On October 29th the fair West Hollywood City Council will send the message loud and clear that they celebrate Go-Go, but fashion is a no-no. Yes, that’s right, the city’s fur jockstrap-wearing go-go boys will get a day to be adored and adulated all at the expense of West Hollywood residents. While we applaud the efforts of John D’Amico and the other council members to celebrate sexual diversity and support the numerous bars, restaurants and clubs that inundate the 1.9 square miles that make up the district, we can’t help but wonder why this same support can’t be extended to the fashion community.

Perhaps the answer could reside in the tremendous amount of money that animal rights organizations gather and the cult-like “volunteer” man power they have historically thrown behind “like minded” politicians or candidates that are willing to take up their platform and enact laws on their dime behalf—so desperate to win at any cost. Enter Mr. D’Amico and his campaign statement,

“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.”

In the face of vocal opposition from the major business groups in town including the Chamber of Commerce, the Avenues of Art & Design and the Marketing and Visitor’s Bureau, a member of City Council stated that West Hollywood businesses were just greedy! CAN YOU IMAGINE? And, they have even risked violations to the The Brown Act, which guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in the business of the city, to ramrod this ordinance through. (Meaning, this is the “anti-secret meeting law” making it illegal to have closed door meetings to arrive at a predetermined “collective agreement” before the public is given their say.)

Even in opposition to their own self proclaimed primary and strategic goals for 2011to:

• Support legislation that strengthens and expands ongoing revenue for the City.
• Oppose any legislation or initiative that would undermine voter-approved initiatives to guarantee ongoing revenue sources for local government.

West Hollywood City Council still remains united (perhaps) and steadfast in their quest to make the sale of fur apparel illegal.

Backing up the speculation of local animal rights funding as a potential force in this movement, the non-profit watchdog organization The Center for Consumer Freedom, which promotes personal responsibility and protects consumer choices, has found some questionable practices with larger animal rights groups.

“The Humane Society of the United States would like Americans to believe it provides significant monetary support to local hands-on shelters, but their financial records tell an inconvenient truth. As local shelters struggle to keep their doors open, HSUS is raising millions of dollars a month from unwitting donors to bankroll an animal rights agenda and fund a huge staff of lawyers and lobbyists, a bloated executive pension plan, and exorbitant fundraising expenses. Meanwhile, HSUS doesn’t run a single shelter for the abandoned dogs and cats that are so plentiful in its ads.”

So much for keeping them honest!  Things that make people go…Hmmm!

Humane Society

For more information on the West Hollywood fur ban, read The Fur Insider’s complete coverage:

West Hollywood R.I.P. | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9

Still want more? Try these articles:

• NBC Los Angeles.com | Angry Businesses Delay West Hollywood Fur Ban
• NYTimes.com | Ban Fur? Then Why Not Leather?
• LAWeekly.com | West Hollywood’s Fur Ban: Is it Unlawful?
• USAToday.com | West Hollywood votes to ban fur sales