Everything I do is ultimately motivated by family. I’ve been fighting for my miniature goats – my daughters source of milk, since I am unable to breastfeed – on the “appeal to city council” level up till recently. But I have decided I need to take my community activism a step farther after an encounter I had a few weeks ago., Earlier this month, I started a Political Action Committee (Urban Farmer for Food Freedom) after I had this face to face discussion with the City Council member of my district, Bob Link. Here’s a quick rundown of our Q&A:
Q: Do you intend to look into the issue of miniature goats in the city some more and educate yourself on the issue?
A: No.
Q: Would you vote in favor of miniature goats in they were known to abide by all preexisting animal ordinances?
A: No.
Q: Are you willing to compromise or find common ground together in our efforts to legalize miniature goats in the city?
A: No.
Q: If the majority of Visalians wanted miniature goats legalized, would you then do your job as an elected official and vote the values of your constituency in favor of goats?
A: No, because I personally don’t like goats. That’s my opinion and that is my job, to vote my opinion, and it’s not changing.
I think Link needs to realize that simply “not liking” something does not give you the right to infringe on your neighbors right to privacy and property and food freedom.
It actually seems frightening and disturbing to me that someone with such an exaggerated and skewed view of their job description and authority has been sitting on Visalia City Council for 16 years. Why doesn’t Visalia have term limits in place to protect the city from “career” council members only interested in voting their personal values and scratching their friends backs instead of following the rather simple job description of representing the individuals in their districts??? But I digress!
When Link elaborated on his dislike of food producing animals in the city, he made the rather unusual comment that, “When Visalians buy a $450,000 house, they want to know that they won’t be living next to anything they don’t want to.” This right here, more than anything, confirms my suspicion that the primary argument against goats is classist in it’s nature, and that we have some extremely out of touch council members who do not know, care for or even understand the problems, struggles and desires of the average Visalian.
It’s precisely this kind of class discrimination (civilized people just don’t LIVE among goats and chickens, you see) that makes the concept of raising your own food just foreign to this guy. In what I’ve come to call the “let them eat cake” argument, (“Just BUY the milk / eggs / cheese” or “Just go BUY lots of land in the country if you want to save money by growing your own food!”) people like Link who throw that drivel around either just don’t care or genuinely just don’t understand that some people could cut their grocery bill down and actually make their mortgage payment this month if they had the freedom to raise their own food on their private property.
While food producing animals certainly benefit those in financial straits, they also make wonderful and educational pets that abide by all preexisting animal ordinances, AND they are a great hobby for anyone in any walk of life. They are just as relevant companions as a dog or a cat. The concept that food producing animals are a frivolous revolt of the underclasses that needs to be squelched by the well-to-do is just unbecoming and laughable when you consider that major cities like San Francisco and San Diego where the average median cost of a house is $700,000 ALLOW MINIATURE GOATS IN THEIR CITIES!! Keep in mind, the average median cost of a house in Visalia is just $162,000… a far cry from the “$450,000 homes” Link pictures when he takes a stand against the goat loving underclasses he seeks to crusade against.
But even if we all lived in the neighborhoods our council members think we live in, we’re still no San Diego! We are an agricultural community and we need not be ashamed of that! Goats in the city won’t drag us down or diminish our quality of life.. it will actually ENHANCE the lives of those in our community and encourage and foster a spirit of self-reliance and self-sustainability that our communities sorely lack due to outdated and overbearing ordinances like the one I’m currently fighting!
These little munchkins are why I’m taking on a corrupt and morally bankrupt City Council on a whole new level!
We concluded our meeting with Link telling me, “I understand exactly what you’re going through and I sympathize with you.”
Yes Link. I’m sure you understand exactly what it’s like to have your body fail you and leave you unable to provide milk for your tiny developing child. I’m sure you understand exactly the painful sense of inadequacy and self-esteem destroying disappointment that a mother feels when she is left with a scarred chest that cannot nourish or suckle her precious children. I’m sure you understand exactly what it’s like to have to be a physically disabled mother of a newborn humbling herself and asking other women if they would be so kind as to spare even so much as a drop of breast milk for her little ones. And when breast milk donations aren’t plentiful, I’m sure you know exactly what it’s like to be struggling to make ends meet, and have to choose between paying the mortgage or giving your child superior nutrition that is not GMO laden high fructose corn syrup.
I’m sure you also understand what a financial and nutritional Godsend my two milk producing pet goats were to me and what a therapeutic outlet these creatures are to a young mother who cannot produce breast milk, finally being able to provide for her children the best that she can. I’m sure you understand what it has been like to get up at the crack of dawn to milk goats twice a day for my children, and tha
nk God each morning that He has provided me with these amazing, gentle, milk producing animals. You clearly understand how I found solace and healing in the thought that God has granted me two hands that work when other body parts have failed. And of course, you no doubt know what I’m going through when these precious animals that do so much for our family and mean so much to my daughters, were senselessly and needlessly torn from me because people like you “just don’t like goats”.
It’s clear that you “understand what I’m going through” and “sympathize with me” when you place YOUR personal and baseless bias against a useful and harmless animal above MY right to feed my children.
That’s Good Samaritan kind of compassion right there, when someone would sleep better at night knowing that his neighbor struggling to feed her daughter doesn’t have a goat, instead of fighting for the distraught woman deprived of her private property that was breaking no ordinances and harming no one and existed solely to be a loved pet and a little girls primary source of nutrition.
As I’m sure you folks can tell, I did not feel as though Link respected me during our discussion. I feel that he did not take me seriously, that he spoke condescendingly to me and that he did not see me as an equal – even chiding me as if I were a child at one point. But considering that he graduated high school the exact year that Disneyland was built and seems to be stuck in the 50’s era when he was working in a men’s clothing store at the same time men’s clothing ads like the ones below ran in magazines, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Link felt he knew what was best for me and the I shouldn’t worry my pretty little head over things like what I can provide for my children and what my child can and can’t eat on my private property.
Oh, Gingi! I’ve been so out of the loop, but this just breaks my heart. I want to reach out and hug you, I want to give you an ear and a shoulder to cry on when you’re frustrated. I even want to send you milk, except that I’ve dried up :'( I’m hurting for you, but I’m in awe of your advocacy!
Sounds like starting a PAC is the Exact right thing to do for you, your family, and your greater community! So, you go girl! Fight for your family, for your precious babies, and for your lovely goats!! 😀
These old farts just haven’t a clue who they’ve messed with… well, maybe NOW they do. Haha. Instead of getting down or feeling sorry for myself, I have a tendency to fight. 😉
Thank you for your kind words my friend! <3
Those photos of your babies are gorgeous! It’s amazing what we’ll do, the lengths will go, to provide our kids what they need.
Wow what a challenge you have ahead of you. You’d think public figures would need to cater to their constituents and not just their opinions. Good luck with the fight!
You would think!
Wow. First, your city council is messed up, and have you thought have about calling for a recall election? But, more importantly, your passion for your right to have goats and the actions you are taking to fight for this issue are so inspiring!
We have thought about it, but two of the council members who are only voting their own whims aren’t going to be running again, and the one who is is most likely NOT going to get re-elected… especially after I’m done with him. 😉
These pictures are so cute!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
great post! so on point! your babies looks so adorable btw 🙂
xx Jamie| Love Peace and Shimmer
giveaway
Gingi… I am heartbroken that you are having to deal with people that are living in the past. Anyone that follows the news knows how important that it is to eat fresh and natural foods. I cannot imagine not even being able to nurse your children… I feel so blessed that I could. I hope that you will be able to change the closed minds of those people xox ♡
These are old career politicians who are only interested in their seats, not in their responsibilities. They keep getting elected and re-elected by their friends. But after this (and a number of other recent scandals), I think that’s going to change REAL soon…
All the strength to you in creating a better environment for yourself, your children and your community! 🙂
I love your opinions on matters and wish you all the luck with all your challenges! <3
Serene | I Am Serene L
Oh Gingi, that person sounds horrible. I’m so sorry. You are so amazing in going forward with fighting for your rights, your little ones are so precious. I can’t understand why anyone would want to stop you from giving them the healthiest options you can when it hurts no one…
He is! I can’t stand people like that…
Keep fighting and never give up!! That Link guy is so small minded and I can’t believe how people can be like that. And I can’t understand either hoe having certain animals defines your class, while having a cat or a dog is okay. It’s the same as my ex not wanting me to keep chickens for eggs in our garden because of what he thought people would think. Animals enrich our lives whatever kind they are, and I wish people could see that, and how much better it is to grow your own and know what you’re feeding your family, rather than buy something that has probably been processed several times at the supermarket. Humans make me mad! x
♥.•*¨ Amanda Says ¨*•.♥
Yeah, especially in our agricultural community, the concept that small food producing animals is “lower class” is just laughable. These guys are crazy, backwards and heartless. I intend to shake this town up and set things right! haha.
Bless! My heart really goes out to you in this milk problem!! America is horridly classist, well, really all countries are, and it is terribly obnoxious. It seems like MOST of our law makers, locally and nationally, are out of touch with the average person. And those Van Heusen ads! Oh my word! I know it was a long time ago, but it makes me not want to buy their shirts anymore!
The irony with those ads is that the guy I talked to, Link, was actually working in a mens clothing store WHEN THAT AD CAME OUT!!! He is THAT old!!
LOve this post! Good for you for getting involved!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
I still can’t believe your city council and all they’ve put you through.
Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Etsy
Nice post! The pictures are adorable!
xx
cvetybaby.com
Thanks! <3
These pictures are adorable! Such a nice post! I wish you luck in your challenge!
xx
cvetybaby.com
Great post, and your kids look so adorable! xx
Sara Wallflower
Gingi my heart goes out to you. Keep fighting and never give up! I wish you all the luck, girl. Your kids are adorable, so cute.
hugs
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle
<3 <3 <3
You are awesome! Oh, and your little ones are SO adorable.
i love this ;)) have an amazing day!
mfashionfreak♥blog
That Q&A is an embarrassment to Link and his loved ones. He sounds about as educated as my three-year-old. Oh wait. Less.
Good on you. And gorgeous photos of the little ones. May they get the milk they need, despite the morons of the country.
Right?! I couldn’t believe my ears! This guy is a joke…
Wow! I can’t believe this has all happened to you. I am proud of you for taking a stand and getting involved. You are an inspiration!
Thanks Julie! <3
Your baby girl is growing up so fast! She is such a cutie!
DAISYPERSON | BEAUTY BLOG
Sorry for the late reply, I’m just catching up.
This man’s response to you turned my stomach. He thinks his vote should be based upon his OPINION?! That is scary!! Thank goodness he’s not a judge! I’m so sorry you’re still fighting this fight Gingi. I pray that the neanderthals who voted no are kicked out in the next election.
Whats crazy is, it’s in his freaking JOB DESCRIPTION to be a representative of the people. Not to mention is politics 101. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. What a joke!
Few politicians actually care about what their constituents think. I 100% agree that we need term limits. When we see politicians lining their pockets from special interest groups, and watch them ignore the constitution, it’s time for an overhaul, from the guy on top to the city council member. This topic makes my blood pressure rise!
Woo good for you fighting for the right to have your goats. That kind of argument (the people should know they won’t live next to something they don’t want to) is made way too often in cities and HOAs. Even here in Texas, where we have way fewer restrictions than we did when I lived in California, we still have silly HOA rules that forbid seemingly harmless things (like, no above ground pools, what?). Good luck and I hope you win this one! You go mama!