A Flock Of Pigeons, and Their Feeders

It was all over the news yesterday:  Ald. Cappleman introduced an ordinance to make pigeon feeding on the public way illegal, punishable by heavy fines and up to six months in jail.  Some people have been wondering why this is a big deal.  Well, this is our opinion:

This isn't Grandmaw sitting in the park throwing leftover crusts to the birds.  This is big pigeon business.  We hear every week from people who have seen Young Kang and Ed Gross, her driver, making the rounds of their feeding spots, where hundreds of pigeons await them and follow them.  We've heard from four different people who have been assaulted by Ms. Kang when they tried to prevent her from dumping pigeon food, everything from her grabbing a broom out of their hands and hitting them with it, to her taking a bucket from a small business owner and throwing it at him.

Each day, Ms. Kang (who has been a passive participant ever since she's been on probation) and Mr. Gross drive around Uptown, from 7am until dark.  They carry large bags of crumbs and rice in large tote bags with them and restock during the day.  If you ever wonder where they are, just look up at the sky for the swarm of pigeons that follow them on their rounds.

From a financial perspective:

• When Ms. Kang moved from her residence on Magnolia to another home north of Lawrence, we started hearing from neighbors about the excessive amounts of bread and rice left on the the parkways near their homes.  Parked cars, building windows, and sidewalks are left covered with pigeon droppings.  Who pays?  Her neighbors, Streets & San, and the condo associations/block clubs who must clean it up.
• Many readers complain that the vertical Aragon sign often has burned-out letters.  Wonder why?  One of the most popular pigeon feeding points for Ms. Kang and Mr. Gross is just west of the Aragon.  Pigeons poop inside the Aragon's marquee, leading to the letters short-circuiting.  (Pigeon excrement is one of the most corrosive substances you can find.)  Last time the Aragon had the sign cleaned out and rewired, it cost $5,000 to get all eight to ten feet of droppings cleared out.  Who pays?  The Aragon, which passes the expense on to the consumer.
• 
  The CTA sends crews out on a regular basis to powerwash the sidewalk under the Lawrence L and the Wilson L, sometimes on weekends.  That's because of all the pigeon droppings caused by pigeons, who enjoy being fed at both locations.  Who pays?  The CTA, which says it's broke and is cutting routes and raising fares.
• Heavy-duty pigeon netting will be installed at the newly rehabbed Lawrence L station.  Who pays?  The CTA (see above). 
• The ceiling of the former Majestic Store For Men, another popular feeding spot, has partially collapsed and the future of the building is in doubt.  It's a beautiful building, nearly a century old.  The ceiling collapse was partially due to corrosion caused by pigeon droppings.  Who pays?  The CTA (see above).
• Both Ms. Kang and Mr. Gross have been arrested numerous times, and the car they use has been impounded.  In court, they use public defenders because they say they can't afford attorneys.  Who pays?  The taxpayer.
• TIF funds were used to turn the 4500 block of Kenmore into a park for Stewart School.  Kids can't play in the north end of the park because of the pigeon droppings; the cul-de-sac on Kenmore is yet another favorite feeding spot.  Who pays?  The taxpayers who pay into the Wilson Yard TIF.

From a quality of life perspective:

• Have you ever walked on Wilson Avenue when it's raining and encountered the wet "carpet of poo" under the L viaduct?  To say it's disgusting doesn't do it justice.  It's like a skating rink, and the idea of falling in it is beyond imagining.
• It's been documented that kids in urban settings have a high incidence of asthma.  One of the most common reasons for asthma?  Pigeon droppings.

It's a hefty price we pay when Ms. Kang and Mr. Gross make their daily rounds.  They've each been arrested, to the point where the judges recognize them by sight, and they go right back to feeding the birds on the same day they are released from custody.  Obviously they are not thinking like reasonable people.

One thing is clear:  Whatever measures the community, police and courts are taking now aren't working.  Ald. Cappleman's proposed ordinance is all about changing the game, and that may, just may, have an effect on their behavior.  For that, we applaud him.