City Council Meeting 07/12/11

Here's what I said tonight...

Good Evening Mayor, Council and City Staff. I am here again tonight to speak about the bird infestation of our neighborhood. We have spent yet another summer outdoor holiday prisoners in our own homes.

I emailed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the air quality in our neighborhood. The ammonia levels due to the bird droppings are overwhelming. High levels of ammonia are hazardous to humans, especially with prolonged exposure. It can cause nausea, headaches, eye and skin irritation, fatigue, breathing issues and trigger migraines. Alisa Taylor called me back and stated because the problem was created by a federally protected bird it would fall to the City or our County Health Department to assist us.

I also left a message for Dr. Shelly Stonecipher with the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding the air quality issue in our neighborhood. I then received a call back from Juan Rodriguez with the Denton County Health Department. I advised him several of the residence are experiencing respiratory problems. The dander and feathers in the air from the birds make it look like we have Cottonwood trees. I advised him I was going to see my Doctor Saturday due to my sinuses. He told me he would call me back Monday to follow up.

I have a sinus infection with a sore inside my nose which I have never had before. I have also had a migraine for over a week. I never received a call back from Mr. Rodriguez which only confirms again that our cries and pleas for help are falling on deaf ears.

I am quite frankly amazed at the lack of help or concern for the residence of our neighborhood. Everyone seems to be more concerned with the bird's rights over the tax paying citizens rights. Most of the birds aren't even supposed to be here - they are and invasive species. Everyone keeps hiding behind a law that was not intended to cause harm to humans.

In the pamphlet you left on our doors from Texas Parks and Wildlife the last sentence of the first paragraph states: However, this beauty and concern for population well being cannot completely overshadow other management needs in certain circumstances where these birds strongly conflict with human needs.

I still don't understand how our current situation does not strongly conflict with human needs. How is extreme amount of droppings, regurgitation, broken eggs, fish, frogs, snakes, dead birds and insects not conflicting? Our current living situation is quite frankly cruel and unusual punishment.

I want to leave you with a quote from Edmund Burke to think about tonight when you go home to your nice clean and quite neighborhood. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.