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Adding my two cents... We have three ladies, who we love dearly! We got our first egg last week on my birthday and I could not have asked for a better gift. I grew up on a farm and currently reside with multiple cats and dogs, and the chickens are by far the easiest pets to maintain (and they provide us with breakfast!) and have had the cheapest vet bills. And I could just sit and watch them for hours!

As with any animal, it is about responsible parenting/ownership. Just as there will be bad dog parents, there will be bad chicken parents. It's much easier to acquire another pet willy-nilly, than it is to acquire chickens. 

And living near 82nd in NE Portland, the sound of our chickens are the least of anyone's concerns... With the freeway noise, the sounds of crows and gulls in the park, sirens, and neighborhood children, our chickens and their clucking are a mute point. 

Thanks for considering this topic!

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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I live on 81st Avenue and have witnessed the issue we have with women working in the prostitution field (i.e., used condoms in the front yard, men picking up women, etc...). During a recent "sting" in front of our house, we spent some time talking with some of the police officers. An officer shared with us that most of the women they were picking up that day did NOT have addictions. She shared the story of one woman they picked up who had worked all day at Wal-Mart and had earned $60. She could earn the same amount of money in 5 minutes providing her "services" to a paying male.

I believe that it really boils down to a lack of a living wage, educational opportunities, and the exploitation of women in our community.

In addition, I am uncomfortable with issues of internalized stereotyping. When I see a woman dressed in a provactive manner, who may or may not be a member of a minority racial group, walking through my neighborhood, my first thought is "sex worker" (which may or not be the case).

How do we work together as a community to help these women, punish the men who exploit them, and deal with our own biased assumptions?

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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