Don't You Just Love Sullivan!

With Councilwoman Sullivan's permission I am sharing this email exchange with you, the backyard hen community.

"The variety of speakers and presentations tonight were wonderful. Thanks for your good work, MT, and for everyone’s help..

Yeah!!!

Jacquie Sullivan" 

My response:

"Thank you. One of the wonderful aspects of what we are doing is watching diverse communities come closer together. The benefits and enhanced quality of life experiences regarding this topic spans race, economic status, gender, age, and geographic location.  Our entire city’s segments are invested. Thank you for noticing that.

You are a “Rock Star” in our backyard hen community.

Sincerely,"

My concluding thought: Did your mother teach you to write thank you letters? Four of our Council Members deserve a thank you. (NOTE: Council Member Parlier was absent. We are not sure of his stance at this time.) They invested their time to be prepared for the meeting's agenda topic of backyard hens. Write them a thank you email. Send it to City_Council@bakersfield.us and be sure to address the subject as "Support hens to all Council Members (or just to who you want to receive it)."

Here are some points you might want to thank them for:

Jacquie Sullivan - humor, passion, support, and being informed

Bob Smith - clarity, holding presenter accountable, being informed, strongly against permits, not making it complicated, persistence

Andrae Gonzales - being prepared, holding the presenter accountable, reflective, genuine concern for the people, supportive. His questioning, research, and comments regarding salmonella were spot on.

Willie Rivera - honesty, aligning current practice with ordinance, knowing his neighborhoods, support, courage