CAMPAIGNS

Thank you to everyone who participated in the NYC Food & Climate Summit in December! Scores of powerful ideas were generated...and we look forward to working with you in 2010 to cultivate real change on our food system and climate change. Over the weeks to come we'll be combing through all the ideas, comments and proposals generated at the Summit, which will inform the NYC Food and Climate Platform for Action. We will be following-up with everyone who registered for the Summit to be part of this city-wide campaign. If you did not register but want to get involved, contact Nadia Johnson to be added to the Campaign. More soon!

Legalize Beekeeping in NYC!

Campaign update (December 2009)

BIG news! On Thursday, December 17th the New York City Board of Health held their quarterly meeting and section 161.01 (the section of the Health Code that outlaws beekeeping) was on the agenda. We had been pushing for them to make a proposal to amend this section of the Health Code and they did! We're on our way!

This is where you come in: on Wednesday, February 3rd, there will be a public hearing on this section of the code. Click here to read the Notice of the Public Hearing. This is our opportunity for YOU to provide oral and written testimony in support of beekeeping in NYC.

After this public hearing, the Department of Health will present their final code revision to the Board of Health meeting in March, for their final review. With Board of Health approval of this revision, the revised code will take effect in 30 days. Beekeeping could be legal in NYC this April!

Beekeeping is vital to the health and well being of our city. Whether they are increasing the productivity of urban gardens and farms, providing a science lesson to elementary school students, or just producing delicious honey - honeybees are critically important to New Yorkers and need our support.

Please stay tuned for information about the Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 3rd--including how to participate, testimony tutorials and other information to help you speak up at this vital time in support of legal beekeeping in NYC.

Your tremendous show of support has brought us this far -- thank you so much for supporting Just Food and our NYC Campaign to legalize beekeeping!

Background

Bee keeping is currently illegal in New York City. The New York City Health Code under Section 161.01 prohibits the possession, keeping, harboring and selling of “wild animals.” This ban's listing of “all venomous insects” includes bees and in doing so outlaws beekeeping.

Honeybees are garden heroes! Honeybees help gardens grow more fruit and vegetables and produce sweet honey. They are nature's best pollinators and contribute to produ

To legalize beekeeping in NYC and improve the health and well-being of our urban environment and populace, Just Food is working on two fronts: (1) calling for the Department of Health to remove or exempt honeybees from Health Code 161.01, and (2) supporting Council Member David Yassky's Bill, introduced in January 2009 to City Council that would legalize beekeeping in NYC.

Take action!

Give testimony in support of honeybees and beekeepers in NYC. Written testimony can be submitted between now and Wednesday, February 3rd, and oral testimony can be given at the Public Hearing on February 3rd, 10am-12pm at 125 Worth Street, NYC, Room 330. Information on ways to give successful testimony coming soon!
Read all about our 2009 Pollinator Week activities, our honeybee fact sheet and sign-up for Facebook and Twitter updates!
Sign the petition
Collect petition signatures! Download the petition and fact sheet, gather signatures in your community and return the completed lists to: nadia[at]justfood.org or Nadia Johnson, Just Food, 1155 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

Send the petition to your friends, families and networks! Below is a sample letter:

Dear _____,

Question: What do cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle have that New York City does not? Answer: Legalized beekeeping.

Bee keeping is currently illegal in New York City due to a local health code that prohibits the possession, keeping, harboring and selling of "wild animals" and "vehemous insects" in which bees are included.

Honeybees are garden heroes! Honeybees help gardens grow more fruit and vegetables and produce sweet honey. They are nature's best pollinators and contribute to productive harvests in community gardens, public parks and nature centers.

Join me in taking one minute to sign Just Food's petition to legalize beekeeping in NYC! Sign the petition here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/legalize-beekeeping.html
and check out Just Food's website (www.justfood.org) for a beekeeping fact sheet and campaign updates.