Somewhere between fighting crime, fixing roads and keeping taxes under control, another government has found a pressing public emergency in their community: a grandmother handing out free breakfast burritos.
According to a Center Square report [1], Missouri resident Kathy Kite began cooking breakfast at her home after a local gas station stopped serving it. What started as a joke grew into Kite making roughly 20 to 25 servings six days a week for friends, neighbors and passersby – for free. Naturally, somebody complained.
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services subsequently informed Kite that she could face legal action for operating without a food-establishment permit or commercial kitchen.
The health department said someone got sick and said because Kite had an “open” sign, tip jar, yard sign and social media post, it came to their attention.
Yes, as is so often the case, local governments seem to believe that even a little hospitality requires health department approval, zoning approval, paperwork and permission before you can do it at your own home. But so far, it appears Kite hasn’t let the bureaucratic breakfast battle stop her from serving up her free morning meals.
The Goldwater Institute has stepped in [2] to represent Kite, arguing Americans shouldn’t need government permission to invite people into their homes and feed them. The organization gave the health department until Aug. 28 to respond before potentially filing a lawsuit.
But rest easy, America. With all the problems facing the country, government officials are keeping a watchful eye on emergencies like grandma’s crockpot.