Gothamist: City Fines Man for Feeding Pigeons in His Backyard

Politburo

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:13:59 -0500

I just don't see how an erroneous citation rises to the level of harassment. If it isn't illegal, then dismiss the citation, and make it illegal. Is suing the city the only way to challenge a citation? Somehow I doubt it. "The judge has put the fines on hold until Pitts returns to court in April, noting that feeding pigeons is not actually against the law." This should say that feeding pigeons is not explicitly against the law. The judge did not say it wasn't against the law (otherwise there'd be no controversy). There are many subjective laws that are open to interpretation, and that's what's happening in this case.

Novanglus

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:09:11 -0500

We aren't familiar enough with this case to really know how much of a nuisance these birds are, but this case can set some dumb legal precedence for other bird-feeding cases. QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Pigeons are not native to this city. They are an invasive species, like hipsters."

Jerky

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:34:28 -0500

Feeding pigeons is stupid and a nuisance, but if its not against the law, he has every right to sue the pants off of the city. I guarantee this gets settled before it goes to trial, but not until after the city wastes thousands of dollars. Apparently the law does not matter to health inspectors.

Goomba

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:42:03 -0500

This guy is a real stoonad for feeding the rats with wings. Send him to rot in Rikers.

jaja007

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:59:12 -0500

Pigeons are not native to this city. They are an invasive species, like hipsters. Give the old man a puppy or something to love and tell him to stop feeding the fucking pigeons.

Gothamist_Cynic

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:54:23 -0500

the douchebag deserves prison time.

GOP

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:17:37 -0500

I don't like bird shit on awnings either. Ticket the bastard.

edgar

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:14:45 -0500

Feeding pigeons IS a public nuisance. Whatever the pigeons don't get the rats do. This, along with throwing garbage on subway tracks, really need to be cracked down on. I say dismiss the fines this time, but if he does it again, hit him with the fines, no excuse.

palestine

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:02:35 -0500

I always see some random dude feeding the pigeons in Williamsburg. Who knows...

edEx

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:56:29 -0500

why would anyone want to feed a pigeon? they have enough garbage to eat for a 1000 years.

rcltrh

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:48:19 -0500

So he will sue the city, win the case, probably get some cash out of the deal for harassment. Meanwhile the city is cutting education funds, police positions, etc. Maybe we need to cut Health Inspectors for handing out tickets for something perfectly legal. You think maybe the inspector and neighbors might have just talked to the guy and come up with a solution. It's disgusting that our tax dollars have to pay for crap like this where someone needs to feel authoritative that will be lost in a court or law meanwhile we are having to cut out really important things. Do health inspectors have to take a knowledge of NYC laws test?

pissyrabbit

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:31:59 -0500

"But after an anonymous neighbor called 311 to complain about pigeon shit landing on their property..." in the precious words of Amy Poehler: "Really?"

Jen Chung

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:54:29 -0500

Cecil Pitts seems so lonely and the city so cruel for trying to prevent him from communing with his fine-feathered friends!