The ticket said he came by

Saturday morning and still saw the banner!

In any case I went to court

to plead my case. After speaking with the attorney representing the city,

I was told I could pay a $250 fine or take my chances, plead my case before

the judge and possibly pay over $1,000.

I explained I had very, very

little money and that even $250, at that time, would be hard to pay. In

the end I paid the $250 fine that day because the veiled threat I received

was enough to show me that I would not, could not win. I closed the business

two weeks later.

Needless to say, I am still

paying the people I borrowed money from and the episode left a terrible

taste in my mouth. I will never do business with the city of Fayetteville

again.

I have lived here for over

35 years and Fayetteville used to be the place to live. The people who

now run the city government are for the most part transplants who have

brought the kind of service and customer "unfriendly" environment

that they came from.

To anyone wanting to start

a business here, check, check and double-check every aspect of what Fayetteville

requires and look for no help, as they are intent on filling the city's

coffers with fine money!

John Allen

Fayetteville, Ga.