City Sues Couple On Disability for Holding Too Many Garage Sales

ADELA UCHIDA

news92fm.com

An older Houston couple has apermit from the State of Texas to run a business out of their rented home.

They hold garage sales to supplement their disability income. So why is the City of Houston suing them?

Jorge and Maria Ramos have been holding daily garage sales since 2011, making a little money to supplement Jorge’s disability income. He is blind in both eyes. They even have a permit from the state and thought they were doing everything by the book.

Robert Ramos is their son, and he says he thinks they’re being harassed.

But last week, the City of Houston filed a lawsuit against not them, but their landlord. The point: to shut down the garage sales.

The city says the garage sales violate a deed restriction in their neighborhood, and that a neighbor complained about them. Interestingly, there were no complaints filed against a neighbor who also holds daily garage sales.

The city also says that permit the Ramos’ thought made their business legal will actually be used as evidence against them.

Meantime, the Ramos family isn’t sure what they’ll do now.

Robert Ramos says his parents do not have the funds to hire an attorney.

“Like I said, they barely even make to pay the bills, the rent, the food and all that,” he said.