Legislatin' for tha City: going to city council so you don't have to

For our editor, Chris Horne, it'd been a while since he appeared in the chambers of Macon City Council, and according to his verbal and written reports of the night, he chose a great time to return. In fact, it may take multiple posts to cover it all. (But that's what I'm here fer.)

Going in, the word was all about council member Nancy White's proposed ordinance to outlaw the tethering of dogs. If you aren't familiar with this practice, as apparently councilman Erick Erickson was not, it involves tying a dog (or, we guess, cat) up and leaving it alone. Someone might do this if they had no fence to keep their pet in, or if they were feeling particularly cruel. Despite widespread animal abuse, according to Macon animal control, the city didn't have any prohibition against said treatment. That's where White stepped up.

Originally, the language made it legal for pet owners to leave their dogs (and cats) tied up for up to eight hours consecutively or, for 12 hours total in a 24 hour cycle. Wisely, they changed it after complaints came in that suggested that provision would make enforcement nearly impossible. Now, you can't have your pet tied up unless you're with it, like walking your dog, etc. The ordinance would also prohibit letting pets ride unrestrained in moving vehicles.

One of the funnier moments in the evening came when Erick Erickson spoke up, saying he originally wasn't going to vote in favor because "while I love pets, I do consider them property" and he doesn't think the government should have so much say about someone's property. Then he said he did some research into the matter and was convinced it was the right thing to do, but he wanted to amend the ordinance to allow hunters to drive around with their dogs unrestrained since, he said, many had told him they only went a short ways like that and he wanted to prevent city cops from issuing tickets to them. First Alveno Ross reminded folks that hunting within City Limits is illegal so why make the provision, and then Tom Ellington made an even better common sense argument: "I don't believe the issues of public safety change just because an individual is only hunting."

It's always nice to see people try to mask their contempt and venom within the language of Robert's Rules of Order.

Speaking of... apparently Erickson was feeling quite chatty. In response to a "point of information" comment Elaine Lucas made about what other animals are protected by the ordinance (none), Erickson interrupted with a "is this relevant" comment of his own. Lucas snapped at him, but Erickson only waited until after she was done to snidely return volley, asking if council should be allowed to debate using "points of information". You know, it seems much more dramatic in person than it does here.

Anywho. That ordinance eventually passed without objection. Sponsor Nancy White said afterwards that she was surprised that the vote went so favorably, and gave the credit to the dozen or so animal rights activists who showed up in support. Several were signed up to speech beforehand, but only three or four were allowed to because the meeting was running so far behind. Of the chosen representatives, Chamblee Abernathy of Athens spoke out, citing the ordinance passed in the Classic City. She was followed by an impassioned woman named Mrs. Greene, who recounted her memory of seeing a dog put down. She said, "I'll never forget that memory just as I'm sure Mr. Schlesinger--I hope I'm saying it correctly--just as I'm sure Mr. Schlesinger will never forget the gas chambers." Her reference to Rabbi Larry Schlesinger's connection to the Jewish Holocaust was stunningly inappropriate, but it passed by without much of a flutter. Obviously, living in the South, Rabbi Schlesinger is accustomed to some of our innocent ignorance. Either way, he let it roll off his back. She was followed by a Mercer professor who specialized in animal psychology, which was interesting since it didn't seem apparent beforehand that one could specialize in that sort of thing.

Con't in next post...