The following letter was sent to Santa Monica City Council members by resident Susan Hartley:

Dear Council members:

Re 12/14 agenda item on the bee ordinance: I urge you to amend Santa Monica’s ordinance, legalize beekeeping on private property and eliminate the city’s extermination policy re bees.

Given the threat of bee extinction globally, it’s criminal that Santa Monica requires bee extermination. How can Santa Monica say it’s green, if it’s outlawed bees?

Many cities are showing the foresight to legalize beekeeping and eliminate bee extermination in favor of relocation. Santa Monica should do the same. Here are two links to pieces about New York City lifting its beekeeping ban. They are even considering setting up beehives at schools for educational and fundraising purposes.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyld=125389428&ft=1&f=1091

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/opinion/07Raffles.html?ref=urban_agriculture

Susan J. Hartley