Posted 4/16/2015 7:23:40 AM by Mort Gamble
News from editor viewed 981 times
Thursday, April 16, 2015 - News
Communications to City's Board of Supervisors needed!
On April 14, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors heard
the first reading of an ordinance (No. 150919) to ban any performances
with wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement. The
ordinance will now get scheduled for a second (final) reading and vote, which
may happen as soon as their next meeting on April 21. The
ordinance would only need favorable votes from six out of the eleven Board
members for passage, and would become effective 30 days after enactment.
If passed, this ordinance would ban the use of wild and
exotic animals in any performance within the City of San Francisco Educational
activities and accredited zoo, sanctuary, and museum activities would be
exempted. The ordinance defines “exotic animals” as any non-domesticated
animal, including (but not limited to) elephants, zebras, camels, primates,
large cats, bears, and large reptiles. “Performance” is defined as “any public
showing, presentation, display, exposition, fair, act, circus, ride, trade
show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, photographic opportunity,
exhibition, or similar undertaking in which animals are required to perform
tricks, fight, or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment,
amusement, or benefit of an audience.”
For your reference, attached is the most current language
for Ordinance No. 150919 and the staff report to the Board of
Supervisors. This information (including attachments) is also available
on the CFA/OABA grassroots website at www.grassroots.circusfan.org.
Please take a moment to contact the members of the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors and express your opposition to Ordinance No.
150919 with a short e-mail, phone call, fax, or letter, and encourage your
friends and family to do the same – especially those who live in the San
Francisco area or who have been to any sort of animal exhibit in the
city. Contact information for the Board members is listed below.
Sample talking points for your correspondence are also included at the end of
this alert, but please use your own words and your own experiences as a
supporter of exotic animal displays/performances to politely express your
opposition to this ordinance.
Thank you!
San Francisco
Board of Supervisors
General email for all Board members: Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org
Website with agenda and meeting information: http://www.sfbos.org/
Mailing Address:
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 244
San Francisco, Ca. 94102-4689
Roster of members (11 total):
John Avalos
(415) 554-6975 - Voice
(415) 554-6979 - Fax
John.Avalos@sfgov.org
London Breed
(415) 554-7630 - Voice
(415) 554-7634 - Fax
London.Breed@sfgov.org
David Campos
(415) 554-5144 - voice
(415) 554-6255 - fax
David.Campos@sfgov.org
Julie Christensen 2015
(415) 554-7450 - Voice
(415) 554-7454
Julie.Christensen@sfgov.org
Malia Cohen
(415)
554-7670 - Voice
(415)
554-7674 - Fax
Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org
Mark Farrell
(415) 554-7752 - Voice
(415) 554-7843 - Fax
Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org
Jane Kim
(415) 554-7970 - Voice
(415) 554-7974 - Fax
Jane.Kim@sfgov.org
Eric Mar
(415) 554-7410 - Voice
(415) 554-7415 - Fax
Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org
Katy Tang
(415) 554-7460 - Voice
(415) 554-7432 - Fax
Katy.Tang@sfgov.org
Scott Wiener
(415) 554-6968 - Voice
(415) 554-6909 - Fax
Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org
Norman Yee
(415) 554-6516 - Voice
(415) 554-6546 - Fax
Norman.Yee@sfgov.org
Sample Talking
Points
The following are suggestions for your correspondence in San
Francisco, but please use your own words, and you do not need to include every
bullet point. Please keep all correspondence respectful.
Politely tell the Board of Supervisors that you
are OPPOSED to Ordinance No. 150919, and any measure that would prevent
circuses and other exotic animal exhibitors from visiting San Francisco. Circus animals and other performing animals are
well cared for and generally are healthier and live longer than their
counterparts in zoos. True animal experts know that a safe and secure
environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training and
handling any animal, including exotic and performing animals. If any animal is being mistreated in any
environment, then the right answer is to enforce existing laws and regulations
to punish bad actors, as opposed to punishing an entire industry and the public
who enjoy exotic animal displays. Proponents of performing animal bans
mischaracterize or misunderstand the facts about the training and handling of
performing animals. Most of the organizations that advocate such bans do so as
part of a larger, animal rights agenda which opposes all or most human
interaction with animals.
Thank you!
|
