Michigan farm owner fighting back after Township closes his business and is the economy really in a good place?
Keeping it Real Thursday December 15, 2023
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On this Keeping it Real show rundown I am breaking down the case of Ben Martin from Comstock Park Township who says the township condemned his property and prevented him from making a living. Now, he has filed a federal lawsuit against the Township.
Watch my interview with him below:
The dispute arose when the township issued citations to Soil Friends, claiming that the farm's operations, particularly its cider tasting room and market, were not in compliance with local codes. The township argued that at least 50% of items in a farm market must be grown on-site, while Soil Friends contended that the sale of Christmas trees, considered a farm product, is protected under the Right to Farm Act.
In response to the citations, the Kalamazoo County District Court issued a compliance order to shut down Soil Friends' business. The farm argues that its operations were lawful, pointing to a tasting room permit granted in 2018. The lawsuit also alleges that township officials attempted to silence the farm's criticism by suggesting that their Facebook posts were causing issues.
Soil Friends is suing Comstock Township for various violations, including First Amendment retaliation, violation of due process, and interference with civil rights. The farm seeks compensation for damages, including lost profits and attorney fees. This legal dispute underscores the challenges and tensions that can arise between municipalities and businesses, particularly in the agriculture industry, as they navigate differences in interpretations of land use regulations and constitutional rights.
I also looked into the state of the United States economy.
The Biden administration says the economy is in a good place.
I talked Patty from Northern Michigan who is on a fixed income who tells me the economy, at least for her, is not in a good place. Watch my interview below:
According to the AP, Pollsters and economists say there has never been as wide a gap between the underlying health of the economy and public perception. The divergence could be a decisive factor in whether the Democrat secures a second term next year. Republicans are seizing on the dissatisfaction to skewer Biden, while the White House is finding less success as it tries to highlight economic progress.
“Things are getting better and people think things are going to get worse — and that’s the most dangerous piece of this,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who has worked with Biden. Lake said voters no longer want to just see inflation rates fall — rather, they want an outright decline in prices, something that last happened on a large scale during the Great Depression.