My father had to get rid of his hive from a Chicago suburb. What a shame. My mother wrote the local paper, thinking it would make for a good editorial. Made the front page. Hopefully the local politicians will read it too. I've asked them to go to the next city council meeting and bring it up.
Story from Daily Herald - not sure if I'm allowed to post link, but here it is.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=312555
what a shame! the ignorants of some people this is just one exsample of the nanny state at work.
Good article, really sorry about that hive having to be moved. The Chicago area governments are really a prime example of nanny-statism. It looks like the pro-bee crowd definitely has the upper hand in the comments under the article, so that is good to see. Honeybees need all the support they can get in any form.
What a shame :(
A friend of mine found a lot of dead bees at her hive entrance as well as some white powder (insecticide). Some 'neighbors' took the matter into their own hands.
Nothing like self-righteous imbeciles.
I call em citiots.
Unfortunately theres more of em every day.
The same problem exists in the Milwaukee suburbs. Even though we are 30 miles from Milwaukee proper, a full county away, the influx of 5000+ sq ft homes and neo-Country Squire attitudes is prevalent. The same folks that will sit around the table and debate the plight of the "poor honneybee", and flaunt their presuppossed knowlege of increasing impact on their future well-being, are the first to call in a complaint to the County when they see something foreign and threatening to their percieved life-style. "Oh, my God! Agriculture in my neighborhood! Can't they do that someplace else? After all, my rights are (more) important, and what about my property values?!"
We have the same problem with the < 5 acre "General Agriculture" rules, and for that reason, we've found that being "clandestine" is superior to being "in your face". Surely, it would be better if we didn't need to be so deceptive and "hide" our hives in our little woodlot, but we like what we're doing, aren't infringing on our neighbors, and "out of sight - out of mind".
When the hives first went in, we were visible, neat, and proud to "show-off" our interests. Now, it's better to lay low and enjoy what we're doing, without fear of "offending" anyone. Even though my family has held this property for more than 60 years, the problem persists at the County level. The ag folks that used to control procedings in a formerly predominant ag County have been systematically replaced with lawyers, developers, beaurocrats, and pig-headed, Little Napolean staff.
Sad state of affairs on land use and personal freedom. Adapt, or find another hobby, I'm afraid.
End of rant.
BB
It's interesting for me to read this. I hope I don't jinx myself by saying this, but when I got my hive (first one this spring, I say first because of course now I want more!) everybody asked me if I had gotten permission or consulted my neighbors. I live in an intown neighborhood that is about 1/2 old school original neighbors and 1/2 so called "urban pioneers", and I guess it is considered a "funky" part of town. Both seem equally intrigued and/or totally unbothered. Every single neighbor I mentioned that I was gonna get bees to, said "ooooo, neat! really? Are you worried about that collapse problem? That's so cool." Or some such thing. And since then people stop all the time on their walks to ask about the hive and how my bees are doing. Some of course just think I'm crazy.
I guess I should count myself lucky. As soon as I can, I plan on passing out honey to my closest neighbors. Like I said, I sure hope I didn't jinx myself! I just don't get why anybody would care, I mean, they're just bees. It's not like you can't just stay away from them if you don't like them.
People are weird.
love,
ziffa
If I remember correctly the town of Evanston, Illinois dealt with a bee issue a couple of years ago over a young man wanting to keep bees in a neighborhood. The Illinois State Beekeepers Association became involved. After all was done, it ended favorably for the beekeeper (and the town). I would suggest you contact Ken Haller, immediate past president of the ISBA. He was directly involved with the whole thing. Links to him and others in the ISBA are here: http://www.isba.us/index.contact.htm (http://www.isba.us/index.contact.htm).
Good Luck
Arvin
Send the town an email tell them what you think. Maybe if people all over the country and the world comment they might rethink.
http://www.twp.milton.il.us/contact.html
Cheers,
Patrick