Residents in Everett, Washington, have reportedly raised concerns about a nearby homeless encampment that some say received little attention from the city, while the city was quick to shut down a lemonade stand operated by a 7-year-old girl.
KING 5 reported that Elsa LaMaine, the girl, opened her small stand at a park and sold the usual drinks and flowers alongside her grandmother. A park ranger from Everett’s Rucker Hills Park told them last week that they had to close down their stand after receiving a complaint by a neighbor. The rule of the city is that you can’t sell products on public land.
MyNorthWest.com reported that it has been a tradition for LaMaine since she was four and she even donates some of her earnings to local nonprofit Everett Gospel Mission.
According to the report, the quick action taken by the city to shut down the girl’s stand was inconsistent with other city matters like the homeless camp at the park that has been a concern for some time.
KING 5 reported that a reporter had interviewed the girl’s grandmother and that a naked man walked into the park from the woods.
It is not unusual for it to happen, the grandmother said.
Cherie La Maine, Cherie’s grandmother, told the station that there have been people who come through here with guns. “Something is very wrong with this image.”
According to the report, it had reached out to city officials regarding concerns from neighbors about misplaced priorities but didn’t receive any comment. Kimberly Cline (a city spokesperson) did not respond immediately to a Fox News after-hours email.
