Letters to the editor

Reforms needed for Fairfield fence ordinance

I met with the Fairfield City Council July 10 to request their revision of Ordinance 1224 passed in May that restricts gardens and fencing.

I presented a petition signed by 45 Fairfield residents requesting revisions to that ordinance.

I was told by Mayor Connie Boyer, "You will have three minutes to present." I had prepared a two-page letter in support of my request but had to rush through it, thus missing some major points. Then at the end I requested Council to allow a few supporters present to air their views. "No" was the response.

With this erosion of participatory democracy, I felt a need for a larger forum for airing this issue. My requests: 1) that rollup fencing be allowed by itself to enclose a garden; 2) that a front-yard garden fence of six feet—not three feet as it stands now—be allowed, to keep out deer; 3) that "bright color" fencing be allowed as the owner chooses; 4) that "artwork, logos," etc. be allowed on a fence if an owner so chooses; 5) that neatly placed pallet enclosures be allowed.

Dear residents: we don't live in a gated community. We should be allowed to grow our own food and fence our own gardens as we need to. If Council doesn't like fencing with car tires or "garbage cans" as was mentioned at the Council meeting, those materials should be regulated—not what I've noted above. If you agree with any of my above requests, please mention them to your ward representative so that when they meet for further discussion, they will know that more residents are on board with these suggestions.

A glimmer of hope did emerge when I was told that Council will discuss the issue further at a committee meeting sometime. I will remain cautiously optimistic that significant garden/fence revision may yet come.

John C. Miller

Fairfield

Support a woman’s right to choose

Over 60 percent of Iowans support a woman’s freedom to choose what happens with her pregnancy, and I’m one of them.

Women and their loved ones need to be able to decide whether the time is right to bring a child into the world. Women, their family, and their health care professionals need the freedom to be able to make a decision, quickly if necessary, if there is any type of risk and the woman’s life needs to take precedence. All concerned need to have the space and privacy to make sometimes agonizing choices.

As the legislature conducts a special session regarding abortion rights, I hope they’ll keep in mind that pregnancy is a risky and complicated condition, and Iowans deserve to be allowed to make these important health care decisions without the government looking over their shoulder.

Eileen Beran

Kalona

It’s just a Democrat thing

We’ve just finished a month of celebrating LGBTQ pride, the whole month of June, while Fathers and our Flag only get one day.

Joe Biden made the official presidential declaration at the White House where their pride flag was placed in prominence of the U.S. Flag.

Biden said after four years of attacks on LGBTQ rights, these are the bravest, most inspiring people he knows, and activists present bared their breasts for cameras.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough said VA facilities would fly the pride flag for the month to make LGBTQ veterans feel welcome.

At a parade in Manhattan, drag marchers chanted “We’re here, we’re queer and we’re coming for your children.”

The month-long celebration was started in 1999 by Bill Clinton to honor the June 28, 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York.

LGBTQ people fought back at police when the mafia-run bar was raided for selling liquor without a license, and gays and lesbians were run out for violating a criminal statute.

Besting Clinton, Barrack Obama lit the White House in rainbow colors, not to be confused with God’s covenant with man, and promised the “fundamental transformation of America.”

Some Republicans say it’s only a social movement that represents a small group.

Leland Graber

Wayland