Nicky Cheese

I’m not sure how the story has gone this long without appearing on the blog — especially when my own co-worker, Izzy Santa, has been quoted in relation to it — but, in any case: “Pig roaster’s citations from Wheeling have Filipino consulate, ACLU, libertarians crying foul”.

For those link averse, a man from Wheeling — Amante Enad — was ticketed earlier this month by village officials for roasting pigs on his property. The article, citing the fact that the pigs in question were donated — yes, donated — to Enad’s church, has understandably drawn its fair share of public outcry.

Wheeling has taken notice.

Monday, the Trib did a follow-up, most likely at the village’s request: “Wheeling explains reasons for citing pig roaster”. Village Manager Mark Rooney stated, “This issue is not about the lack of the village allowing someone to enjoy the back-yard barbecue”. (Wow that’s terrible sentence-structure.) It is, according to Rooney, a health and sanitation issue.

Today Enad gets his day in court. I’ll update as soon as I catch wind of any result.

Oh! I almost forgot: Izzy’s quote, which appeared in the first Trib article, follows below:

“He should have the freedom to roast as many pigs on his property as he wants as long as he doesn’t harm anything in his neighborhood,” said Izzy Santa, press secretary for the Sam Adams Alliance, a Chicago-based non-profit libertarian organization that offered Enad legal assistance, media training or other help.

UPDATE: Looks like the Herald is first on the beat. Chalk it up as another win for unnecessary regulation and loss for personal freedom.

A Wheeling pig roaster whose cause attracted widespread interest after he was cited by Wheeling officials lost in court today. A judge ordered Wheeling resident Amante Enad to stop roasting pigs for the masses. Judge Joel Greenblatt said Enad will have to pay a $1,000 fine if he violates that order between now and his next hearing in September…

Greenblatt said that while Enad is allowed to cook in his home for himself and his family, he can’t cook for mass consumption from his house, which is unlicensed as a business. If he wants to cook for the church, he will need to do it on site, the judge said.

UPDATE II: I love this quote from the Trib’s post-ruling piece:

When asked by a reporter what he thought of life in the U.S., Enad had a quick response: “It’s not the same as the Philippines. . . . I [would] have a roasted pig in front of the municipal building.”