Fun Day at Work

So I found myself enduring a four hour public hearing on the Pita Pit today. The Pit is in shit for all the people it attracts late at night -- some who pee in flower beds, some who fight, all who make noise. I knew the Regent hotel across the street has complaining guests to worry about, but what I didn't know was about 1/3 of that hotel is taken up by live-in strata owners. It's been a long road to get to the point they're at now. City bylaw people have managed to have the PP tagged a nuisance property under noise bylaws that are only a few years old and have never been put to a real test until now. Interesting debate, both sides have a case, and in the end I think the larger business interests made up of hotels and downtown business associates will win out. The nuisance ruling is what's in question here, and city council must now take what it heard today from the public (only six people) along with all the input over the months and either uphold or overturn the nuisance ruling. The hearing was run almost like a trial proceeding, and the hilight for me came when talk turned to exhibit 'A', a sign the PP has been putting out on the curb.

It reads something to the effect of: We're trying to be good neighbours, please keep it down, let us roll you a fatty so you can get a taxi and roll on home (close enough). So when Mr. Bylaw got his first crack at the PP owner, the first thing he had to get out there was (paraphrasing): I thought you considered yourself a good corporate citizen. My understanding of the term 'roll a fatty' has to do with being a reference to a marijuana cigarette! Are you advocating the use of illegal drugs?? To which the PP Man replied, no not at all -- have you ever had a pita? Yes, many! Well, we roll them pretty thick. Bylaw Guy: oh... my pitas have always been rather flat.

Speaking with a police officer after the meeting, she also didn't have a real grasp on the play on words, also believing that to have been a pot reference. Well, most people in the chambers had a good chuckle at that light moment in a rather heated afternoon, but not the city officials.

I left hungry for a pita, and without resolution for my story. A-LO and the gang will rule on this at the Feb 4th evening council meeting.