On Retailer changes one of its locations on Janesville’s west side
Posted on March 8 at 11:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe I'm confused ... the pharmacy (in other countries called 'The Drug Dispensary') is moving out of the neighborhood because there are too many drugs in the neighborhood? Ironic.
JVL needs more cops?? Are you KIDDING?! They already have the police force for a city 10 times the size! Take a sociology class - learn about the problems, then spend tax payer money to fix the problems, not control the symptoms.
Ok, stepping off the soapbox…
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 26 at 4:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes frogger, I skip them too. Isn't it nice they come in such a recognizable and repetitive format so they're easily identifiable?
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 26 at 2:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
frogger, I can appreciate that concern, and I think that is probably the concern of many in JVL. There is a tendency for people to think they can handle animals and then not give them the time or attention they need. One thing that limits the birds is only allowing hens, so people would only have as many birds as they buy – they aren’t breeding any new ones, which tends to keep things under control. I haven’t been aware of any issues with people out here neglecting their birds (as opposed to cats, dogs, exotic animals, horses, goats – just to name a few high profile cases recently). For the most part, the people who take advantage of the ordinance are people who want a closer connection with their food – tree huggers like my husband and me =)
We have several neighbors within our neighborhood with chickens and we didn’t even know until they told us – their immediate neighbors weren’t aware either! The one family keeps rather exotic chickens which lay green and blue eggs – I thought that was pretty cool ^_^
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 26 at 11:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
EHW - That was exactly the breed we were considering!! There is a breeder nearby we were considering, but we need a little more land. I think I read about the breed in Mother Earth News... but I could be misremembering. I wish we lived in Iceland – we only visited. The food there is amazing!!
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 25 at 10:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Still demanding attention like a spoiled toddler I see. Possibly you haven't noticed yet that you have nothing relevant or useful to say on this topic - but we have. Maybe next you can start repeating everything I say. Oh, wait…
Good luck Allison - at least you know that most people you encounter aren't just ignorant, juvenile, and out to have start an argument. Most people actually have a brain and thus original ideas and so your battle should only get easier.
As a general rule of thumb, I've noticed that JVL runs about 10 years behind the larger and more progressive coastal cities. So don't give up, it will just take some time for JVL to see that other cities are doing this and having no issues. I think mostly people are afraid of the city becoming overrun with livestock, which I can appreciate. However, the vast majority of people are rather content having no part in the production of their own food. I would guess less than 5% of residents would even take advantage of an ordinance like this.
Maybe you could give it a couple more tries - maybe discourage the chicken costume next time as it seems to poke fun at the whole idea. ^_^ Can you put together some numbers from other communities? I think the council would be interested in percentages of residents in other communities applying to keep chickens, how many chickens are allowed per X number of lot sq. footage, how many (if any) violators there are for going over limits, what type of vaccinations are needed and if local vets have those available, what (if any) cost there is for the city. Maybe you could even have a meeting with one of the council members one-on-one so that you have enough time to get across the relevant information. I know JVL has a time limit on comments now at their meetings.
I wish you the best of luck. When we were in Iceland we had raw dairy and I’ve been trying to convince my husband to buy a cow for our backyard ever since!!
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 25 at 5:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
For those actually interested in the topic, I have some experience – unlike other, fear mongering, long-winded posters. I live in a major metropolitan area (pop. approx. 3 million) which allows all sorts of animals – including chickens, all with specific requirements. Each residence may have 2 dogs for example (unless you are a licensed breeder), and I believe this is no different from JVL. Other animals have more specific requirements; Cows, for example, require an acre per animal, as do horses, plus there are specific shelter requirements. Does the city of JVL not already allow people to own birds? We kept birds in JVL when I was a kid – what’s the difference if you’re keeping them in the house or in the yard? Should such a regulation exist for your dog or cat?
I keep a dog at my house. She is a fantastic watchdog and barks whenever someone enters our yard or approaches our children. My sister keeps chickens. My dog’s bark (up to 120 decibels) is audible for approximately a 3 block radius, where as my sister’s chickens can’t be heard until you are nearly on top of them. It should be noted that chickens produce only about 50 to 60 decibels of noise, comparable to a typewriter or dishwasher. My sister’s chickens are in her backyard and you can’t hear them from the side yard, driveway, inside the house, from the front yard or side walk.
My yard (with my 80 pound dog) has visitors including a family of raccoons, coyote, and a murder of crows. My sister has never had an animal go after her chickens. She kept them in a coop at night (duh) and in a fenced in yard during the day – for their protection. (BTW – out here people have to protect their small pets for large birds of prey as well as other 4 legged predators – is that a reason to outlaw ‘toy’ breeds or cats? Because they attract predators?) Her chickens produce about 7.5 gallons of waste each in a year – just enough to fertilize her garden. My dog produces that in a week (for you math buffs, that’s 390 gallons), and it all goes to the dump. We get our organic fertilizer from our neighbor’s horse and our compost bin.
Noise and poop arguments are just that, noise and BS – and in this case that B stands for ‘bird’! Why are people so terrified of birds (one too many viewings of the Alfred Hitchcock classic?)? What I’ve said above comes from actual experience living in a city which allows chickens. Another bonus to living in such an area – our grocery store carries local, organic, free-range eggs (and chickens) so I don’t have to deal with raising my own but I get all the health benefits which have already been outlined (thanks for putting all that together ^_^)! I sure am glad JVL kept that from happening for you all – wow really dodged a bullet there …
On Janesville City Council denies request for backyard chickens
Posted on February 25 at 4:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
For those actually interested in the topic, I have some experience – unlike other, fear mongering, long-winded posters. I live in a major metropolitan area (pop. approx. 3 million) which allows all sorts of animals – including chickens, all with specific requirements. Each residence may have 2 dogs for example (unless you are a licensed breeder), and I believe this is no different from JVL. Other animals have more specific requirements; Cows, for example, require an acre per animal, as do horses, plus there are specific shelter requirements. Does the city of JVL not already allow people to own birds? We kept birds in JVL when I was a kid – what’s the difference if you’re keeping them in the house or in the yard? Should such a regulation exist for your dog or cat?
I keep a dog at my house. She is a fantastic watchdog and barks whenever someone enters our yard or approaches our children. My sister keeps chickens. My dog’s bark (up to 120 decibels) is audible for approximately a 3 block radius, where as my sister’s chickens can’t be heard until you are nearly on top of them. It should be noted that chickens produce only about 50 to 60 decibels of noise, comparable to a typewriter or dishwasher. My sister’s chickens are in her backyard and you can’t hear them from the side yard, driveway, inside the house, from the front yard or side walk.
My yard (with my 80 pound dog) has visitors including a family of raccoons, coyote, and a murder of crows. My sister has never had an animal go after her chickens. She kept them in a coop at night (duh) and in a fenced in yard during the day – for their protection. (BTW – out here people have to protect their small pets for large birds of prey as well as other 4 legged predators – is that a reason to outlaw ‘toy’ breeds or cats? Because they attract predators?) Her chickens produce about 7.5 gallons of waste each in a year – just enough to fertilize her garden. My dog produces that in a week (for you math buffs, that’s 390 gallons), and it all goes to the dump. We get our organic fertilizer from our neighbor’s horse and our compost bin.
Noise and poop arguments are just that, noise and BS – and in this case that B stands for ‘bird’! Why are people so terrified of birds (one too many viewings of the Alfred Hitchcock classic?)? What I’ve said above comes from actual experience living in a city which allows chickens. Another bonus to living in such an area – our grocery store carries local, organic, free-range eggs (and chickens) so I don’t have to deal with raising my own but I get all the health benefits which have already been outlined (thanks for putting all that together ^_^)! I sure am glad JVL kept that from happening for you all – wow really dodged a bullet there …
On City could charge for emergency calls
Posted on February 23 at 3:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hank, I can appreciate your position. You (and most people on here) are fed up with the choices the city government (the council/city manager) makes, for failing to live within a budget, and then looking for ‘creative ways’ to nickel and dime an already over-taxed population in a major recession. As a voter, how do you combat this problem? You stop voting for the people who are causing the problems and vote for someone new. This IS sound logic. It IS a good idea to not vote for people who DON’T support your interests.
However, I’m with Gazettefan when I say that my vote would NEVER, under any circumstance go to B’moon. Why? Her behavior at council meetings thus far has shown that she pushes HER agenda, not the agenda of the citizens’ of JVL. She has, in the past, worked outside the lines of civility and used fear and intimidation to get what she wants. She shows irresponsibility in her personal and professional lives. And a good indicator of future behavior is past behavior.
If you did a little more research, not just watching a rehearsed speech, I think you would come to the same conclusion. I looked at the events in which she’s involved and looked at the outcome. Only one time (that I’ve counted so far) have the citizens of JVL come out ahead thanks to her work. I believe the Gazette published a piece about how she was part of getting the condemnation process changed. Every other story I’ve read about her shows that her agenda trumps all else. Some examples: 1) Trying to get the city to foot the bill for the restoration of the Case Feed building. 2) Ignoring/violating city codes requiring a second egress from a second floor residence – thus putting her tenants’ lives in danger in the event of a fire. 3) Refusing to work with the city to resolve the ‘carriage barn’ issues BEFORE it became a costly mess for the city. I can go on, if you like.
I have probably 1000’s of examples, because I don’t just follow her in the Gazette - she’s my Mom. I have firsthand knowledge of her behavior going back three decades. If you’d like more, message me. She is not the answer to JVL’s problems, in my opinion. We’ll see, come April if others feel the same way. I believe (because I no longer live in JVL so I have nothing at stake) it would be really, REALLY interesting if she won a seat this time. I think that you would see then that Gazettefan is just trying to spare the city the headache of putting this person in a position requiring extensive problem solving skills/collaboration/cooperation when she’s shown previously not to be cut out for such a position.
Posted on January 7 at 2 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It seems clear to me that the comments section is shut down because people use it as a place to vent. They are frustrated with her behavior and they have no other outlet to express their frustration. Possibly the Gazette could sponsor a JATV show you host where you interview these frustrated people so their voices are heard too. Or not.
Now, in theory, she's part of the democratic process that we all know and love: free speech, keeping government accountable, government run by 'the people.' Unfortunately, the practice of democracy isn’t as pleasant as the theory.
Anyone meeting the base requirements can run. No requirement states that those seeking office must be concerned with the common good. Many politicians aren’t public servants, they just play one on TV. Whether or not a politician has the public’s best interest at heart has no bearing on their eligibility to run. However, from a voter’s standpoint, don’t you think this should carry some weight? Especially when such a long, clear history of public displays exist demonstrating the politicians temperament?
Her interactions with local government are newsworthy: see council meetings, 'carriage barn,' or code violations all covered by the Gazette for recent examples. Or, take frogger’s suggestion and look up her public record, very enlightening if/when you’re able to search by all of her various aliases. Who knows, maybe her only interest in local government is raising the speed limits in Janesville to better suit her driving style. But with how disruptive she is to local government from the sidelines, I can only imagine how disruptive she would be participating in the show. Good luck on figuring out your vote. If I still lived there, my vote would be for the incumbents, no matter who they are - just saying
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On Dog’s wound prompts effort to change law
Posted on June 4 at 4:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a coward. God gave you a great problem solving tool - your mouth. If you have an issue with the dog or owner's behavior(s), past or present - use your words!! Remember learning that in kindergarten?