"It is something that came to light while I was campaigning," said Kristen Linfante, who was elected as Ward 3 commissioner in 2011. "Deer management and deer problems were by far the biggest issue that people brought to me. Of all of the things that a municipality has to address, the No. 1 topic that repeatedly came up was, 'What are you going to do about the deer problem?' "
What I find fascinating is that I walked the same streets Kristen did when I was canvassing neighborhoods and not one person asked me about deer. Turkeys? Yes, but no deer. We talked about parks, sidewalks, roads, taxes, the high school renovation - even though that had nothing to do with the municipality side of government, and the number one complaint? Business Storage Solutions
I blogged about Ward 3 issues here.
Another tidbit that I find troublesome in this article is:
"I am adamant in my belief that the risk of anyone being injured in a cull is far, far less than anyone being injured in a conflict with the deer," Ms. Linfante said. "Not that I believe nothing could possibly happen, but the benefits certainly outweigh the risks."
Oh, that is comforting. We get 150 calls about deer every year. So we lose a person or two in the cull. The benefits certainly outweigh the risks. Not a word of thanks to the commissioners or even to the constituents who were treated rudely by her.
Fortunately, Kelly Fraasch was also interviewed and saved the day by providing a logical perspective. You can read about it in an earlier Lebo Citizens post, Aerial survey coming this month.
A comment submitted to the PG story online sums it up:
"Between the library/breast story and this one, Mt. Lebo is certainly getting some press today..."
Kelly Fraasch is right. The deer count is going down. The deer are moving on. I haven't seen a deer in months. We should not jump into shooting animals in our neighborhoods with tax payer money.
ReplyDeleteFunk's article threw me into a funk.
ReplyDelete150 calls to police and canvasing her ward convinces Linfante that, oh Lordy, something must be done about the deer.
But, way back when- when 4,000 residents' signatures petitioning the school board to control the cost of the high school project were presented the best Ms. Linfante could manage was some slightly muffled snickering and snide comments directed at the presenter.
To paraphrase one advertising jingle: "and like a 'good' neighbor, Ms. Linfante was there."
Sorry, but Linfante is unfit for office. It's a travesty.
ReplyDeleteDEER is the number 1 issue for a Commissioner?
ReplyDeleteNo wonder why people who read articles like this think we in Mt. Lebanon are going to the dogs?
In order of importance for me:
1. Pension
2. Public Safety
3. Taxes
4. Roads
5. Development of the air rights (TRID)
Under no circumstance should anyone be putting flipping DEER #1! Whoever voted for Kristen at this point is probably feeling quite embarrassed.
I saw 8 deer in my backyard yesterday. I am all about letting the sharpshooters do their job.
ReplyDelete8:30 AM, this is why we need the aerial survey. Telling us that you had 8 deer in your back yard and then signing it anonymously, doesn't help to find them.
ReplyDeleteI guess we will find out from the aerial survey.
Elaine
8:30
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want a bunch of guys with rifles marching through our parks at all hours of the night trying not to shoot homes?
Why not endorse the method of birth control where we shoot high-powered DARTS instead of bullets. Once sedated, the female deer would then have her tubes tide therefore never having any more babies? Ever.
In this case there is no death involved and there is no danger from stray bullets.
Assuming the program costs the same or less than rifles, would you be on board?
Elaine: You take the cake! you are complaining about anonymous comments, when you are the one that encourages and allows the practice. Instead of constantly whining, why not put yourself out there and run for a local office. That way people could tell everyone exactly what they think of your comments and lack of any intelligent ideas. Who knows, this time you might get 200 votes, maybe not.
ReplyDelete9:27 AM, try to stay focused. We're talking about counting deer, not votes.
ReplyDeleteElaine
830--if you had 8 deer in your yard, then you should head to the Vatican and request beatification. Or could it be youre lying through your teeth? I'm gonna take a guess it's the latter. Come on, please, get over yourself.
ReplyDeleteI had 8 deer in my yard two nights ago. I am not the 8:30 blogger.
ReplyDeleteI had 8 deer in my yard two nights ago. I am not the 8:30 blogger.
ReplyDelete11:44 I live near a park, my backyard is woods leading into the park. Having deer in your yard does not make one a Saint, have you lost your freaking mind? I guess "youre gonna" have to get over yourself, and go register for CCD!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly why we need the aerial survey. The initial eight deer reported in 8:30 AM's comment, have now been counted two more times. Is it the same eight or are we now up to 24 deer sited?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Wonder what the story is with those 150 complaints about deer to the police dept?
ReplyDeleteWere they from all over Mt. Lebanon?
Maybe they were all from 8:30, 1:33 & 1:35!
Maybe we just have to cull, trap or sterilized those 24 deer to slove the whole problem!
Yep there are only 24 deer, lets slove the problem 3:19. I saw 8 deer, you say there are only 24. Your survey must have been scientific. What I saw is fact, what you allude to is stupidity.
ReplyDeleteEnough. Why does it always come down to stupidity? We're trying to get a survey to find out the facts. Saying you have eight deer means nothing. How scientific is that?
ReplyDeleteThe commissioners are trying to appease Kristen by allowing her to waste $12,000 to support her claims that deer is the number one problem in Mt. Lebanon.
As soon as we question her claims, we are stupid, losers, or whatever else you like to toss our way.
As it turns out, the Commission agenda for Tuesday has nothing listed for a deer survey. All our research to conduct a damn survey for Kristen seems to have been a waste of time. Guess what, Genius? We have to have a survey done before anything can be done.
Elaine
The selfishness and snobbishness of some of the people in this town is unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThe deer have a right to exist, too!
8:03 I never said there were only 24 deer!
ReplyDeleteI was asking if the 3 were responsible for a majority of the 150 calls to the police dept. If so then it might indicate deer aren't the wide spread problem you're leasing us to believe.
Maybe there is just a small pocket of deer localized in one specific area, because of an overabundance if the seers favorite food.
Nah, we won't attempt to analyze the situation with some logic. You right hysterics, calling people studio is so much more neighborly.
We'll spend thousands conducting then we'll see if the population deer population has exploded since the last cull.
Then we'll can get on with the work of annilating everything and everyone that ticks you off. Happy?
Correction to 6:01 post-
ReplyDeletedeer's - not seers
You're right, hysterics and calling people stupid is more neighborly - not you right hysterics, calling people studio...
Annihilate - not annilate
I saw 8 deer at about 5:10 pm Sunday February 10th running in yards along Summit Drive in Mt Lebanon. That's next to that church that's for sale near Old Farm road. The 8 deer were all about the same size and none appeared to be a buck. Why is it that people want to get rid of the deer but did you know there are many many illegal people living in the area and no one does anything? INS will not even come for them when they are arrested. By the way I know people in up state New York who kill deer when they come onto their property and then butcher them and have a freezer stocked with deer meat.
ReplyDelete