Do we have a fundamental right to eat the food we want to eat? By that notion, if we want to grow the food we want to eat, do we have that right as well? The Northwood City Council believes otherwise. The Northwood City Council also believes it is acceptable to terminate First Amendment freedom of speech rights.

On Friday, April 25, four individuals who asked to be added to the agenda for Monday, April 28, were asked to put in writing why they wanted to be added to the agenda by Mayor Jane Bloomingdale. This move was unnecessary and unfounded. No other individuals have ever been asked to do this. Why, might you ask, were they asked to do this, then? These four individuals were asking for consent to be allowed to have chickens on their own property for which they pay property taxes on.

These individuals were within their rights to request consent from the City Council. City Code 55.05 states: “It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the city except by written consent of the council or except in compliance with the city’s zoning regulations.”

At the City Council meeting on Monday, when these individuals were next on the agenda, the council refused to allow these individuals to speak. They were denied their First Amendment rights. As a reader this should anger you.

The city of Northwood strongly encourages first-time home buyers to move to Northwood and even entices them with Worth County Development Authority funding for their children. The council then treats them as serfs, denying their rights, and further regards them with hostility, humiliation and degradation. What have we, as Americans, learned when our rights are oppressed? That the downtrodden always rise up stronger and more passionate every time. Does the Northwood City Council think this issue is going to go away by denying constitutional rights? If so, they are sadly mistaken.

This issue is no longer about chickens. It is about a fundamental right to live in a way you choose to live. Raising your own food is historically normal and socially, environmentally, ethically and spiritually responsible. That is the way I choose to live. I have no desire to stop anyone from eating fast food, GMO-laden ingredients, vegan or however you choose to eat. The Northwood City Council does. They’ve shown they want to obliterate its citizens’ rights.

The Northwood City Council may be tired of hearing about chickens. The supporters they deny listening to are tired of hearing their pathetic excuses: coyotes running wild in town because of chickens, allergies, the smell …

Need anyone remind the council that one of the Council members has a herd of cattle living within city limits? Grandfathered-in or not, on any day a herd of cattle smells worse than a few well-kept backyard chickens no matter which way the wind blows. It’s also conveniently omitted that the herd is 30 feet downwind from an outdoor eating establishment. So, what really is the Northwood City Council’s motive?

So, to you readers, I ask for your help. I am asking for you to help the backyard chicken supporters to be heard and to help us convince the Northwood City Council a standard operating procedure for denying and/or granting consent be written into the City Code.

 

Jerilea Hendrick

Northwood