[RP TownTalk] Chain Link Fences

Sun Feb 2 05:03:36 UTC 2014

I too, agree with the sentiment.

What I see, reading the responses from a "representative" of the town, 
is a lack of awareness of what the citizens want. I hear a personal 
response, not a " we have received numerous emails on this issue...".

It is a disturbing concern that those in office were elected by 
approximately 200 people total in a town of 3000+. That can change in 
the future when more people gather on a certain day, (I am not allowed 
to mention what day that is on this list) and make a change.

Until then, those in office will do what they feel is in the "best 
interest" of the town, but as a wise gentleman that I had the privilege 
to know once said, "time wounds all heals".

Don

On 2014-02-01 23:23, euniverz at aol.com wrote:
> As I read Kathy's response it seemed that she was writing my own
> thoughts. I agree with every word. Thanks for your post, Kathy.
> 
> Adrianne Lefkowitz
> Madison Street
> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 06:40:13 -0800 (PST)
>> From: kathy galleher <kgalleher at yahoo.com>
>> To: towntalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>> Subject: [RP TownTalk] Chain link fences- my thoughts
>> Message-ID:
>> <1391265613.14890.YahooMailNeo at web121605.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>> 
>> I don't want to wade into the back-and-forth in yesterday's
>> listserv, but I
>> would like to share my thoughts about the ordinance itself.? I can't
>> make it to
>> the meeting this Monday night, so I wrote my councilman but in case
>> others are
>> reading, but I wanted to share my input. I am against the
>> ordinance banning chain link fences in back/side yards.? If I had
>> lived here in
>> '98 I would have objected to banning them in
>> people's front yards too!
>> 
>> I really value a minimal approach to regulation- one that sets up
>> the
>> town to serve everyone's common good while leaving them at maximum
>> liberty as to how they carry out their daily activities, as long as
>> it
>> doesn't infringe on the well being of others.? Things like
>> lawn maintenance and house painting all are in that middle zone-
>> what
>> makes for enough liberty for one person and yet maintains a
>> nice-looking
>> neighborhood.? But I'm really opposed to regulations that enforce
>> one group's
>> aesthetic values on everyone else.? Several family members live in
>> 'better off'
>> neighborhoods and I shudder at the level of Home Owner Association
>> interference
>> I see (what color your shutters can be).? The chain link ordinance
>> is an example
>> of this kind of over-reach of regulation.? The explanation offered
>> notwithstanding, I really can see
>> no legitimate interest that the town has in what kind of materials
>> people choose for fencing in their back yards and side yards.? I
>> think it's
>> inappropriate to legislate this.
>> 
>> For what it's worth, I? WANT to live an an economically diverse
>> neighborhood,
>> where people who are better off and less well off live together.? I
>> cringe when
>> people are throwing around 'makes the neighborhood look
>> impoverished'.? I hope
>> that we are a welcome community for both rich and poor and not be
>> embarrassed if
>> one neighbors car or fences (?!) indicate they don't have a lot of
>> money.? It
>> doesn't mean they won't keep their houses beautiful and be great
>> neighbors. It
>> just means they don't have a lot of money. If people need fences, I
>> don't want
>> to burden them with additional expenses for what seems like a silly
>> aesthetic
>> preference.
>> 
>> Personally, I think that the current trend in my neighborhood
>> (permitting 6 foot
>> high wooden slat fences) does more to deteriorate the 'neighbor'hood
>> than a
>> chain link fence ever could.? When we can't see each other, we don't
>> meet each
>> other and talk.? My fantastic relationship with my next door
>> neighbor flourished
>> because we have a 3.5foot chain link fence in our backyards, and
>> would strike up
>> a conversation when working in the yard.? My friends live in a
>> tightknit
>> community in NE in rowhouses where only chain link separates the
>> back yards.? He
>> talks about how important the permeable fences have been to a sense
>> of
>> community.? SO I realize not everyone will share my? point of view
>> on this, but
>> I actually VALUE having chain link fences (yes, yes, I know, ... the
>> other
>> materials proposed could still permit conversation).? My preference:
>> Please
>> don't legislate against them further.
>> Sincerely
>> Kathy Galleher
> 
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