I was engaged in a lively discussion this past weekend with a friend over whether or not chickens should be allowed to roam around backyard pens within the confines of our fine city.
Bottom-line on this friendly debate:
Him: "They're dirty, noisy and cause a stink."
Me: Chickens are really good eggs - they're not noisy and when raised and cared for properly are truly wonderful little assets.
In my opinion, the key to this issue is a proper drafting of the ordinance as well as the future enforcement of its guidelines. At this point it looks like our city's leaders are getting it right. Properly executed, this action should be considered progressive and proper. Hats off to Denise Mannino and her supporters for doing their homework and converting their passion into a new and sustainable reality!
On another note, one near and dear to my heart, I commend those at the helm of this website for launching their "Shop Local" marketing - which even when considering it's a vehicle for advertising revenue, it's focus on investing locally is undeniably admirable. While a newspaper editor and publisher in another life, I sponsored such an awareness campaign and was truly amazed at how well readers took to the simple notion that EVERY dollar spent in town helps support your friends and neighbors. Think about it - are you really saving that much when you drive to Clearwater to get your oil changed?
Trust me, if enough of us care enough to spend our hard-earned money close to home, we really can strengthen our community from the inside out.
... and we're not just talkin, chicken feed here ...
