...

[@polachelliot91]

City ordinances can sometimes be so convoluted. It makes me wonder who wrote the citation to begin with. And the sad thing is they probably won't be able to recoup any of their legal fees - good thing Institute for Justice is helping in this.

[@doncarlin9081]

If the Institute for Justice is helping them, the legal fees are covered by them. Of course this whole thing really sucks big time and should be a total non issue.

[@brucenorman8904]

Ha, my current city of residence has an old ordinance on the books. "It is illegal to give a horse a bath on the 2nd floor of a house on Sunday."

[@avi8r66]

If you look at this shop in google maps, street view, they have a proper sign by the road. The shop itself is further back from the road, and this mural isn't exactly prominently visible from the street. This is a case of a backwoods bit of the world trying to act all big city.

[@pansepot1490]

Mediocre people drunk on power.

[@alphagt62]

A bunch of busybodies trying to act important. Sounds like my brother in law’s HOA. He put up an awning over his back porch, the HOA raises heck about it, not because it violates their code, but because he didn’t ask.

[@avi8r66]

@@alphagt62 HOAs exist for a good purpose, and are run by assholes for all the worst reasons. I refuse to live in an HOA neighborhood. My home is my home. If I am paying the mortgage you don't get to tell me how to manage my property.

[@tonymouannes]

I was thinking that with that logic a restaurant with outside tables could be considered as breaking the sign rules because those table are an indication of a restaurant being there. Then you talked about the ice cream shaped trash cans. Someone is on a power trip over there. Also it seems that people in that town are really into murals (considering the amount of previous case), but the local officials are still taking down. Which I find to be weird, because it goes against the local culture.

[@jwcletcherii7896]

There appears to be 2 other chain donut shops in Conway, NH--wonder which member of the town government is an owner of 1 or more of those donut shops?

[@ggalloway1]

Good catch!

[@50jakecs]

There's always some local official that goes on a power trip and makes other people's lives miserable just because they can.

[@frankpeck1448]

Amen, 50jakecs! Let's all hope the Donut Shop wins. Kindest regards, from N. Kentucky.

[@CokeCheese]

I thought the mural was going to be political or something. It's literally a painting of donuts.

[@stephanreiken9912]

If it was political their laws probably wouldn't apply.

[@MrTruckerf]

And mountains. I was hoping a picture of the offending artwork would be shown.

[@Strideo1]

@@MrTruckerf The Institute for Justice has a video up with pictures of the mural. It's pretty easy to find.

[@ykmalachi]

As though my government doesn't litter my world with so many signs that destroy the beauty of my world.

[@Lamp37820]

How does this building's mural or that ice cream store' trash cans not ADD to the value of the town? I wish my town had mom and pop stores with unique, beautiful, and silly art works. This place is Bizzaro town.

[@rob33699]

Then next the mcdonald's can make a 50ft Ronald Mcdonald, Burger King can put that creepy King on their roof, Taco Bell can put falling apart burritos all over the place.

[@Lamp37820]

@@rob33699 yeah, exactly. What is the town arguing about. If I was a judge looking at this, I'd ask what harm this painting is causing the town. Just a weird hill for the town to stand on.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@rob33699 that's their right, it's not your property. You need more justification than "I don't like it" to deprive people of their property rights, not to mention their freedom of speech.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@tissuepaper9962 I think you read him wrong, He is referring to the town's hypocrisy likely allowing those franchises but not the donut shop.

[@therobotfoodnetwork]

This is why people should not be allowed to hold a job as a bureaucrat for more than 5 years. The power just goes to their head and they do stupid things.

[@pebear]

By tying the size of the sign allowed by the square footage of the establishment means that they are discriminating against small shops vs Large and very well-funded Box stores and rich proprietors. The bakery could have a mural of But Cracks arraigned like mountains and put a sign over the mural that says, "North Conway Board of Selectmen."

[@Pyxis10]

Live under the rich, or die.

[@gsmith207]

best one! love it! Old Asses of the mountain! gotta replace the old man amyway

[@pinetree2473]

Conway, not North Conway.

[@pebear]

@@pinetree2473 Maybe the good folks of North Conway are more acomadating.....

[@benwagner5089]

I agree, being size-ist like this is troubling; Home Depot's sign could be size of the entire bakery. I remember some McD's having the golden arches as part of the building itself, extending from the roofline. That would definitely not pass code in this town (not unless there was a hefty donation to a councilman's account, at least).

[@mikejames7013]

I live about 3 hours north of Conway, NH, in Maine and first heard about this on your channel, however as I looked it up the federal court has granted and injunction until the judge makes a final decision on the matter. That occurred yesterday. We have a town near me in Maine who just created a "sign" ordinance so this case is particularly interesting.

[@jamesweekley1087]

Steve, you had me from the moment you mentioned the Institute for Justice. As soon as I saw the teaser I knew it would be a 1st amendment case. I googled the mural. It was awesome. But I _am_ glad that the Institute for Justice is involved as the shop probably couldn't afford the legal fees if the town continues to fight and escalate it to higher courts. They do love to fight the good fight.

[@kirkb5240]

I'm going to start regularly donating money to this institute. They're always taking on great stuff.

[@maxsdad538]

As of now (thur, 2:40PM Pacific time), the city of Conway has agreed to back off enforcing it's sign ordinance against the bakery, although the lawsuit is still being pursued in court. Donuts are on the house!

[@garfieldsmith332]

Had a look online There is a sign on the roof at the front of the store. The mural is back along the center ridge of the roof. It is a painting, a mural. Town council has a burr up their butts.

[@joeybagodonuts6683]

Burr = Their heads!

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@joeybagodonuts6683 Yep. That too.

[@TagiukGold]

This is one of the most important videos Steve has done or will do this year. Definitely in the top 1000.

[@bobwatson8754]

I wonder about "corporate dress." I looked at a photo of the Conway Pizza Hut (now permanently closed BTW) and realized that the roof design and color marks it as a Pizza Hut. Which is to say that half of the building is a "sign" under broad definition.

[@johnclements6614]

Many stores have a corporate architecture

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

And are illegal in Conway.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@capt.bart.roberts4975 no, they aren't. A red roof is not a sign, that's "trade dress".

[@DavidRomigJr]

That’s part of the problem. A red roof appears to be a sign under this law because it is stylistic and relates to the business. Otherwise how can trash cans that look like cones be a sign. It seems obvious that no normal person would call them signs.

[@tedspens]

Forcing the local donut shop to take down a harmless mural painted by local school students because a very contorted view of a local regulation... sounds like somebody doesn't want to be reelected.

[@nhgsmithnhgsmith1312]

I live in NH and wanted to thank you for telling me about IJ. I’ve been donating to them for awhile now and am glad they’re helping my state and this small shop.

[@andriod1622]

Ahh..some people have too much power and authority to waste tax dollar money like this

[@mikenuyen4441]

Sounds like a case of My way or the highway.attitude of those with a little power.

[@OurDee]

What a conundrum for a sign store. There is a town official that needs fired. May be able to go work for an HOA.

[@Arcade-fix]

You have no idea how screwed up this town is. That bakery has awesome baked goods. I used to live across the street from it.

[@johnmcgrath3466]

Thank you Steve for recommending your audience to the Institute for Justice. Thank you for recommending me to them. I believe based on your size up that they are indeed honorable and valuable. I donated to them and likely will again.

[@AaronsRandomLife]

Steve, as a resident of New Hampshire, I can attest that we have quite a few cities and towns that have restrictive sign laws. A friend had an automotive shop in Hudson, NH and was forced to remove a sign that was hanging off the building like a flag and mount it flat on one of the walls as Hudson does not allow large, double sided, illuminated signs jutting out from a building.

[@johnthompson7420]

live free or die?

[@ajcongdon1772]

Sounds like an old Hudson Brothers show script.

[@BrianFullerton]

@Rich Cran Meridian. Not parallel. If you are gonna tell us how to live better, at least give us good directions.

[@johnme7049]

@Rich Cran Same with all the Commiefornians leaving CA and then wanting to make everywhere they go just like CA. If it was so dang great where you came from, WHY did you not stay?

[@thehuguenot5615]

Bostonians move to NH like californians move to Texas

[@daninraleigh]

I see from Google maps that there are two other donut shops in Conway, NH. What are the odds that the code inspector has some sort of remote connection to one of the other shops?

[@richardbenjamin8535]

First we have a half baked law suit, now we have a suit against a half baked law.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chadlampson]

Hopefully nothing half baked at a bakery hahaha

[@timothybaker8234]

I grew up near this town. Unfortunately its the towns taxpayers who are going to foot the bill for this lawsuit.

[@jamesshelton1124]

Actually, not money is paid from the general fund of the city municipality for insurance it’ll be the insurance that pays it

[@SayAhh]

"Home Depot and other hardware stores cannot have trashcan-shaped trash cans outside their stores! It's considered advertisement! Paint stores cannot have painted surfaces!" /s

[@bbman10pwns]

Plumbing stores can't have gutters Concrete companies can't have a parking lot

[@sunbeam8866]

@@bbman10pwns ....unless it's asphalt.... and no concrete curbs or sidewalks!

[@daleallen7634]

@@sunbeam8866 : You realize that curbs, and sidewalks can also be made with asphalt, it's not as easy, or as cheap as concrete for that purpose, but it can be done.

[@sunbeam8866]

@@daleallen7634 Asphalt parking lots are common, but asphalt curbs are definitely not. Nevertheless, I've edited my comment to satisfy the Zoning Nazis!

[@SayAhh]

@@sunbeam8866 ...but asphalt is a type of concrete...

[@stischer47]

I just looked it up. The painting is a painting, not a commercial sign. It could be anywhere. They need to get a new city officials.

[@chrislewis4623]

I used to vacation in Conway NH. It became strange a few years ago when the local residents started treating the tourists like they weren't welcome. The strangest thing is that the main industry in Conway NH is tourism. It got to a point where I now vacation in nearby Lincoln, NH and avoid the town at all costs. Must be something in the water there.

[@tissuepaper9962]

Having lived in leaf country, it's absolutely obnoxious to deal with the tourists even if you know they pay your bills. They don't fit in at all, they don't understand the people who live in VT/NH, they're just there to inflate the cost of living for two weeks and then go home once the leaves have fallen. It's no reason to treat you poorly, but just understand that you're only welcome by necessity. If we all had a choice we wouldn't serve you, we don't want the tourists infecting our state with the consumerist bullshit that runs rampant in MA, CT, and NY. You all tramp garbage into our house and expect to be warmly welcomed nonetheless, and while that *is* the polite thing to do, I hope you can understand why it would be hard for some people.

[@andreaelliott728]

The key words in your comment are “a few years ago”... hmmm, a few years ago, when the world was going crazy feeding into the fear of a “virus”, it was amazing how many “tourists” came to the White Mtns to buy up all of the supplies that they couldn’t get back in their hometowns, or those who came here to quarantine in their second homes after being diagnosed with the vid, but didn’t really quarantine and possibly shared their illness with the locals. Yeah no reason to not be welcoming. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@cjswag]

I lived about 15 miles from Conway, NH. This is exactly the petty action that residents of Conway have come to expect from the board of former hall monitors that have run out of halls to monitor.

[@leofredette19]

Steve I went to a search engine with your title. There are a ton of murals across America all containing donuts. We love our donuts. I am a New Hampshire resident with one thing to say. Conway depends on tourism, this may not be a smart move.

[@booterone1]

I suggest anyone passing through the problematic town be sure and stop and patronize the donut shop.

[@frankpeck1448]

Brilliant thinking, Leo...sure hope this swings in the Donut Shop owner's direction. Kindest regards from N. Kentucky.

[@theresekrupp4341]

This happened in S. Minneapolis with a bowling alley.a mural with bowling pins a balls ,with no words A mom and pop business sued by the city. Ended going out of business....now we are dealing with gang tagging... with a now derelict building which is a total pain.

[@revmichaelm]

This makes me want to go to Conway, just for the donuts. Time to make more donuts

[@lindaward3156]

l've seen the mural - it's lovely. the owner didn't tell the students what to paint and the whole thing is stupid. that code enforcer needs a life

[@jeromemckenna7102]

I was an art student as a teen and the students artwork is excellent. The only concern I have is whether the paint will last through the weather.

[@novinnovations4026]

If graffiti pieces done with cans on dirty walls in the rain can last for years, I have faith this mural will last for a while.

[@jamessimms415]

@@novinnovations4026 Or on the sides of innumerable railroad cars w/spray paint.

[@jamiecook4557]

While it would suck if it doesn’t, because it’s awesome, it could also be used as a recurring project for the school.

[@mateuszzimon8216]

We have a long wall (60m) long, every 4 years we have competition who proposed best mural in 9m2 space and paint live always on 1 June (child day)

[@lockedin60]

Steve your ending words of wisdom is spot on. So few realize the power of those words.

[@calebfielding6352]

Someone needs to run against the narcisist.

[@chrissauter7501]

You hit the crux of it - code enforcement. They have garnered almost godlike power harassing business - granted some are warranted (bad actor businesses) but not most.

[@blainelytle341]

P.S. Thank you for bringing this to our attention ! I go up that way a couple times a year , and I'll start supporting this Donut Shop and the Ice Cream Parlor ! AND thumb my nose at the Town Father's !

[@nacoran]

Obviously, the inspector was looking for an in kind bribe. Should have paid him. Doh!

[@dougjones9493]

You might have the police fighting to get in first when fresh doughnuts are baked.

[@jilbertb]

They should refuse sale to anyone who works for the city.

[@daleallen7634]

@@jilbertb : Perhaps even refuse service to EVERYBODY who works for the town of Conway????

[@Strideo1]

@@jilbertb Sale is a noun, sell is a verb. You sell doughnuts or put doughnuts on sale but you don't "sale" doughnuts. Although maybe you could sail doughnuts if they were buoyant enough.

[@ramjam720]

Come on Steve, it is a bakery, not a donut shop. They make an sell donuts, but that is just a part of their business. Don't denigrate their business. The Town of Conway municipal government suffers from cranial rectumosis. 🤣🤣

[@davidhansen4270]

This reminds me of when I worked at a Menards in Illinois. The town would not allow the delivery truck nor the rental pickup in the parking lot because they considered each to be signage.

[@tookitogo]

o_O

[@cj90014]

Thank you for introducing us to Institute of Justice. I've become a supporter. You are right, they do good and necessary work.

[@billtannalfo7781]

I am very familiar with this town in NH. They are a small town with small minds but they appear to be BIG on corruption. I hope at some time the FBI investigates them.

[@calanon534]

One gang of crooks investigating another?

[@kimberlysteller2556]

Cal is correct. The fbi would be the bigger psycopath here. What the people need to remember is the citizens are the govt and civil servants do not get to rule, as they would prefer. The citizens just need to take the code moron out back to the woodshed .

[@pinetree2473]

They're too busy covering for this so-called Administration..

[@davidb6576]

@@pinetree2473 This administration didn't try overturning a fair election by getting their thugs to invade the Capitol. Maybe you should support lawful Americans rather than treasonous liars?

[@daleallen7634]

@@pinetree2473 : They (FBI), certainly weren't (and aren't), "too busy" to investigate the Caldwell, Idaho police department, and their officers!

[@myriammorrison9840]

😢 the city will use your tax dollars to fight for stupidity. While the individual will have to use their own to fight for justice. 🤦🏻‍♀️ so happy a group stepped in to help!

[@jaynecobb1]

"mmmMMM Donuts" (spoken in a drooling, Homer Simpson kind of voice)

[@MrMattDat]

Know the place well. Small and set far back from the highway. You've got to remember they are there because you are zipping by at 55 mph . Great place and oh so yummy! Love your idea to swap signage ideas. Overall, this is a ridiculous application of a law that was intended to reduce commercialization of the space. They want the tax dollars though! Thank goodness the Institute picked this up and Leavitts does not have to carry the cost of defending this Plus, the mural is very nice & colorful!

[@davidbenner2289]

Art? Someone, probably only one very strong willed member of the town council, is probably at the center. And when all is settled, that one single individual town council member will suffer nothing, all costs, fees and penalties paid by others. Just watch. It happens so often in small villages and towns. In my opinion.

[@anddyraynor9981]

This updated 7 hours ago where the town agreed in federal Court to back off enforcing its sign ordnance against Leavitts bakery's mural of baked goods, which would have been subject to daily fines. So no fines until the judge makes a decision. There also seems to be surprise on part of the town since there was a petition which would legalize it(and another companies mural) but who knows if that would work out.

[@toonertimesfour1158]

I'm on the planning commission for my town. Signs on businesses are not necessarily protected by the first ammendment. With that said I googled to see the sign and I don't see why it's an issue. It's a nice addition to the facade.

[@grantsamson2384]

How would they not be? It's artwork posted on private property.

[@Strideo1]

@@KameraShy They absolutely do. Businesses on the main street in my city have to submit plans for changes they make to the facade of their storefronts and one got rejected a few years back because it was "too yellow". They had to revise their plans using less yellow.

[@ElementofKindness]

I miss when America was America, and a person was free to do anything as long as it didn't harm another person.

[@WoodUCreate]

Keep us up to date on this one. Will be interesting to hear how the ruling goes.

[@davidfinch7418]

Pro Revenge... Get the students to re-paint the mural, but on the shop next door, and paint over the existing mural with a similar style using objects that represent the shop next door's products. Twice as many murals to annoy the town's sign police, but without a leg to stand on.

[@stepheneddington1667]

Here's a switch, normally I'll see a video from you about something first, but in this case I saw the video from the Institute for Justice yesterday.

[@bburney06]

Omg. This is my town! The bakery is two miles from me. I was going to email you the story but kept forgetting. Thanks for covering it.

[@dekoldrick]

That sounds like they are reaching real hard with that kind of regulation

[@kensnyder9372]

Yes why , they need money !!!

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

FYI ... Amazon is, for no reason that I can understand, ending its charity donation system. So, I am going to have ro persuade my wife that the Institute For Justice is worth supporting separately.

[@kaboom4679]

Steve , we have similar thought processes in regards to " alternate scenes " and fighting back by following the rules . Also , one COULD allege that the city is ITSELF a for profit enterprise and start filling complaints to the zoning board should you find any city owned signage seemingly in violation . As poorly as their rules are constructed , it is possible they forgot to explicitly exclude themselves from their own rules .

[@daleallen7634]

@Kaboom : Finding the town in violation of their own zoning ordinance 😁😁😁😁 . . . . PRICELESS!!!!

[@dstarfire42]

That's what qualified immunity is for: so governments don't have to explicitly exempt themselves from every statute. Also, governments are notoriously not allowed to make a profit. Every tax dollar that comes in has to be spent on public services at some point.

[@juana7035]

@Dion Starfire in recent court cases the presiding judge has thrown out the government's claim to qualified immunity. Steve discussed the cases.

[@Strideo1]

@@daleallen7634 Since they enforce the rules they'd just ignore your complaints.

[@daleallen7634]

@@Strideo1 : Which, oddly enough, is exactly what they did when their constituents complained about the enforcement effort against the doughnut shop . . . . 🤔

[@donalfagan9357]

I looked for a picture of the mural. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it does look more like a sign than a work of art. What makes it sign-like (to me) are the radial lines in both the mural and the small sign in the canopy. The baked goods, by themselves, do look like artwork, but the radial lines look like an extension of the sign below. Just my opinion.

[@RedwoodTheElf]

Paint the entire building to look like a gingerbread house, with a mural on the side of a window with a wicked witch beckoning with the 'come here' sign with her right hand, and a gingerbread man with a bite taken out of it in her left hand.

[@jongrant1215]

"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~ Dr. Leonard McCoy

[@andybonneau9209]

I'm in Maine, so N. Conway is known to me. It's a very upscale, touristy area that rigidly enforces zoning. Very pretty town, but I imagine that it's difficult to do business there.

[@pinetree2473]

Conway, not North Conway.

[@andybonneau9209]

@@pinetree2473 One of the business mentioned is directly between the two. It's all the same stretch of road.

[@jwdeet3396]

This is just busy bodies with no life trying to justify their miserable existence at the publics expense! There should be a screening process to make sure these mini tyrants can never be in a position of power over others! These particular people should be shunned and shamed out of town and unable to purchase a donut ever again!

[@unbreakable7633]

"Arbitrariness is the essence of tyranny." -- John Adams

[@tissuepaper9962]

And another, "The object of all despotism is revenue". Somebody in city hall wanted to own this business before the Youngs bought it from the Leavitts, I can almost guarantee it. Now it isn't for sale anymore, so they're going to pester the current owner until the business becomes more trouble than it's worth and they sell it for cheap.

[@chriss-nf1bd]

I bet someone in office was invested in the gas station.

[@patrickpowers5995]

It boils down to the town wasting everyone's money.

[@patrickday4206]

Freedom of expression is protected free speech art is protected speech!!! Want to paint your house multiple colors that's a sign violation!!! Lol

[@coreysue3451]

Now when I read about these stories and hear the words, Institute For Justice, I wonder how long until it hits Lehto's Law. For this one, just one day!

[@BluCappy419]

An electrical contractor I once worked at had an issue with their big lightbulb sign once because there was an ordinance regulating the number of colors that can be used. So they had their delivery truck lettered with a giant lightbulb on it and parked it in front of the building.

[@57WillysCJ]

It seems that municipalities and many individuals have a habit of inflexability that causes them to double down to the point of digging a hole so deep it costs taxpayers a huge amount to dig out from it. While not being new, it certainly seems more frequent these days. Governing entities make laws without investigating whether it is good law and never examine how it could go wrong.

[@travisminneapolis]

I like the sign idea of advertising a next door business and then advertising your business.

[@barryfrench2534]

1. As stated in video put the mural up at the farm and put a farm mural over the donut shop. 2. Each mural then has an arrow pointing at the other site with words such as "Don't blame us the Council is dyslexic" or another more pointed description as to why the murals are where they are.

[@douglasboyle6544]

I saw this first on the IJ's channel and I'll say the same thing here as I commented there: I understand where the code enforcement of the sign ordinance comes in and why it was a violation and cited but the board of appeals should have granted a variance because this was not a willful or malicious violation of the ordinance and it was intended as art. The smallmindedness and pettiness of some people in these "Small New England Towns" are beyond me, and believe me, I know, I grew up in one and am back to living in one.

[@johnwiley8417]

Ben behind the Batmobile.

[@bbrut3332]

More overreaching by little minded city officials. Sounds like they are acting like our congress.

[@roberthodgins8856]

Steve I looked up the donut shop in question on google earth and in my opinion the mural really enhances the property(I saw the mural on our local news).

[@jimnaden5594]

I went on Google Maps and found the bakery on street view where the image predates the mural. The mural is an improvement from the plain single color it was. As Steve said, the front of the business is barely seen from the road and only going in one direction past it.

[@groermaik]

Hundo, unfolded, between the back of the batmobile and the cabinet upright, on the left side of the second shelf of the main cabinet. 1.9k+.

[@tpw84101]

I'd want to investigate the fines/money and whose pockets it's going into. Sounds like one of those purposely vaguely written codes, which can be interpreted broadly, just to extort money out of local businesses. Sounds corrupt as all heck.