West Hollywood's Ban on Fur Delayed to 'Make Sure It's Airtight'

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West Hollywood fur fanatics, you've been granted an extension to purchase your pilose products. WeHo City Council delayed final approval of the proposed ordinance to ban the sale of fur apparel, which was tentatively approved on September 20, on Monday night.

The ban will be tabled for 20 days. "If we're going to adopt the issue, we want to make sure it's airtight," said Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Prang, according to L.A. Now. Prang noted that council members have been meeting with City Attorney Michael Jenkins to iron out the details of wording and effects, adding that council members want to be certain that the measure will stand up in court if challenged. Additionally, officials will meet with business owners about the proposed ordinance to give "a chance for everyone to come to the table," said Councilman John D'Amico, who sponsored the ban.

The ordinance, as currently written, would ban the sale of apparel made in whole or part from the pelt or skin of an animal with hair, wool or fur.

An extensive debate during a WeHo City Council meeting on September 19 and September 20 ended in a five-person unanimous vote to uphold the ban. The WeHo Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Avenues: Art, Fashion and Design District oppose the ban on fur, citing concerns from merchants apprehensive of the ban's effect on business.

A date for the ban's implementation plus penalty for selling fur items will be included in the next ordinance reading.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on October 4, 2011 2:20 PM

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Irish Clothing

With virtual fashion shows too, the internet has proven once again how it is an indispensable part of our lives. Just imagine, a fashion designer can showcase his/her entire collection by just uploading pictures of his/her creations on websites giving this provision, and can send the link to all the people he/she knows in the fashion industry to comment as well as spread it further to their connections.

westlafadeaway

Can someone explain why having fur on the skin makes it worse? I assume it's more an issue of the type of animal but last I checked mink weren't endangered so what's the deal here? Obviously I realize there is always a high end market for more rare furs but the distinction here isn't type of animal it's fur on the skin that makes the difference.

Don't get me wrong, I'm part hippy but I like to understand things and this just doesn't make sense to me. You can sell 20,000 pairs of cow shoes but you can't sell 200 mink coats/hats? At least not without driving an entire 2 miles out of WeHo.

Shelley

These are the most tortured animals there are. They are skinned alive, anally and vaginally electrocuted, neck broken, drowned and trapped. Before this they linger in cold/hot wire cages and are not given food or water a week before slaughter because it saves money, won't affect the fur and the fur comes off easier. All for vanity. Please watch "The Skin Trade" and judge for yourself. http://youtu.be/uQHx8NQ2bKU

westlafadeaway

If you happen to check back here - would you say your description (and "The Skin Trade") is more the exception or the rule?

If a mink slaughterhouse was caught doing the things you describe would they be shut down?

I just ask because there's the worst of the worst in the beef industry too. Slaughterhouse workers torturing cows, killing them slowly and kicking their own blood in their faces.

I'll check out the full movie sometime but from the trailer I can tell it's going to get its point across by showing the worst of the worst.

And I gotta tell you any time I see Ingrid Newkirk taking a position I question it. Did you know only she is allowed to take animal-tested insulin because she thinks she's some savior but the rest of us can go to hell?