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[instrumental music]

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For this favorite object,
we are going to look at the constituent

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email regarding the 2010 Urban
Farming Ordinance.

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Email collections are important
historical records,

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not only because they record the inner
workings of City government,

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but also because more and more City
residents are using email

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instead of pen and paper
to make their voices heard.

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Richard Conlin was Council President
at the time of the proposed Urban

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Farming Ordinance, and many constituents
wrote to his account.

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The ordinance included several changes:
expanding zoning for community gardens

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and urban farms, creating development
standards, but most notably

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increasing the number of chickens
allowed from three to eight.

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Councilmember
Conlin stated, “These code changes

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will strengthen
our community food security.”

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One of the most common issues regarded
increasing the number of chickens.

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One writer concerned about irresponsible
owners wanted to make sure

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“chicken owners know what they're doing.”
“They should have a license

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or certificate showing
they've taking a chicken raising class

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that teaches them how to care
for the birds.” Another stated “the

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consequence of changing
this will cause suffering in chickens.

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Fresh eggs are available
throughout the city at farmers markets.”

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The question of roosters sparked
considerable opinion.

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“Please do not let roosters
be a part of the urban farm bill

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for the obvious reason.

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They do not sleep in!”
[rooster crowing]

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Bill Lawrence of the Seattle and King County

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Environmental Health Division wrote,

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“In addition to noise concerns, roosters
are often aggressive towards people”

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and that “prohibiting roosters should help
control the keeping of fighting cocks.”

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One person wrote in their opposition
based on a slippery slope argument:

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“First come the chickens and then
the cows.” 

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While many were opposed,

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some were quite enthusiastic
about more chickens in the City.

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“We benefit from their eggs
and our neighbors have commented

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that they enjoy hearing the periodic
clucking or egg song cackling

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as it lends bucolic peace to the
neighborhood.” [chickens clucking]

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In discussion about the ordinance,
compromise was reached

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as seen in this internal email
to City staff from Richard Conlin:

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“I have asked to include the prohibition
on roosters in the revised version.”

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“The relatively small number of current
roosters will be grandfathered in.”

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The ordinance was passed and urban farmers
may now keep up to eight chickens.

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[bell dings cheerfully]

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New roosters are prohibited.

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[buzzer sounds]

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Later on, Councilmember Conlin
continued to choose chickens over roosters

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when asked about his meal choice
at an upcoming event.

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“Let's go chicken, but not a rooster.”

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To learn more about the history
of urban farming in the City

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or how to search our email collections,

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contact the Archives at
archives@seattle.gov.

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[instrumental music]