HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLL J recd after 12-21-11.pdf Page 1 of 1
Mary Mills
From: Thomas Boyce
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:27 PM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: FW: Public Hearing/Deer
From: CFSchmitt@aol.com [mailto:CFSchmitt@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:20 PM
To: Kate Supron; Kate Supron; Robert Andolina; Christopher Crooker; Stephen Hamilton; Elizabeth
Karns; Diana Riesman; Beatrice Szekely
Cc: Thomas Boyce
Subject: Re: Public Hearing/Deer
Mayor Supron and Trustees,
I don't believe we'll be able to attend the public hearing tomorrow morning, Dec. 21 st, but
would like to express our continued concern about the issue of firearms within village limits and
the chosen methods for deer remediation.
We are strongly opposed to Local Law J. We also will not sign a waiver allowing guns within
500' of our property.
I would very much appreciate acknowledgment of receipt of this email so that I may be sure
that it has gotten to you.
Thank you,
Carol and Ron Schmitt
12/20/2011
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Mary Mills
From: Fred DeWolf[frederik@dewolfs.comj
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:09 PM
To: Mary Mills
Cc: Margaret M Gallo
Subject: Fwd: Returned mail: see transcript for details
To be shared with the board of trustees.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Fred DeWolf<frederik(aewolfs.com>
Date: December 20, 2011 3:02:28 PM EST
To: "mavor2cavuea-heiehts.nv.us" <mayor(alcayuga-heights.nv.us>
Cc: Margaret M Gallo <mma3na me.com>
Subject: Stray bullet kills Amish teen in buggy
Kate-
Please abandon the efforts being made to allow the discharge of
firearms in the village under special circumstances: do not let your
legacy as mayor include this change in our laws.
Margaret and I will be in Boston again this week or we would both be
attending the meeting to state our opposition to the proposed law.
Sincerely,
Fred
Check out this article that I saw in USA TODAY's iPhone application.
Stray bullet kills Amish teen in buggy
http://usat.ly/v TiOvI
To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.
To learn more about USA TODAY for iPhone and download, visit:
http://usatoday.com/iphone/
12/20/2011
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Mary Mills
From: Karen Chimento[karlou25@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 1:52 PM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: regarding firearms discharge
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed change to our firearms law. I do not believe that
the safety of our residents, and especially our children, is being protected by trying to pass legislation to
allow contractors to discharge firearms in our village. Sincerely, Karen Chimento, 110 West Upland
Road, Ithaca, NY
12/20/2011
Mary Mills
From: Don Waddell [dw9@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 8:10 PM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: Shooting in Village
Are you serious? I think it is time to look at boundary changes in the Village.
Don Waddell
t
December 27, 2011
To Kate and All:
Challenges, Explanations and Safety Concerns re culling deer in the VCH
I appreciate your reading yet another letter about culling deer in Cayuga Heights. We ALL
keep saying the same things, and I wonder if it has changed anyone's minds O Personally, I
tire of Mr Donner referring to 4 years of culling"mandates", especially as his candidate won
the mayoral race by one vote. I even tire of the continued references to the "Bambi
complex". Kids in the rural West also watched films and TV, yet grew up knowing that
hunting deer is s much a part of the annual cycle as slaughtering cattle and harvesting wheat.
Cayuga Hts kids are spared these facts,but at the same time,they live where there are no
wide open spaces for hunting or culling deer. I don't believe you can have it both ways.
Holding a Public Forum is an excellent idea for you as well as us. Explaining
your tactics and expectations - again and again - should increase the number of
signatures on your variance request. And if you are considering Palmer's
Woods, the Filtration Plant property, and Kendal as potential shooting sites, you
will also need to spend a lot of time reassuring Kendal residents via Chmn. Bud
Stanton of exactly what you plan to do. It could easily take those folks a long
time to come to a mutual decision.
Safety is the prime concern for many of us, and your biggest challenge is
balancing your reassurances to me with suppressing details that would allow
others to jeopardize the success of your plans. And don't just pit your version of
White Buffalo's safety statistics against those used by people who are opposed to
your plan. Nobody wins that war. You probably already know that it took only
one neighbor to stop a recent culling plan in Binghamton.
I agree that we need to reduce the number of deer, but also know that as long as
there are large numbers of deer in Tompkins County and beyond there will be
large numbers in the Village. Please remember this is a high density, small village,
surrounded on all sides by municipalities who have come to their own conclusions about the
deer without resorting to culling. And even though it is still only a partial measure,you
gained a lot of support when you updated the fencing laws. Thank you for that.
Elizabeth Mount
303 E Upland Road
Ithaca,NY 14850
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Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:52 AM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: FW: Public Hearing/Deer
From: CFSchmitt@aol.com [mailto:CFSchmitt@aol.com]
Sent:Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:20 PM
To: Kate Supron; Kate Supron; Robert Andolina; Christopher Crocker; Stephen Hamilton; Elizabeth
Karns; Diana Riesman; Beatrice Szekely
Cc: Thomas Boyce
Subject: Re: Public Hearing/Deer
Mayor Supron and Trustees,
I don't believe we'll be able to attend the public hearing tomorrow morning, Dec. 21 st, but
would like to express our continued concern about the issue of firearms within village limits and
the chosen methods for deer remediation.
We are strongly opposed to Local Law J. We also will not sign a waiver allowing guns within
500' of our property.
I would very much appreciate acknowledgment of receipt of this email so that I may be sure
that it has gotten to you.
Thank you,
Carol and Ron Schmitt
12/22/2011
12/21/11
Did you know that Cayuga Heights has more residents with PhD's per capita than anywhere else in the
world? In the past decade of my time living here in the village I have come to associated this highly
educated environment with an atmosphere of insight,tolerance, and humanity. These values shape my
life and shape how I raise my children. The idea that we could have men walking around with guns
through our beautiful neighborhoods with the intent to kill living creatures sounds like I have been
transported to another community entirely.
The fact that there is no way to completely control the possibility for danger in such close quarters is
well documented. Beyond that,as a mental health professional and a parent, I am at a loss for how to
begin to deal with the trauma to our children (and many of adults)of hearing gun shots, observing the
killing, seeing dead and dying deer in our yards and driving by or walking by blood on the ground after
the event. These are very disturbing acts and images that can have lasting impact and are so counter to
what most of us have taught our children about how to treat animals. Is there anyone here who hasn't
slowed down when driving by deer to gaze at these lovely docile creatures and remarked at how big one
is or how sweet the babies are? We personally have some who routinely sit in the shade in our
neighbor's yard across the street and it is a small moment of grace in my day to be able to glance out
the window and see them there.
The fact is, car accidents have not appreciably increased in Cayuga Heights as the deer population has
increased. If you are concerned about your tulips, put up a fence or grow deer resistant plants. It is
obvious that this council , is trying to push through their agenda at a time of year when most people are
over-the-top busy,without giving them the time to be appropriately informed as well as assess and
respond to the situation. However, if this crazy, inhumane plan moves forward,you can bet that no
hunter will be within 500 ft. of my property and I will do what I can to be sure that my neighbors know
that they can make the same choice.
Sincerely,
Pamela Crosby
112 Randolph Rd.
1
21 December 2011
To Mayor Supron,VCH Board of Trustees and Chief Boyce:
I am writing to object to the proposed plan to bait and shoot the deer in
the Village of Cayuga Heights (VCH), to register my deep concern at the spectacle
of blatant fear-mongering on the part of some proponents of the plan who spoke
at the public hearing earlier this week (28 October) and to discuss your mandate
for our community.
In a previous letter, from my perspective as a resident of the Village, a
homeowner and a gardener, I suggested some no kill alternatives for Village
gardeners to protect their landscaping from deer browsing, such as repellents,
netting and appropriate selection of plants (not all are unappealing, far from it;
deer do not eat peonies, for example).
I support the very sensible proposal put forth recently at the 19 October
meeting to amend the current VCH ordinance regarding fences. It is important
however to be mindful of the fact that part of the art of gardening is learning how
to work and live with the natural conditions we are given, including clay soil, an
intemperate climate and cohabiting with other species of which the deer are only
one.
I have seen rabbits (who are capable of doing at least as much damage as
deer), woodchucks and, most recently, no fewer than fifteen wild turkeys
browsing my plants. Will they all be the next targets?What kind of community
laments the loss of tulips but advocates killing animals?This attitude is
antithetical to the spirit of Cayuga Heights and it is your responsibility to rise
above these mean-spirited and misguided demands, not to cater to them.
Several of you at different times have asserted that you have a"mandate"
to pursue vigorously a plan "to do something" about the deer, which apparently
means killing them, despite evidence that this plan will neither solve all the
problems of your most vocal constituents nor will it achieve its stated goals of
reducing the ever-shifting deer population, Lyme Disease, ruined landscapes or
traffic accidents.
You choose to pursue a costly plan that will bring sharpshooters into our
residential neighborhoods, causing many more problems than it seeks to solve,
despite the availability of alternative plans, one of which is humane sterilization
that a VCH resident has offered to finance. The consequences of your decision
will reveal your"mandate"to be a shortsighted and narrow attempt to remake
the world in the image of your own desire and/or that of your most misguided
constituents. History has shown that the road to disaster is paved with such
attempts.
I would suggest, respectfully, that your mandate is larger than the dubious
claim that those who voted for you voted for killing the deer. Your mandate has to
do with your present responsibility to the future of this community,your charge
to preserve what is best about living here in the midst of extraordinary natural
beauty,which necessarily includes species other than ourselves. Our Village is
very small but your decisions about its future will reach well beyond it. If you
pursue this plan, you will be responsible for tarnishing the progressive and
enlightened character and reputation of our community, leaving the rest of us to
suffer the consequences well beyond your tenure.
Sincerely,
Elisabeth H. Lyon
128 North Sunset Drive
Eighteen thousand years ago when the ice that covered this village
started its retreat, white-tailed deer began their return to this area.
At the same time larger and more powerful mammals such as mastodons and
mammoths, giant short-faced bears and sabertooth tigers were on the move
northward. These animals and 30-40 other mammal species were probably
extinct shortly after the ice here melted completely. By 1790 the
white-tailed deer in the newly formed United States had been hunted out;
nearly to extinction. This year hunters in Tompkins County will probably
take about 4,000 deer. Such is the persistence of this species that in
many areas their numbers are increasing as they expand their range. The
point is, white-tailed deer have been around a long time, lived through
epoch changes in the environment, been hunted by firearms for over 400
years and are still here. It must be hubris to think the killing of
deer in this little village will have any effect. Our little herd is
nothing. Beginning in 20011 lived through 3 years of White Buffalo
deer killing in Princeton, NJ and it is still going on there. In
September of this year, after over a decade of Deer Management Programs
that included the use of White Buffalo, Inc for culling hundreds of deer
each year, they allocated $63,600 to White Buffalo in their 2011/2012
Deer Management Program. This is more than the $49,850 for 2009-2010 and
less than the $96,000 for 2006-2007. Considering that the VCH plan has
little chance of actually changing the dynamic of the deer population,
why are you willing to put the population at risk by allowing the
discharge of rifles or rifle-bore shotguns within the village. We are
not an island where unwanted species can be removed and not immediately
repopulate. To me the deer are a bother, but I strongly object to
being subjected to the noise of the guns, the useless killings, the
waste of money and time. There are many things I like about this
village--the deer are not one of them -- but this plan is even worse
than the deer and makes me want to move to a more sane and rational
community. In Greek mythology hubris leads to nemesis -- over Eighteen thousand
years ago when the ice that covered this village
started its retreat, white-tailed deer began their return to this area.
At the same time larger and more powerful mammals such as mastodons and
mammoths, giant short-faced bears and sabertooth tigers were on the move
northward. These animals and 30-40 other mammal species were probably
extinct shortly after the ice here melted completely. By 1790 the
white-tailed deer in the newly formed United States had been hunted out;
nearly to extinction. This year hunters in Tompkins County will probably
take about 4,000 deer. Such is the persistence of this species that in
many areas their numbers are increasing as they expand their range. The
point is, white-tailed deer have been around a long time, lived through
epoch changes in the environment, been hunted by firearms for over 400
years and are still here. It must be hubris to think the killing of
deer in this little village will have any effect. Our little herd is
nothing. Beginning in 20011 lived through 3 years of White Buffalo
deer killing in Princeton, NJ and it is still going on there. In
September of this year, after over a decade of Deer Management Programs
that included the use of White Buffalo, Inc for culling hundreds of deer
each year, they allocated $63,600 to White Buffalo in their 2011/2012
Deer Management Program. This is more than the $49,850 for 2009-2010 and
less than the $96,000 for 2006-2007. Considering that the VCH plan has
little chance of actually changing the dynamic of the deer population,
why are you willing to put the population at risk by allowing the
discharge of rifles or rifle-bore shotguns within the village. We are
not an island where unwanted species can be removed and not immediately
repopulate. To me the deer are a bother, but I strongly object to
being subjected to the noise of the guns, the useless killings, the
waste of money and time. There are many things I like about this
village --the deer are not one of them -- but this plan is even worse
than the deer and makes me want to move to a more sane and rational
community. In Greek mythology hubris leads to nemesis -- over
confidence leads to retributive justice. Often the innocent suffer.
Stop the killing before it begins.
Ann Gray & Rebecca Davidson
Village residents
confidence leads to retributive justice. Often the innocent suffer.
Stop the killing before it begins.
Ann Gray & Rebecca Davidson
Village residents
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Mary Mills
From: sally grubb[sally.grubb@gmail.comj
Sent: Wednesday, December 21,2011 7:00 PM
To: Kate Supron; Beatrice Szekely; Diana Riesman; Stephen Hamilton; Mary Mills; Robert Andolina; Christopher
Crooker; Elizabeth Karns
Subject: Public Hearing this morning, December 21
Kate and Trustee Colleagues:
I find it hard to understand why you chose to hold a public hearing at 9:00 AM on a weekday
when most people are at work. In the report in the Ithaca Journal you are quoted as saying it was
the only time all Trustees could be present. However, a public hearing is supposed to be a time
when the public can be heard by the Trustees. What does it matter that all the Trustees are
present if the public can't be. And it seems that you did not expect the public to be present in any
numbers because there was not enough room for everyone who did attend. How can you be so
disrespectful to Cayuga Heights Villagers that you hold a public appeal at a time many can not
attend, and then hold it in a facility that is too small.
I can well believe that you hoped few people would attend. Indeed but for the timely notice sent
round by concerned Citizens of Cayuga Heights many people would not have been there. Wasn't
this a time for an email to be sent out by the Village Clerk notifying us of your intentions? It is
quite possible that many more supporters of culling would have been present had the hearing
taken place at a more convenient time.
I had hoped to speak at the hearing,but was unable to do so as 1 had to leave for another
appointment. As you so often vote immediately after a public hearing I can not be sure that what
I have to say will make any difference now. 1 may be too late sending this email. I hope not.
I think that a forum,as you suggested this morning, on how you propose to implement this new
law,would be very beneficial. There were many questions posed which you refused to answer,
and which might well have allayed the fears of some people in the room. I think we need to
reduce the number of deer, but not just in CH but in the whole of NE America. I don't think that
what you are proposing will have any long term effect unless the Village commits to culling
large numbers of deer every year. As long as there are large numbers of deer in Tompkins
County there will be large numbers in the Village.
Finally I am extremely concerned about safety. If I don't know when and where culling is taking
place, how can I take necessary precautions to keep my pets safe and inside the house? How will
I know when and where I should not walk in the Village? But I do understand why you do not
want to tell people when and where you are culling. This prevents the anti-culling lobby from
obstructing the culling. You have a problem- how do you assure me that I am safe but keep
everything secret? I think safety is a concern of many people. You need to reassure us with
accurate information in response to reasonable questions asked in public and not just one on one.
One final point- it was not a good idea to ask the cameraman at the front of the room to leave-
that was Simon Wheeler who is a journalist and photographer for the Ithaca Journal.
Sally Grubb
Sally Grubb
104 Midway Road
Ithaca,NY 14850
607 257-6017
12/22/2011
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Mary Mills
From: bk1492@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 11:25 AM
To: bszekeley@cayuga-heights.ny.us; Kate Supron; Mary Mills
Cc: Angela Podufalski; Robert Andolina; Christopher Crocker; shalmilton@cayuga-heigts.ny.us
Subject: Fwd: i am writing against the killing of deer by white buffalo contractors -this is disgusting action by
cayuga heights govt
-----Original Message----
From: bk1492 <bk1492@aol.com>
To: mmills<mmills@cayuga-heights.ny.us>
Sent: Sat, Jan 7, 2012 11:20 am
Subject: i am writing against the killing of deer by white buffalo contractors-this is disgusting action
we should all be coexisting, not slaughtering animals. what a h orrific way to govern.
O1/09/2012
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Mary Mills
From: John Young [Jack@Youngbros.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December21, 2011 10:22 AM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: Proposed Local Law"J"
Dear Mayor Supron and Cayuga Heights Trustees,
My brother Jim and I own two vacant lots in the Village, while my wife and I live here as well.
We all wish to officially express our support for the proposed Local Law "J", and for the
Village's proposed deer remediation project in general. The Village deer problem needs to be
solved, and if your plan doesn't go ahead, we will all suffer in a variety of ways. Thanks very
much for pushing ahead with this plan despite the complaints of a small minority.
Jack& Jim Young
12/21/2011
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 9:16 PM
To: VCH-Trustees
Subject: PH Comment- FW: PLL J
From: Kirk M. Sigel [kmsigel@ksx.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 6:23 PM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: PLL J
Mayor Supron:
I am writing to express my support for the Village's Deer Sterilization and Culling
Program, as well as any necessary changes to the Village's Laws (like Proposed Local Law
"J") needed to implement that program.
Sincerely,
Kirk Sigel
I
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 10:00 AM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: PH comment FW: Meeting on deer remediation
-----Original message-----
From: Richard Hale [mailto:rich@richhale.us]
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 4:10 PM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: Meeting on deer remediation
Dear Mayor Supron:
As residents that have had our plantings decimated by deer, we wish to add our voices to
the majority of Cayuga Heights home owners who very much wish you and the trustees to
proceed with the approved deer-remidiation program as promptly as possible. I would be
happy to offer our property for this program, but unfortunately we own only one-third of
an acre. If there is anything more we can do to move this program along, please let us
know. You have our complete support!
Richard W. Hale
Janet F. Hale
153 North Sunset Drive
1
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Mary Mills
From: Barbara B. Eden [beb1@cornell.edul
Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2011 8:37 AM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: In Support of Local Law J
Dear Trustees,
I live at 147 North Sunset Dr. I want to state that I am in total support of the deer management
program and I implore you to not lose track of the plan to resolve the deer over population problem in
our village. I do not want to reiterate all of the statements of concern in regards to the deer problem,
but want to let you know you that the majority of the residents feel as I do. They are reluctant to attend
hearings/meetings due to the intimidation tactics of groups such as Cayuga Deer.Org.
I know this is all very challenging for you but keep your focus.
Thank you for all you hard work.
Best regards,
Barbara Eden
12/27/2011
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Mary Mills
From: widding@aol.com
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 11:38 AM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: To the Cayuga Heights Village Board Members
Dear Cayuga Heights Village Board Members:
Please pass the proposed Local Law Amending Article I of the village's local law on firearms and other
dangerous weapons to make it legal for the village's contractor, White Buffalo Inc., to discharge firearms
in connection with the village's deer management program.
For the sake of the health (Lyme disease) and vehicular safety of Cayuga Heights Village residents, we
fully support the the culling of the deer herd as soon as possible.
Fred Widding
Mary Widding
204 North Sunset Drive
Village of Cayuga Heights
Ithaca, NY 14850
12/23/2011
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 6:50 AM
To: VCH-Trustees
Subject: comment-local law j-FW: Ordinance
From: Bruce Levitt [bal5@cornell.edu]
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 1:38 PM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: Ordinance
Hi Kate--Sorry you and the board members continue to subjected to the vitriol of a few who
oppose the deer plan. Judy and I just wanted you and the board to know that we continue
to support the deer plan and any action the board wishes to take in furtherance of the
reduction of the herd.
Bruce
1
Page 1 of 1
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Wednesday, December21, 2011 4:24 PM
To: VCH-Trustees
Subject: Local law J comment- FW: deer
From: Maryann Friend [maryannf333@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 9:31 AM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: deer
Dear Mayor Kate, Please be advised that the Walter Margie family supports the board's
decision on the handling of our resident deer population. Sincerely, Maryann
Friend and Walter Margie
12/21/2011
Page 1 of 1
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 4:24 PM
To: VCH-Trustees
Subject: local law J comment- FW: deer culling program
From: Susan M. Barnett [susanbarnett@cornell.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 8:59 AM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: deer culling program
I am writing in support of your continued efforts to implement a deer culling program in the village,and
to modify whatever village laws are required to do so. I understand that killing these deer is not going
to be pleasant, but sometimes the government has to do things that are not pleasant for the common
good, and in this case it is necessary for the safety and health of the people, other animals, and plants
that live in and visit our village.
Respectfully,
Susan Barnett
Cayuga Heights resident
12/21/2011
Page 1 of 1
Mary Mills
From: Kate Supron
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 9:32 AM
To: VCH-Trustees
Subject: local law j comment- FW: Cayuga Deer Plan
From: zach eichten [mailto:zach.eichten@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 9:27 PM
To: Kate Supron
Subject: Cayuga Deer Plan
I support your plan as an outsider with some common sense.
Please make sure you donate the meat and hides to people who will use them. It would be
unethical to do otherwise.
12/22/201 I
Page I of I
Mary Mills
From: Mje7335@aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 12:18 PM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: Local Law to Amend Article I
Dear Ms. Mills:
My name is Michael J. Ellis and I reside at 111 Sheldon Road here in the Village of Cayuga Heights. I
strongly support the approval of the above-mentioned to amend Article I to allow for the use of firearms
so that the village can move ahead with the Deer Management Program (Program). It seems clear to
me that this is the next necessary and logical step in the process. Moreover, I have full confidence in
having Chief Boyce and his team supervise this phase of the Program.
I appreciate the huge time commitment and thoroughness of the mayor and the trustees for their efforts
in getting the Program to this stage and I look forward to its full implementation.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike
01/06/2012
Page 1 of 4
Mary Mills
From: Thomas Hall [tdhall2277@gmail.coml
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 1:04 PM
To: Mary Mills, Angela Podufalski
Cc: Kate Supron; Robert Andolina; Stephen Hamilton, Elizabeth Karns; Diana Riesman; Beatrice
Szekely
Subject: Jan 9 hearing on proposed Local Law J
Attachments: CH Deer 1 6 2012.doc
Village Clerk, Mary E. Mills
I paste in below my comments for the hearing and attach as a Word 2003 file. I will be out of
town on that day, and cannot attend in person
sincerely
tom
--------------
TO: Village Clerk , Mary E. Mills and Deputy Village Clerk Angela M. Podufalski
CC: Mayor Kate Sopron; Trustees: Robert Andolina, Christopher Crocker, Stephen Hamilton,
Elizabeth Karns, Diana Riesman, Beatrice Szekely,
From: Thomas D. Hall, 523 The Parkway, Ithaca, NY 14850-2277; tdha112277LgmaiI.com
RE: Proposed Local Law J, meeting Jan 9
Date: Friday, January 06, 2012
Executive Summary:
We need to pass Proposed Local Law J, and begin herd reduction immediately. It is time to stop
delaying the deer reduction process in response to a small minority who are adamant about
stopping and deer abatement and unwilling to compromise.
My argument contains two large parts, the first with sub parts. The self styled "concerned
citizens" are, at best misguided and misinformed about the issues or, at worst are committed to
stopping deer abatement and willing to subvert democratic processes through misleading, and in
some case outright wrong, mass mailings.
My hope that the first, misinformation, is the problem, since that presumes both good will and
possibility of reasonable compromise. If, alas, the second, adamant unwillingness to allow any
deer reduction, would imply both ill-will and an unfortunate need to simply steamroller the
opposition. It is my hope that the first interpretation is the correct one.
01/06/2012
Page 2 of 4
Misinformation
I. There IS an ecological problem
II. There is no solution that does not involve harm to some group of life-forms
III. Red Herrings: impact on children etc.
IV. Property damage is a hidden tax
I. There IS an ecological problem
Numerous reports have documented a severe over population of deer that has far exceeded the carrying
capacity within Cayuga Heights territory. The counter `evidence,' has been thoroughly incorrect.
Anecdotally, in last decade or so there are many indicators of over population
a. more deer, clearly the result of human actions that have removed all normal predators;
b. progressively CH deer are consuming plants that normally `deer do not eat,' clear evidence of food
shortage. One kind of evidence is the continuing controversies over fencing (Local Law 9), and the
proliferation of`cages' around plants in yards throughout CH;
c. deer not attaining average size, more frequent appearance of mange-like symptoms, more frequent
still-born fawns [I had to report one in spring of 2011, found dead in my yard];
d. reports that many species of native flora are in danger becoming extinct due to over grazing by deer;
note that deer are NOT on any endangered species lists, but deer are forcing more species on to the list;
e. food sources for other fauna, including birds, becoming more scarce and stressing those populations;
f. increase in vehicle—deer collisions,this in an area where everyone knows that deer abound and are a
traffic problem;
g. increasing danger of Lyme disease
h. I cannot walk through my yard for more than a few steps without needing to avoid stepping in deer
droppings(I am not the only one with this experience,I hear the same from many others);
i. more indicators,but I've made my point;
II. There is NO solution that does not involve harm to some group of life-forms
01/06/2012
Page 3 of 4
Truly it would be nice if a there were a solution to deer over population that did not harm any life-forms.
But as noted in section I, some native flora are already facing extinction, other fauna including birds, are
being hurt by excessive consumption food by deer, more and more plants either cannot be grown in CH
or must be caged, this includes many species of native flora.
If deer population growth is allowed to continue unabated all these problems will increase—as they have
been doing over the last decade. Also, more deer will suffer from more diseases either indirectly due to
weakened health from lack of food or directly from slow starvation. The choice is NOT whether to
reduce the deer population, but to do in the most humane and efficient way possible. Doing nothing is no
longer an option.
III. Red Herrings: impacts on children etc.
Claims that shooting deer will have negative impact on children, that some will lose the pleasure of
seeing deer are both red herrings and simply wrong. First, children are not that fragile. Second,many
families actually enjoy hunting [I am NOT a hunter]. Third, educational efforts could easily mitigate any
psychological discomfort from witnessing deer destruction. Fourth, no one [that I know of] is advocating
total extermination of deer, but rather reduction to a reasonable population. Fifth, such reduction would
make deer sighting rarer, but that should make such sightings more pleasurable precisely because they
are rarer and because such sightings will not been as threats. (Recall recent incident where a deer
invaded a garage. Several times now I have seen deer trying to enter a window, presumable to get to
plants on the inside, a clear sign of desperation).
Also consider that unchecked deer population growth will lead to children seeing deer suffering and
starving. This, too, could be traumatic. Also what about the trauma of witnessing or being involved in
[one hopes not] in vehicle deer collisions. What about the trauma of vehicle-vehicle collisions that result
from efforts to avoid striking deer?
IV. Property damage is a hidden tax
Some have implied that those concerned about destruction of plants in their yards and gardens are
selfish. This is utter nonsense. Residents do have rights to grow decorative plants, especially restoring
native flora, and plants that serve as forage and resources for birds and other small fauna. In the current
situation residents must either forego much gardening or invest heavily in protective fencing and/or
caging for plants. The loss of plants and the need for protection constitute a `hidden tax' paid by
residents who want to enjoy their rights, in order to subsidize the hypersensitive & misguided desires of
a few `concerned citizens.' Residents also have the right to walk on their land without constantly
stepping in, or needing to avoid stepping in, deer droppings. CH does have ordinance requiring pet
owners to clean up after their pets, which is generally followed. [Maybe `concerned citizens should be
required to clean up deer dropping everywhere in CH?]
01/06/2012
Page 4 of 4
Another `hidden tax' is the cost of good will within CH as more and more people feel compelled to
disregard fencing laws (this pressure is source of debates about Local Law 9). Eventually fencing
ordinances will be successfully challenged in the courts on the grounds that citizens have rights to
protect their property. Regardless of the result of such defiance and litigation, it will cost CH funds that
might be better spent.
In short, there is no painless way of fixing the problem. The least painful way is to rapidly reduce the
deer population to significantly below carrying capacity. Note that all ecological research establishes
that problem arise well before populations reach carrying capacity. Thereafter, there will need to be
some culling to that population level.
Undermining Democratic Processes & Unwillingness to Compromise
As I stated earlier, I hope this is NOT the case. However, as one traces this `debate' over several years it
clear than whenever `concerned citizens' [under that or other names] see that deer abatement will
proceed they try various arguments and strategies to subvert the process. This is clear evidence that they
have no interest in compromise or solving the problem except to let deer destroy our ecology. This type
of behavior should be resisted forcefully.
Thomas D. [tom] Hall
Ithaca,NY
[for academic account: thall@depauw.edul
01/06/2012
Page 1 of 1
Mary Mills
From: Ralph Janis iralph.janis@gmail.comj
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 12:35 PM
To: Mary Mills
Subject: Fw: Local Law J
Dear Mary,
Please forward to the Village Board of Trustees my support for the proposed Local Law J to
make it legal to discharge a firearm in the Village in order to take action on the deer
management program.
Thank you so much.
Ralph Janis
119 East Upland Road
01/09/2012