West Hollywood City Council presses pause on ordinance to ban fur apparel. FICA press release.
FUR INFORMATION COUNCIL OF AMERICA PRESS RELEASE, OCTOBER 4, 2011
West Hollywood City Council Presses Pause on Ordinance to Ban Fur Apparel Due to Public Outcry
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA: Recognizing the concerns of the businesses community and residents the West Hollywood City Council voted on Monday night to table discussion of the proposed fur ban ordinance for 30 days.
According to Keith Kaplan, Executive Director of the Fur Information Council of America, based in West Hollywood, and a 26-year West Hollywood resident, “Amidst growing opposition to the proposal to ban the sale of fur apparel in West Hollywood, the City Council has taken a fair and intelligent step and asked for additional time to meet with local businesses and residents. They also expressed concern over mounting potential legal issues surrounding the ban.”
Kaplan went on to add, “In their attempts to meet the demands of animal activists, largely from outside the community, and balance these against concerns of their own business community they had developed a draft ordinance that allows shoppers to buy any fur product offered in some stores, some fur products offered in others, and only some types of fur in others … are you confused? We are!”
Genevieve Morrill, President of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, comments that “This ordinance is confusing to businesses, intimidating to shoppers and will only hurt businesses in our community in already tough economic times. We hope to work with the City Council to develop more effective programs promoting transparency and allowing honest consumer education so that they can make the best and most informed choice for themselves.”
“We see this move by the City Council as a very positive step,” notes Mr. Kaplan. “This recent decision is moving slowly away from their original positioning as anti-business and anti-freedom of choice; which is in stark contrast to the image of West Hollywood as a free-choice city.
Perhaps the words that sum up what is truly at stake in all of this were said best by John D’Amico, the very councilman who brought forth the ordinance in the first place, “With over 500,000 square feet of empty storefront space in West Hollywood, there is clearly much room for improvement. Owners of small businesses in our town often say that the problem is not only the high cost for rents, but the number of rules and regulations that act as downward pressure on the small business community and hinder their ability to prosper here.” John D’Amico, 2011.
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What You Can Do
The time to act is now. We have 30 days to let them know what our community really thinks! Below is a template letter that sets forth the key points in this discussion. Note that this is not a pro-fur vs. anti-fur issue. The important and relevant discussion here is that our City Council needs to support local business and support freedom of choice.
If you are not a West Hollywood resident that’s okay too. Just make any minor modifications to the letter and send it along. You can bet the other side is (and has been) sending letters from around the world.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COPY AND PASTE INTO AN E-MAIL, SIGN YOUR NAME (AND NOTE UNDERNEATH IF YOU ARE A WEST HOLLYWOOD RESIDENT) AND SEND TO CCOUNCIL@WEHO.ORG
Dear West Hollywood City Council Member:
I applaud your decision to table the discussion of the proposed fur ban at the October 3, 2011 city council meeting.
I hope this move will allow you time to better understand and consider the concerns of the business community and develop an alternative solution that:
1) Avoids unnecessary restrictions on businesses facing an already tough business environment
2) Recognizes the principles of freedom of choice on which this city was founded
3) Addresses the concerns of animal activists by providing meaningful consumer education rather than forcing a ban on consumers who deserve the right to choose.
As a resident I hope you will also give due consideration to any potential legal challenges to avoid wasting city funds that might otherwise be directed to infrastructure improvements or social programs so vital to our city’s present and future.
Ultimately your responsibility is to the businesses and residents (like myself) of this city, not to the outside influence of animal activists and other outside special interest groups.
Sincerely,
Further reading:
West Hollywood’s fur ban: Is it unlawful? LA Weekly, Oct. 4, 2011.
Angry businesses delay West Hollywood fur ban. NBC Los Angeles. Oct. 4, 2011.
For further information contact Fur Commission USA.
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