I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

--
Rhino

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

There are massive restrictions on property ownership, and the property
is owned subject to easements, air rights, mineral oil and gas rights,
building and fire codes, zoning, CCRs, etc. Members of a condo/co-op/ homeowners association do not control the outside of their units, like
door color.

If there's a historic district, then building facades must be maintained
to imitate whatever historic period they are from. In the northeast, for instance, there's a certain off-white color that everyone is expected to
use on the facade because that color was most commonly used, allegedly,
when these buildings were built. In truth it's because there's an
expectation that that's the color without regard to actual history nor
the color the building had been painted in for significant periods.

Now, it's possible to live outside a homeowners' assocation and historic districts and without building codes regulating this but it's hardly the
case that these restrictions are unusual.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

Here in L.A., one of the producers of THE SIMPSONS has a huge, intricate treehouse built in one of the trees in his front yard. He built it back in the 1990s for his daughter and it's something of a local landmark with families from all over town who come to enjoy it on holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

For some reason, over 25 years later, the L.A. City Council has suddenly decided that it's an illegal construct because he never got a permit for it when it was originally built and have demanded he tear it down. He's spent a small fortune battling them in court but has finally decided to throw in the towel before it bankrupts him and has scheduled it for demolition, to the dismay of thousands.

Meanwhile, literally less than a mile from the treehouse, a homeless bum has constructed a 2-story ramshackle shack out of scrounged trash in the middle of a sidewalk, partially blocking the entrance to a business, and not only does the city NOT order its removal due to lack of permitting, they tell the local residents, including the business owner, that there's nothing they can do
about it and if anyone else tries to do something about it, they could face arrest.

When questioned about this apparent legal double-standard by the media, all Castro-loving Mayor Bass could say was, "It's complicated."

Government: always making things better.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:54:53 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <[email protected]>
wrote:

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> >wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's
permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

Here in L.A., one of the producers of THE SIMPSONS has a huge, intricate >treehouse built in one of the trees in his front yard. He built it back in the >1990s for his daughter and it's something of a local landmark with families >from all over town who come to enjoy it on holidays like Halloween and >Christmas.

For some reason, over 25 years later, the L.A. City Council has suddenly >decided that it's an illegal construct because he never got a permit for it >when it was originally built and have demanded he tear it down. He's spent a >small fortune battling them in court but has finally decided to throw in the >towel before it bankrupts him and has scheduled it for demolition, to the >dismay of thousands.

Meanwhile, literally less than a mile from the treehouse, a homeless bum has >constructed a 2-story ramshackle shack out of scrounged trash in the middle of >a sidewalk, partially blocking the entrance to a business, and not only does >the city NOT order its removal due to lack of permitting, they tell the local >residents, including the business owner, that there's nothing they can do >about it and if anyone else tries to do something about it, they could face >arrest.

When questioned about this apparent legal double-standard by the media, all >Castro-loving Mayor Bass could say was, "It's complicated."

Government: always making things better.

There's an easy solution to his problem. Have the homeless guy move
into the tree house. At that point the city government is powerless to
do anything about the tree house.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Apr 17, 2025 at 2:45:15 PM PDT, "shawn" <[email protected]> wrote:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:54:53 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <[email protected]>
wrote:

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> >> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >>> permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear >>> which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach >>> to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you >>> to change the colour you paint your own door?

Here in L.A., one of the producers of THE SIMPSONS has a huge, intricate
treehouse built in one of the trees in his front yard. He built it back in >> the
1990s for his daughter and it's something of a local landmark with families >> from all over town who come to enjoy it on holidays like Halloween and
Christmas.

For some reason, over 25 years later, the L.A. City Council has suddenly
decided that it's an illegal construct because he never got a permit for it >> when it was originally built and have demanded he tear it down. He's spent a >> small fortune battling them in court but has finally decided to throw in the >> towel before it bankrupts him and has scheduled it for demolition, to the
dismay of thousands.

Meanwhile, literally less than a mile from the treehouse, a homeless bum has >> constructed a 2-story ramshackle shack out of scrounged trash in the middle >> of
a sidewalk, partially blocking the entrance to a business, and not only does >> the city NOT order its removal due to lack of permitting, they tell the local
residents, including the business owner, that there's nothing they can do
about it and if anyone else tries to do something about it, they could face >> arrest.

When questioned about this apparent legal double-standard by the media, all >> Castro-loving Mayor Bass could say was, "It's complicated."

Government: always making things better.

There's an easy solution to his problem. Have the homeless guy move
into the tree house. At that point the city government is powerless to
do anything about the tree house.

You say that as a joke, but the sad reality is that's probably exactly what would happen.

I don't know what theory of the case the producer's team put on, but if they didn't include a selective enforcement complaint, they're not very good lawyers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 2025-04-17 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:

On Apr 17, 2025 at 2:45:15 PM PDT, "shawn" <[email protected]> wrote:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:54:53 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <[email protected]>
wrote:

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> >>> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >>>> permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear >>>> which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach >>>> to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you >>>> to change the colour you paint your own door?

Here in L.A., one of the producers of THE SIMPSONS has a huge, intricate >>> treehouse built in one of the trees in his front yard. He built it back in >>> the
1990s for his daughter and it's something of a local landmark with families >>> from all over town who come to enjoy it on holidays like Halloween and
Christmas.

For some reason, over 25 years later, the L.A. City Council has suddenly >>> decided that it's an illegal construct because he never got a permit for it >>> when it was originally built and have demanded he tear it down. He's spent a
small fortune battling them in court but has finally decided to throw in the
towel before it bankrupts him and has scheduled it for demolition, to the >>> dismay of thousands.

Meanwhile, literally less than a mile from the treehouse, a homeless bum has
constructed a 2-story ramshackle shack out of scrounged trash in the middle >>> of
a sidewalk, partially blocking the entrance to a business, and not only does
the city NOT order its removal due to lack of permitting, they tell the local
residents, including the business owner, that there's nothing they can do >>> about it and if anyone else tries to do something about it, they could face >>> arrest.

When questioned about this apparent legal double-standard by the media, all >>> Castro-loving Mayor Bass could say was, "It's complicated."

Government: always making things better.

There's an easy solution to his problem. Have the homeless guy move
into the tree house. At that point the city government is powerless to
do anything about the tree house.

You say that as a joke, but the sad reality is that's probably exactly what would happen.

I don't know what theory of the case the producer's team put on, but if they didn't include a selective enforcement complaint, they're not very good lawyers.

If selective enforcement would invalidate a charge, wouldn't that
effectively preclude police ever charging someone with, say, speeding?
After all, only a small percentage of speeders are ever charged and the
vast majority are not even pursued or even noticed.

--
Rhino

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 2025-04-17 4:32 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's
permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

There are massive restrictions on property ownership, and the property
is owned subject to easements, air rights, mineral oil and gas rights, building and fire codes, zoning, CCRs, etc. Members of a condo/co-op/ homeowners association do not control the outside of their units, like
door color.

If there's a historic district, then building facades must be maintained
to imitate whatever historic period they are from. In the northeast, for instance, there's a certain off-white color that everyone is expected to
use on the facade because that color was most commonly used, allegedly,
when these buildings were built. In truth it's because there's an
expectation that that's the color without regard to actual history nor
the color the building had been painted in for significant periods.

Now, it's possible to live outside a homeowners' assocation and historic districts and without building codes regulating this but it's hardly the
case that these restrictions are unusual.

The video said that the chateau is NOT regarded as an historic building,
even though parts of it date back to the Middle Ages. Presumably then,
the need to get a permit to change the colour of your door is at least pertinent to the entire locality if not the entire country. Seems
excessive to me!


--
Rhino

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

2025-04-17 4:32 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one >>>featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >>>permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear >>>which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach >>>to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you >>>to change the colour you paint your own door?

There are massive restrictions on property ownership, and the property
is owned subject to easements, air rights, mineral oil and gas rights, >>building and fire codes, zoning, CCRs, etc. Members of a condo/co-op/ >>homeowners association do not control the outside of their units, like
door color.

If there's a historic district, then building facades must be maintained
to imitate whatever historic period they are from. In the northeast, for >>instance, there's a certain off-white color that everyone is expected to >>use on the facade because that color was most commonly used, allegedly, >>when these buildings were built. In truth it's because there's an >>expectation that that's the color without regard to actual history nor
the color the building had been painted in for significant periods.

Now, it's possible to live outside a homeowners' assocation and historic >>districts and without building codes regulating this but it's hardly the >>case that these restrictions are unusual.

The video said that the chateau is NOT regarded as an historic building,
even though parts of it date back to the Middle Ages. Presumably then,
the need to get a permit to change the colour of your door is at least >pertinent to the entire locality if not the entire country. Seems
excessive to me!

I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that these restrictions
in law affect a great many home owners.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

It's not all of France. It depends where you live, how old the building
is, etc. There are many places around the world with similar
restrictions on any changes being made to the external appearance,
especially for historically important buildings or areas. Usually it's
the city / regional council that has to be applied to for permission.
It is done so that someone cannot create an eyesore in the middle of a important area.

Even if you live in a modern apartment block, there can be restrictions
as to what you can and cannot do to the outside. For example, in one
place near here there is a rule that you cannot hang your washed
clothes outside to dry where they are visible from the street.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Apr 17, 2025 at 4:42:29 PM PDT, "Your Name" <[email protected]> wrote:

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's
permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

It's not all of France. It depends where you live, how old the building
is, etc. There are many places around the world with similar
restrictions on any changes being made to the external appearance,
especially for historically important buildings or areas. Usually it's
the city / regional council that has to be applied to for permission.
It is done so that someone cannot create an eyesore in the middle of a important area.

I live in a small beach city and they won't allow franchise restaurants here because they consider McDonald's and Taco Bell signs up and down the streets
to sully the "quaint seaside resort" look and feel of the town.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 2025-04-17 7:24 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

2025-04-17 4:32 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >>>> permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear >>>> which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach >>>> to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you >>>> to change the colour you paint your own door?

There are massive restrictions on property ownership, and the property
is owned subject to easements, air rights, mineral oil and gas rights,
building and fire codes, zoning, CCRs, etc. Members of a condo/co-op/
homeowners association do not control the outside of their units, like
door color.

If there's a historic district, then building facades must be maintained >>> to imitate whatever historic period they are from. In the northeast, for >>> instance, there's a certain off-white color that everyone is expected to >>> use on the facade because that color was most commonly used, allegedly,
when these buildings were built. In truth it's because there's an
expectation that that's the color without regard to actual history nor
the color the building had been painted in for significant periods.

Now, it's possible to live outside a homeowners' assocation and historic >>> districts and without building codes regulating this but it's hardly the >>> case that these restrictions are unusual.

The video said that the chateau is NOT regarded as an historic building,
even though parts of it date back to the Middle Ages. Presumably then,
the need to get a permit to change the colour of your door is at least
pertinent to the entire locality if not the entire country. Seems
excessive to me!

I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that these restrictions
in law affect a great many home owners.

Can we agree that many of these restrictions are unwarranted and
excessive and should be struck down?

--
Rhino

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

On 2025-04-17 7:24 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

2025-04-17 4:32 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one >>>>>featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's >>>>>permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear >>>>>which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach >>>>>to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you >>>>>to change the colour you paint your own door?

There are massive restrictions on property ownership, and the property >>>>is owned subject to easements, air rights, mineral oil and gas rights, >>>>building and fire codes, zoning, CCRs, etc. Members of a condo/co-op/ >>>>homeowners association do not control the outside of their units, like >>>>door color.

If there's a historic district, then building facades must be maintained >>>>to imitate whatever historic period they are from. In the northeast, for >>>>instance, there's a certain off-white color that everyone is expected to >>>>use on the facade because that color was most commonly used, allegedly, >>>>when these buildings were built. In truth it's because there's an >>>>expectation that that's the color without regard to actual history nor >>>>the color the building had been painted in for significant periods.

Now, it's possible to live outside a homeowners' assocation and historic >>>>districts and without building codes regulating this but it's hardly the >>>>case that these restrictions are unusual.

The video said that the chateau is NOT regarded as an historic building, >>>even though parts of it date back to the Middle Ages. Presumably then, >>>the need to get a permit to change the colour of your door is at least >>>pertinent to the entire locality if not the entire country. Seems >>>excessive to me!

I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that these restrictions
in law affect a great many home owners.

Can we agree that many of these restrictions are unwarranted and
excessive and should be struck down?

Absolutely. It's more than just doors. Government ruins land use,
allowing overuse where it's not sustainable, and requiring underuse
where the land could be used for a higher population.

And yet, no one can figure out why those who work can't afford housing.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Rhino <[email protected]> wrote:

I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]

I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)

Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

I can apparently paint my front door any color I want, but they control the color of our roofs. Important we look good from the air.

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)