I cannot believe what I heard tonight. I am still in shock, so let me start with what I said during Citizen Comments.
I have been speaking against deer killing for ten years. I'm part of the Coalition for Coexistence because I am against violence. Firing weapons in our densely populated community is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Repeatedly, I have been asking about the
sterilization permit application. Steve Feller had said that it was going to be
resubmitted in April. When I asked again, Tony DeNicola had helped fill out the
application form . The PA Game Commission representative, Jeanine Fleegle
offered to help with the process at the June 22 meeting. Yes or No. Has it been
resubmitted? [The answer was "NO."]
On the White Buffalo website, there is a nice photo of Jody
Maddock. He is a project manager for Tony DeNicola. Maddock was billed as
working at Bryn Athyn College. Nothing was ever mentioned that he was the
founder of Whitetail Associates. We were never told that there was a connection
between the two "experts." Then we find out that tonight, you folks may approve
a proposal submitted by them. Was an RFP advertised? Yes or No. [The answer was "NO."] By the way, that
proposal was never publicized.
Asking the hunters to produce the deer's
right jaw bone as proof of delivery is the most gruesome and revolting thought
possible for many of us. What is this? Medieval times?
Did you ever play the
game, "Whack a Mole" at Chuck E. Cheese's? You bop one mole and then another one
pops up somewhere else. That's the game I feel we're playing regarding the
reasons to kill the deer. We've heard the gardens are being destroyed, there's
too much deer poop, the car accidents involving deer are increasing, we have too
many deer, counts don't matter, Lyme Disease, you're against sharp shooting and
then you are for sharpshooting, the Ecosystem is being destroyed, birds are
disappearing and my favorite, deer are scary. As soon as we debunk one issue,
you're on to something else.
So what is it really? Car accidents or gardens?
If it is car accidents, why are you focusing on 9% of the total accidents?
You're forgetting the other 91% of the car accidents. What happens if the number
drops 50% before five years? When does the tally start? 2012? 2016?
If it is NOT
about gardens, why was there so much emphasis placed on "ongoing deer
management" at a former commissioner's home last Sunday? I emailed you the
notices she was passing out and I put them on my blog, Lebo Citizens. She had
been quoted as saying, "Well the deer are going to die anyway." I love the Mt.
Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour. I am a big supporter of the Library and have
attended ALL 25 years of tours. It is a shame that it was used as a political
platform to kill deer. This isn't the first time that has happened. A few years
ago, the Gentlemen Gardeners did the same thing. If it isn't about gardens, then
why does this happen repeatedly?
I was fascinated by the goats and mule
presentation and how they eat invasives. Deer love poison ivy and English Ivy.
Goats are good. Deer are bad. Goat and donkey poop is acceptable. Deer poop is
not.
I am having an especially hard time writing those checks to pay my
taxes. This was once a stellar community. Now Mt. Lebanon provides comic relief
during the news.
***********
So you may have heard by now, three commissioners are now opting for "sharp shooting" AND archery. Dave and Kelly are still opposed to sharp shooting, but John "I'm against sharp shooting" Bendel is now right there with Coleen and Steve. If Coleen could have started sharp shooting tonight, it would not have been soon enough. Let me tell you, they aren't sharp shooters. We're not talking Navy SEALS.
For those Lebo Citizen readers who were not here in 2006-2008, you don't know the fear of not knowing who is outside ready to shoot when you have to let your dog go out in the middle of the night. None of us know what it will be like to see archers in the daytime. For all those people tonight, well, I guess it was technically last night, who were afraid to have their kids play outside because of the deer, will now have to deal with seeing wounded deer, archers trailing deer, dying deer, and arrows covered in blood and fur.
There were people tonight who actually said that they do not want to coexist. I don't know what else to say tonight except I am deeply disappointed in the commission and the blood thirsty residents who spoke this evening.
Update July 15, 2015 7:49 PM Mt. Lebanon residents to get choice in allowing bowhunting on properties to cull deer
According to today's John Hayes article in the P-G, Kelly Fraasch no longer opposes lethal weapons to kill Mt. Lebo deer and prefers guns to crossbows. All five commissioners want to kill our deer. Sick.
ReplyDeleteJust curious... how many different property owners would have to work together, on average, to waive setbacks and permit the archers in their backyards? Has anyone seen the documentation that property owners have to sign in order to permit the archers on their properties? Is the "petition" available yet? I am personally not interested for myself -- just curious what the municipality is requiring and what will be required of those motivated to have this "service" (???!!!) provided on their property.
ReplyDeleteLena, I was there last evening and can tell you that John Hayes has gotten it wrong, AGAIN! Kelly said NOTHING to suggest that she is in agreement with the use of any lethal means in addressing the deer-related concerns of some Mt. Lebanon residents. If you watch the broadcast of the Meeting's Discussion Session when this becomes available for viewing, you'll get a pretty good sense of where things are at the present time. In the Citizens' Comments, you will hear the angry (sometimes hate-filled) remarks of a large number of very well organized gardeners, along with a very small number of us who were urging the Commission to refrain from violence toward the deer. We had hoped for about six additional people who had indicated that they would come and would speak on behalf of the deer, and we have no idea WHY they failed to do so. Seriously, the battle is only over IF we stop fighting!
ReplyDeleteJust so we're clear, anyone caught on my property with a weapon who is not a uniformed police officer will be force-ably disarmed, then escorted off the property (and I'm keeping your weapon). No exceptions. You aren't allowed on my property to get a deer. You're not allowed on my property to even see how green my grass is. Believe me, I have more firepower than you and I'm much better with a weapon than you.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
--Tom the Tinker
Here is the link to the PG article. Mt. Lebanon approves archery hunt to control deer
ReplyDeleteElaine
I sent an email to the commission and to Kelly about this article, but of course I am being ignored. I have no representation by either of our local governments. Why do I have to pay taxes again? To not have my garbage picked up, for not having snow removed in a timely manner, for not getting municipal trees which are stone cold dead removed, and to be ignored by the elected officials? Oh yeah, I forgot.
ReplyDeleteElaine
I am waiting to hear about how the gardeners cannot get the consent of their neighbors to allow the archers on their properties. I want to see the paperwork too. I am sure it will say that Mt Lebanon is not responsible in anyway for injuries sustained on any individual residential property and that there are no guarantees that deer will be killed. The paperwork is likely to give some deer haters pause and to cause more friction and drama in the deer hating world of Mt Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteSome people might need a little sign in their front window that illustrates that no one need bother asking whether they will consent to a bowhunter in their yards because they won't. Thankfully, all of my neighbors think this deer business is insane and want nothing to do with the municipal government -- thus, I don't need the sign.
Oh, the good old days when deer were honored as our state animals. Time flies...
8:26 PM, want a sign for your window? Check my latest update. You have a choice of two. I have a third for businesses, if anyone wants it. My sign has been posted in my dining room window since Merlin the Magnificent was in town.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Me too Tom!
ReplyDeleteMy ears are still ringing from Elaine Labalme's tirade the other day.
ReplyDeleteYes, she was screaming. I heard too many stories last night about what could have happened. Too many hypothetical situations. No facts from the prokill people.
ReplyDeleteKDKA TV did a story today interviewing prokill people only. Everyone is happy with the archery program. I never realized how much propaganda we are exposed to in a day. That is what is scary to me, not deer.
Elaine
Last night, KDKA-TV aired a pro-violence piece. They interviewed only one person (I did not recognize him or his name) who spoke highly in favor of the upcoming violent archery deer-kill in Mt. Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteKDKA has a Mt Lebanon resident on its staff that is clearly pro-kill.
ReplyDeleteI think I've just changed my station for local news! How do I get a window sign?
ReplyDelete