Our friend Ron got a citation and a summons to a hearing because he's growing a neighborhood vegetable garden in L.A. in the space the city calls the 'parkway,' between the sidewalk and the street.
He was cited by Investigator Glenn Yee of the city's Street Services Dept. for having overgrown vegetation. In reality, the 'overgrown vegetation' is a beautiful urban vegetable garden whose produce he shares with his neighbors.
It prompted me to write this song parody of "Officer Krupke," from West Side Story.
OUR ZUCCHINI'S NOT TO CODE
Dear Investigator Yee
You gotta understand
That a garden in a parkway
Is a rightful use of land
The splotchy grass, the doggy doo
The normal sidewalk scenes
Get a major upgrade when we grow our lima beans
Investigator Yee
We're very agitated
That you issued a citation for growing a potato
We ain’t no troublemakers
We ain’t a bunch o’ vagrants,
We’re spendin’ private money on public rutabagas!
Investigator Yee
You’re really out of touch
Honeybees are disappearing, and you call us to a hearing
To say our garden must be mowed and money may be owed because our zucchini’s not to code?!!!!!
Our zucchini’s not to code!
No, our zucchini's not to code!
Now our garden must be mowed
And money may be owed!
Investigator Yee, we’ve got your number
You’re a dude with a badge who’s anti-cucumber
Doing your job, collecting a salary
For keeping the streets safe from celery
Investigator Yee, how many have you busted
For contraband carrots and illegal mustard?
You really mean to tell us there’s a law
Against neighborhood cabbage for community slaw?
Investigator Yee, we’re down on our knees,
We’re begging you please
Don’t be treating us like felons
Just because we’re growing melons
Investigator Yee,
Leave the parkway garden at 4501 Exposition Boulevard in Los Angeles on the Chesapeake Street side of the residence….
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!