Simple and Clear Information ...

Email and/or call City Council Members this weekend. In the subject line include "Support For Backyard Hens" and the Council Member's name.

Use this general email to contact City Council Members, City_Council@Bakersfieldcity.us

Use this phone number, 661-477-0401 to leave a message for a Council Member. All City Council Members' office number are the same. You will either reach a city employee or a recording. Just state/share the topic (support of backyard hens) and inform them to whom you want the message to go to.

On the website, thebubh.wixsite.com/bubh there are easy links with sample emails for you. Look for the tabs labeled "City Council" and "Sample Emails". All you really need to write is " I support backyard hens."

The following information was published in the paper.

Willie Rivera, Ward 1, (cell) 661-477-0401

Andrea Gonzales, Ward 2, (cell) 661-808-4929

Ken Weir, Ward 3, (Res.) 661-619-2472

Bob Smith, Ward 4, (cell) 661-330-1404

Bruce Freeman, Ward 5, (use City_Council@Bakersfield.us and 661-477-0401 to contact) He is my representative, and I have reached out to him numerous times. He has not responded once.

Jacquie Sullivan, Ward 6, (use City_Council@Bakersfield.us and 661-477-0401 to contact)

Chris Parlier, Ward 7, (use City_Council@Bakersfield.us and 661-477-0401 to contact)

If you do not know your Ward just pick one and send it to them.

Here is how we think we currently stand with the Council Members:

In Support: Smith, Gonzales and Sullivan,

Not clear who is against, but probably Freeman and Weir. Weir voted against in 2013 and Freeman has not made one effort to talk with me.

Unclear on Rivera (most likely to be the swing vote) and Parlier.

Can you see how close we are? We need four of the seven to amend the current ordinance that prohibits hen ownership. We have three "in support" confirmed.

Write and call this weekend to help us get that forth vote.

Please try to show up on Wednesday, August 12th at 3;30 for the Council meeting.

We deserve the protection of an ordinance to have backyard hens.