Feeding Pigeons Shouldn't Mean Prison!

Alderman James Cappleman
4544 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640

Dear Alderman Cappleman:

As a lifelong resident of the city of Chicago, I am writing to express my dismay at your recent efforts to make feeding pigeons punishable by fines of up to $1,000, and prison sentences of up to six months (Amendment of Section 7-12-387 of Municipal Code regarding restrictions on feeding pigeons).

Your ordinance is, in a word, draconian. At a time when our jails and prisons are filled to overflowing with the casualties of an ill-considered and ineffective war on drugs, you now want to add pigeon feeders to the mix? Are you serious?! As a fiscal steward, do you not recognize that your ordinance will not eliminate any of the expenses associated with pigeons (e.g., the clean up pigeon droppings) but will rather shift those costs elsewhere? Would you seriously rather that this city or state bear the exorbitant cost of housing, feeding and clothing me for up to six months – in addition to providing me with access to medical care – all because I enjoy feeding pigeons? Really?

Worse still, in a city with an unprecedented number of homicides (500 by last count), why would you want to punish a hapless citizen who is merely acting out of love, compassion, and respect for all of life? Does this make any sense – to penalize compassion for birds who are often cold, hungry and, all too frequently, visibly maimed or injured due to the loss of part or all of their feet and legs? What type of city are you trying to create?

Your ordinance, in addition to being unbelievably draconian and unkind, is misguided and sorely lacking in vision. Instead of criminalizing human compassion – which is, in essence, what your ordinance is doing – why don’t you expand your vision, and try harnessing that compassion instead? The same compassion that moves me to feed these birds when I see them is the same compassion that would motivate me to, for example, clean up after them. Just ask me – and the many citizens (taxpayers, no less) who derive great joy and satisfaction in knowing that at least a few of God’s little creatures are not being buffeted by the harshness of life in a big, iron-cast, concrete (and indifferent) city. For example, would you like the pigeon-feeders in your ward to participate in regular clean up details? Then why not ask them, Alderman Cappleman, instead of being so incredibly heavy-handed? Given the commitment that many have made to the care of these birds, I have no doubt that you would find many Chicagoans who would be more than happy to oblige.

In sum, instead of criminalizing loving-kindness and respect for life, and moreover, instilling unjust fear in the hearts of the compassionate citizens of Chicago, please call on your creativity and vision, Alderman Cappleman. Restrain the constant political will to punish, control and oppress citizens; to create criminal offenses where none would otherwise exist; and to expand an ever-expanding police state. Be humble in how you wield the law, and consider that all too often, human law is woefully inconsistent with divine law. Consider that (for those of us who believe in a Creator), that what our Creator would regard a virtue, you are codifying into law as a criminal activity. Rather than resorting to criminalization as a solution, I would ask you to please find other ways – more humane ways – to create the change you would like to see in your ward, and in this city.

Thank you – and God bless you – for your kind consideration of this request.