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Step 4Know Your Options For Escalation
If you don't pass with flying colors on your first (or first 5) inspection attempts, don't think your only option is to keep knocking your head against the wall. That's certainly one way to go, but here are some others:
-Do extra homework. Expect to get asked about your design to levels of detail that no "official company" producing the product has, and be ready to provide this detail.
-Add some sunlight to disinfect. Most states allow one party to a conversation to record the conversation; if you're in the U.S., you can look up your specific state's rules here. If you're being treated differently because you built your project, consider recording this behavior to bring the light of day to your favorite bureaucracy!
-Find other bureaucrats. If your project's green / artsy / otherwise something you can position as making your community a better place, use a tip I learned from my newspaper editor dad: a pissed-off councilperson can be a huge pain. Maybe your story is an opportunity for them to win some votes by publicly smacking down a bureaucrat of lesser ranking?
-Consider the crowds. Would your product help somebody? Is it interesting? If no to both of those, is it really worth working on?
On my specific example:
-Here's the rudimentary, incomplete, and possibly inaccurate analysis I provided after several failed inspection attempts (big PDF).
-Here's the videotape from my 4th inspection attempt (if the city hasn't sent another takedown notice):
-Here's the text of an email I sent to other bureaucrats, after a personal phone call:
Subject: Austin City DIY Discrimination
Hello (name),
It was good speaking with you. As per our conversation, you can find documentation of the incident here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/my_diy_pedicab_saga_diy_d.html .
Thanks for your help in this matter.
-Luke
-Here's the text of an email I sent to local media (tv, radio, print):
Subject: Austin City DIY Discrimination
Hi (station name),
Thought you might be interested in the treatment I received Friday from the city of Austin: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/my_diy_pedicab_saga_diy_d.html .
I've got more details and records of all the interactions with the city if you'd like to hear more.
Have a good one,
Luke
For me, a higher-ranking city official ended up applying the pressure I needed to get a fair inspection. I was able to attract some interest in initerviews from local media, too!
-Do extra homework. Expect to get asked about your design to levels of detail that no "official company" producing the product has, and be ready to provide this detail.
-Add some sunlight to disinfect. Most states allow one party to a conversation to record the conversation; if you're in the U.S., you can look up your specific state's rules here. If you're being treated differently because you built your project, consider recording this behavior to bring the light of day to your favorite bureaucracy!
-Find other bureaucrats. If your project's green / artsy / otherwise something you can position as making your community a better place, use a tip I learned from my newspaper editor dad: a pissed-off councilperson can be a huge pain. Maybe your story is an opportunity for them to win some votes by publicly smacking down a bureaucrat of lesser ranking?
-Consider the crowds. Would your product help somebody? Is it interesting? If no to both of those, is it really worth working on?
On my specific example:
-Here's the rudimentary, incomplete, and possibly inaccurate analysis I provided after several failed inspection attempts (big PDF).
-Here's the videotape from my 4th inspection attempt (if the city hasn't sent another takedown notice):
-Here's the text of an email I sent to other bureaucrats, after a personal phone call:
Subject: Austin City DIY Discrimination
Hello (name),
It was good speaking with you. As per our conversation, you can find documentation of the incident here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/my_diy_pedicab_saga_diy_d.html .
Thanks for your help in this matter.
-Luke
-Here's the text of an email I sent to local media (tv, radio, print):
Subject: Austin City DIY Discrimination
Hi (station name),
Thought you might be interested in the treatment I received Friday from the city of Austin: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/my_diy_pedicab_saga_diy_d.html .
I've got more details and records of all the interactions with the city if you'd like to hear more.
Have a good one,
Luke
For me, a higher-ranking city official ended up applying the pressure I needed to get a fair inspection. I was able to attract some interest in initerviews from local media, too!
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