Pro tip: My live Q&A with a city planner in Boston went off the rails when someone asked about zoning for backyard chickens.

I was hosting a public 'Ask Anything' session at the local library, and a guy asked a super specific question about hen coop setbacks from property lines that I had no clue about. I had to admit I didn't know, wrote down his contact info, and promised to get the real answer from the zoning office. What's the most unexpected question you've ever had to field during a public Q&A?

3 comments

3 Comments

veramiller17d ago

Oh man, that's a classic. Got asked at a town meeting once if the new park bench design was squirrel-proof. Had to just stare blankly for a second.

oliver71917d ago

Wait, squirrel-proof benches? @veramiller that's wild. The most random thing I ever got was someone asking if our new bike lane paint was vegan.

rileyfox13d ago

Actually, squirrel-proof benches are a real thing. They put these metal plates on the armrests so squirrels can't run across them and bother people. It sounds silly until you've had your lunch stolen three times. The vegan paint question is way more out there. At least the bench thing solves a problem, even if it's a weird one.