Hollywood, FL – A more than $200,000 fine against a family for keeping a gaggle of backyard hens has been reduced to $100, upon order of a Broward judge.
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The fight between the city and an orthodox Jewish family over the chickens in the upscale Emerald Hills neighborhood has been ongoing for more than two years.
The 12-member Kohn family says its 17 chickens were legal “small domestic” kosher pets. The city says they’re illegal “fowl or poultry.”
The Kohns, whose ancestors were from Syria and Morocco, claim they’re being harassed because of their Middle Eastern descent.
City officials dismissed the Kohn’s claims of discrimination.
Towbin Singer ruled that according to city ordinance, the fine for keeping illegal fowl or poultry within city limits cannot exceed $100.
Two hundred thousand dollar fine for some chickens.
This country is turning into a banana republic.
Thank you judge.
What a chillul H”.
When you buy a home in a particular community, you agree to abide by the laws and regulations of that community. There are plenty of places you can live in Florida where you can have all the chickens you want.
$100 is a JOKE. These people should be fined $100 per DAY per CHICKEN.
What a disgrace to the Hollywood Jewish community which is one Florida’s nicest. This family owes a public apology to the community for the chillul H” they created.
Is it any wonder why people cringe when the hear that some frum yidden or yiddeshe mosdos are planning to move into their neighborhoods. What kinds of idiots would keep 17 chickens in their backyard in an upscale residential neighborhood? Maybe they will also seek to add an upscale schlachthois next door to their chicken coops or host a community event next yom kippur so that all the ehrliche yidden in this upscale neighborhood can stop by for coffee and shlug kaporos. The original fine should be upheld and they should be required to get rid of these dirty, smelly and noisy “pets”.
To #3- What about inconsiderate neighbors who race cars up and down the block without mufflers, creating a loud grating type sound? What about inconsiderate neighbors who honk their horns in front of homes, because they are too lazy to get out of their cars, and ring a bell? What about inconsiderate neighbors who race down a residential block, in violation of the speed limits, thus endangering pedestrians? What about inconsiderate neighbors who throw trash on the street, or leave other junk lying about? What about inconsiderate neighbors who let their dogs poop on the block or on other neighbor’s lawns, and don’t clean it up? What about inconsiderate neighbors who let their dogs roam loose without a leash, and do the same with their cats? Aren’t all of the latter disgressions worse than this person with his chickens??
To #5 - I was not at all referring to PMO, but to the commentator after his comments. To Ms. Kaufman (#6)-Unfortunately, the nuisances which I mentioned which occur in some residential communities are not just occasional, but are routine. No, I was not trying to excuse the noise of the chickens. However, I would rather hear chickens, than a barking dog at all hours of the night. At least, chickens are quiet at night.
Chickens are legal in Hollywood and a lot of people keep them. That is why the Federal government has filed a Fair Housing discrimination complaint against the city of Hollywood for trying to enforce a non existent ordinance against an Orthodox family. There were also several references in the public record written communications between city employees referring to the family’s religion and family size.
The City of Hollywood paid a 2 million dollar fine in 2006 for using code enforcement to violate the rights of the Hollywood Community Synagogue (Chabad). The Dept. of Justice considers the complaint filed on behalf of the Kohns to be an alleged repeat civil rights violation on the part of the City of Hollywood.
#2 , #3, #6 . I do, right here in Rockland. Chickens are domesticated animals, for sure, and a pleasure to have, in MHO. May I suggest you get a little closer to the land, and your fellow Jew, before passing judgement?
I live in Hollywood too, in Emerald Hills, and within two blocks of me I know of 5 households that either have or have had chickens and one that had sheep. It doesn’t bother me at all, I think they’re cute and much quieter than dogs. The yards are big in Emerald Hills, and chickens are a common pet anyway, especially for Sfardim. Now that the neighborhood is getting so Sefardic (there are 15 Sephardic shuls in the area, and 4 Ashkenazic ones) chickens are getting even more common in Hollywood. But I have noticed that the city only bothers my non-white-Christian neiighbors about their chickens. This was even on the news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-62HyysGOo