Parish
Urban Farm Distortion
RECEIVED Sat., Nov. 15, 2014
Dear Editor,
Once again, Anna Toon mischaracterizes, omits, and downright slanders me in her article [“Next Target: Springdale,” News, Nov. 14]. I have never said anything about shutting down any farm, just not true, and it has never been my or any other's intention in the neighborhood, just not true. What people want – 25 now, of the 33 households around Springdale Farm – is peace and quiet, and not to have some event with 100 to 300 people every weekend.
The Chronicle has consistently distorted the real issue of zoning and continues to characterize Springdale as "poor us" and the neighbors as villains just trying to ruin the farms, always minimizing the adverse impact of non-farm-related events and insinuating any opposition as unjustified.
No one has a problem nor have there been complaints with Boggy Creek, Rain Lily, or HausBar now that they have been forced to quit composting body parts in the backyard. That's what the urban farm ordinance rewrite was about.
As to compromise, Springdale has not been willing to compromise at all, not one bit, not an inch, not now and not during the urban farm rewrite.
You all write anything, true or not, and then you wonder why I don't want to grant interviews with the Chronicle. We'll see how much you distort this letter.
Once again, Anna Toon mischaracterizes, omits, and downright slanders me in her article [“Next Target: Springdale,” News, Nov. 14]. I have never said anything about shutting down any farm, just not true, and it has never been my or any other's intention in the neighborhood, just not true. What people want – 25 now, of the 33 households around Springdale Farm – is peace and quiet, and not to have some event with 100 to 300 people every weekend.
The Chronicle has consistently distorted the real issue of zoning and continues to characterize Springdale as "poor us" and the neighbors as villains just trying to ruin the farms, always minimizing the adverse impact of non-farm-related events and insinuating any opposition as unjustified.
No one has a problem nor have there been complaints with Boggy Creek, Rain Lily, or HausBar now that they have been forced to quit composting body parts in the backyard. That's what the urban farm ordinance rewrite was about.
As to compromise, Springdale has not been willing to compromise at all, not one bit, not an inch, not now and not during the urban farm rewrite.
You all write anything, true or not, and then you wonder why I don't want to grant interviews with the Chronicle. We'll see how much you distort this letter.
Daniel Llanes
[Anna Toon responds: If anyone is villainizing in this ongoing controversy, it's Daniel Llanes and company villainizing Springdale Farm, its patrons and supporters, and Eden East. Setting that aside, the petition opposing the Springdale zoning change includes misinformation – e.g., that Springdale is pursuing Restaurant Limited, which is no longer the case. Moreover, Springdale has indeed offered and requested compromises on events, timing, parking, noise, etc., both at the Planning Commission and the neighborhood meetings – all rejected by Llanes and company. Readers can judge for themselves who is distorting the issue.]
