Bethlehem Council didn’t listen to chicken concerns

As a concerned citizen, I attended the recent City Council Public Safety Committee meeting regarding the proposed ordinance for “backyard chickens.” As a South Side resident as well, our backyards are in close proximity to one another. Many of us have dogs and chickens would prompt the dogs to bark or attack the chickens.

Chickens should not be allowed within the city limits.

As information of concern was shared by City Council members, I listened to a member from the city’s administrative staff who spoke of staffing the Bethlehem police unit, and the city’s Health Bureau Director shared specifics on how raising chickens could affect the community.

As the conversation reiterated the recent bouts with COVID in the community, it seemed to have no effect on some council members’ determination on raising chickens in backyards. It was suggested that a “pilot plan” could backfire. This entire process of raising chickens could cause epidemics, for example the bird flu, and other health conditions that were outlined by the health officials.

It seems that no matter how much pertinent information was delivered, the issue of raising “backyard chickens” fell in the deaf ears of some council members.

Esther M. Lee

The writer is president NAACP Bethlehem.