News & Politics - Man paints house bright green to get back at neighbor.

Bijou · 12-18-2004, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Juan Mata's maroon Kenworth semi-truck means a lot to him. The Lockport man keeps a picture of it tucked inside his wallet. He used to proudly park the truck in the driveway outside his home.

So, when his neighbors called police last summer, complaining that the truck was noisy and an eyesore and the police made him move it, Mata, who says none of that's true, got mad.

Then, he got even: He has painted his house a brilliant shade of fluorescent green.

"Hideous," one neighbor calls it.

Another, Debbie Seitz, says it's so bright, "The flight traffic would be able to spot Lockport."

Serves you right, says Mata: "Well, I thought if they said, 'The truck's an eyesore,' I'd give them a real eyesore."

Some tickled pink...

The color is so, ah, unusual, that, when he bought the paint at a Home Depot and told a store employee what it was for, "The lady there couldn't believe it. She said, 'That's not outside paint; that's interior paint.' "

The police made Mata move the truck because of an ordinance that bans trucks from being parked in residential areas. But there's no ordinance that restricts what color people can paint their houses, city administrator Larry McCasland says. "It's crazy, isn't it?" McCasland says, laughing.

Mata's home, which he rents from his father, has become sort of an attraction, drawing people who don't even live in the neighborhood.

"And we get a lot of compliments, too, right, Dad?" says Mata's daughter, Lori. "They'd stop and say, 'I like it.' "

For his annoyed neighbors, Mata's taste in exterior home paint has had a couple of benefits: It slows traffic and serves as a handy landmark.

"I say, 'Just go to 14th and Washington, and I live right across the street from the crazy green house,' " says a neighbor who'd give her name only as Dawn.

Mata says the color doesn't bother him. "Inside here, I don't see it," he says.

Still, he's tired of paying a $350 monthly storage fee for his truck and is looking to move. When he does, he says his father will probably replace the lime green with a more neutral color.

Article from Chicago Sun-Times

Jadiee · 12-18-2004, 08:12 AM

YES For people to make a guy move his vehicle because they dont like the color? or the make and model, or whatever excuse they want to give. Jeez, does everyone in this guys neighborhood think that life has to go according to their plan.
I like this guy. Though i think he should have striped it with something like orange. Then cover it in glow in the dark paint

maybe have more lights in his front yard, a dog or two to make lots of noise.

i dont like people telling me what i can or cannot do, can you tell?

Sindaanca · 12-18-2004, 09:10 AM

That's so cool

But here where I live we have lots of restrictions about houses. About colours, about the distance from the street, from the other houses and so on.. I quess it won't happen here

Elizajoey · 12-18-2004, 11:21 AM

I'm trying to work out which is more hilarious, the fact that he painted his house fluro green or that he has a picture of his car in his wallet.

What it for? In case someone decides to carnap it? Can he open his wallet and say, "Isn't he gorgeous. He will be six in May".

I also loved the comment by Dawn that it has become a landmark.

sick little jag · 12-18-2004, 09:47 PM

Well...a semi truck is alot bigger than a regular truck. I can understand why neighbors would complain about him having it parked on the street. An old neighbor of mine used to do that too, and it made our neighborhood (which was a fairly nice, clean, together looking one) look really slum-y.

I think the guy is kind of a jackass.

*Ledi* · 12-18-2004, 09:59 PM

I think that's so hilarious.

Hot Like Fire · 12-19-2004, 12:12 AM

I can't stop laughing

The Happy Psycho · 12-19-2004, 01:28 AM

Thats awesome.

justsmile · 12-19-2004, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elizajoey
What it for? In case someone decides to carnap it? Can he open his wallet and say, "Isn't he gorgeous. He will be six in May".

Maybe he had to work long and hard to be able to afford it. So he carries a picture to show that working hard you can achieve your dreams?

Also good for him. I'm 100% against people telling others how to live. Live your life and stay out of mine is my motto. This mans neighbors weren't going to lose their lives because he had a truck in the street. Really, people in our country have become so self involoved and concerned with apperence that it's sickening. No one seems to remember that there are real matters to worry about.

Jadiee · 12-19-2004, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by justsmile

Also good for him. I'm 100% against people telling others how to live. Live your life and stay out of mine is my motto. This mans neighbors weren't going to lose their lives because he had a truck in the street. Really, people in our country have become so self involoved and concerned with apperence that it's sickening. No one seems to remember that there are real matters to worry about.

Well put

KeithUrbanfan · 12-19-2004, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by justsmile
Maybe he had to work long and hard to be able to afford it. So he carries a picture to show that working hard you can achieve your dreams?

Also good for him. I'm 100% against people telling others how to live. Live your life and stay out of mine is my motto. This mans neighbors weren't going to lose their lives because he had a truck in the street. Really, people in our country have become so self involoved and concerned with apperence that it's sickening. No one seems to remember that there are real matters to worry about.

AMEN

LittleMilkJug · 12-19-2004, 03:02 PM

He has got guts, but good for him

Ms. Fiction · 12-20-2004, 05:32 AM

Awesome!

artist · 12-20-2004, 06:07 PM

Rock on, man.

In Fair Verona · 12-20-2004, 07:05 PM

This guy is awesome! Fight the good fight, man.


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