Christmann Got What She Deserved

Sat., July 20, 1996

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

Fret not for the Avon Lady.

Coeur d’Alene’s Rose Christmann spent Thursday night in jail because she’s mule-headed - not because there’s some government conspiracy to shut her down.

If anything, city officials have handled the 74-year-old too carefully after “A Current Affair” portrayed them as heartless bureaucrats five years ago. The television tabloid show sympathized with Christmann following her arrest for selling Avon products from her home illegally.

In fact, “Court TV” expressed interest in covering Christmann’s court appearance Thursday but failed to show up - just like Christmann. First District Judge Craig Kosonen had no alternative but to charge her with contempt, impose a fine and order her jailed again.

Christmann’s defiance of the court this week typifies the stubbornness she’s shown throughout her eight-year quixotic fight with City Hall.

First, she opened her Avon shop in a Best Avenue residential zone after city leaders twice had denied her permission to do so. Said city planning director Dave Yadon: “They (planners) were trying to preserve that residential area.” Then, after her 15 minutes of fame, she flaunted her illegal business by paving her yard for parking. Finally, she ignored a January 1995 court order to stop selling her products from home.

A month later, Christmann demanded $525 million in gold or silver coins from 21 City Council members, judges, lawyers, clerks and building officials, claiming they had abused their authority in trying to enforce zoning laws - a common patriot or militia stunt.

Earlier this week, Christmann told reporters she wasn’t planning to appear for her hearing, adding: “I’m so bull-headed, I’m going to stick in there until I die. I’m not going to crawl for anybody. This is what I do. It’s what I am.”

It’s also why she went to jail.

Great-grandmothers have no more right to disobey planning rules than anyone else. If they’re allowed to do so - even for a compelling reason like Christmann’s, that she needs to supplement a meager Social Security check - all residential areas are jeopardized.

Some homeowners might not mind an Avon shop next door, but most would. Most would resent the added traffic attracted by the shop. The devaluation of their property. The pressure to allow more small businesses into the neighborhood.

Zoning laws keep incompatible land uses separate.

Sometimes, people have to learn that fact the hard way.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

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