Girl Scouts' Hometown Crushes Cookie Sales

It's always sad when a city tells kids they can't sell sweet treats. It's even sadder when that city (Savannah) bars a famous group of kids (Girl Scouts) from selling their cookies in a relatively important place (outside the home of the founder of their organization). That's exactly the PR mess the scouts' hometown is dealing with now, after it banned them from their longtime practice of hawking Thin Mints et al on the public sidewalk outside Juliette Gordon Low's house, now a National Historic Landmark open for tours.

The issue began last year, reports the AP, after the city received a complaint. It turns out that peddling on a public sidewalk is a violation of a city ordinance. The city's zoning administrator did try to find an alternative: Perhaps there would be some private space between the home and the sidewalk (a survey revealed there wasn't), or maybe they could sell them in the home's side courtyard (that would block an exit route, said fire marshals). "I know it doesn't look good," he admitted. One city alderman wants Savannah to make a temporary annual exception: "Juliette Low brings thousands of tourists from around the country. Juliette Low is known for Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts are known for cookies. Let's be reasonable. Let them sell their cookies." (Click for another—violent—Girl Scouts cookie mess.)