Update: An earlier version of this story said the West Hollywood City Council might consider modifying its ban on the sale of fur apparel to make clear that such apparel cannot also be displayed for sale. Mayor John D’Amico, in an interview with WEHOville, said this afternoon that the existing ordinance also bans such displays for sale. This story has been updated to reflect that.
West Hollywood, whose City Council in 2011 passed a law banning the sale of clothing made of fur, also contends that law bans the display of fur apparel for sale.
The sale ban, which took effect in September of last year, prompted a federal lawsuit by Mayfair House, a specialty clothing and accessory retailer, which sought to have the ban declared unconstitutional. That suit was dismissed by a federal judge, and Mayfair House has taken the matter to Los Angeles Superior Court, arguing that the ban violates the state constitution.
Meanwhile, Mayfair House received a citation from the city for sale of a fur product. Apparel News, an industry trade publication, reported that the citation was overturned because the city’s code-compliance officer did not actually see the sale of the fur product.
Apparel News quotes Michelle Rex, deputy to Mayor John D’Amico, the force behind the fur ban, as saying he will seek to have the law amended to make it clear that the display of fur apparel for sale also is illegal. However, D’Amico told WEHOville today that it is clear that the fur ban law also applies to the display of fur apparel for sale.
The city ordinance defines fur apparel products as “any article of wearing apparel made in whole or in part of fur…” and defines fur as “any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto…” It does not apply to the sale of fur blankets or the sale of used fur items by individuals or second-hand stores.
The fur product that Mayfair House offered was uggs, a sheepskin boot that originated in Australia. Uggs are made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside and a tanned outer surface. Animal rights activists have condemned uggs, arguing that their manufacture requires the otherwise unwarranted death of sheep. But others point out that uggs actually are a by-product of processing sheep for human consumption, much like the leather that is a by-product of the harvesting of cattle for beef. The city’s ban, the first in the nation, does not apply to leather clothing or non-apparel products made of fur.
Liz Solomon of Mayfair House argued that focusing the ban on apparel with fur and not other items was hypocritical. “Mayfair House is prohibited from selling Ugg slippers, but others, within the very same West Hollywood Design District, continue to be able to sell fur throws, fur rugs and fur accessories,” she said in a statement. Solomon told WEHOville that a ban on the display of fur apparel by retailers would appear to be a violation of the First Amendment.
Four citations within a year for violating the fur ban leave the store open to a charge of a misdemeanor.
Bazoo, speaking at the September 29th WeHo City Council meeting sounds like a good idea! Emilija thanks for the tips on HTML use in posts now aren’t you happy that I told you about this? Last thing Bazoo, is it OK to say you invited us to speak in the event objects are being hurled at us? 😉
Absolutely Cy. Feel free to let them know I suggested you attend and speak about the Giant Aleutian Canada goose 🙂 The geese are counting on you!
To Bazoo, it’s not like I’m known for passing up an opportunity to speak on political issues! I did so at the Neighborhood Council for the 32nd District when I was an undergraduate at Cal State LA and, went on to becoming a Board member. Now there is a position for an ASI member from Cal State LA on the Neighborhood Council. Now that I’m living and working in West Hollywood, I plan on involving myself in the politics. I got a Political Science Degree for a purpose! Lynn SERIOUSLY these are legitimate issues! When my friends and I were… Read more »
There is a proposed ordinance making its way before city council to BAN THE USE OF COMMON SENSE. Since it has become such a highly endangered quality and before it is deemed extinct, WeHo has once again taken the lead to spotlight a potentially earth shattering issue. On the following week’s agenda it is very likely that the council will approve forming a focus group prior to hiring consultants to consider “IF AND WHEN THE SKY MIGHT FALL”. Chicken Little and his partner Turkey Boy have brought this startling issue to the city’s attention. They are seriously invested in the… Read more »
Hey Bazoo I think you are missing the point! It was conservation efforts that enabled the Geese population to rebound. It would be stupid to do the same thing again that caused them to become endangered.
So does that mean you are supportive of the ban on goose down pillows? Will you be speaking at the meeting?
Great information Cy. You should come to the meeting to let people know that geese are no longer a concern and the down pillow ban is no longer unnecessary. It sounds like the Canadian geese population is very healthy. I doubt that pillows are being made from the Hawaiian Nene Goose since they are too difficult to find.
The Canada Goose is can now be removed from the “endangered” species list and listed as a species of “least concern” by the International Union of Conservation for Nature, or the IUCN Red List. This because of the recognition of the drastic decline in the populations of the Canada Geese and serious action taken via the Environmental Protection Act to protect them, their nesting grounds, and migrations routes. The Canada Geese were seriously over hunted without any real regard for their population throughout the 1800s and early 1900s causing major declines in the overall populations that had serious potential for… Read more »
I’m looking forward to the September 29th city council meeting where they are discussing banning down pillows. We need to protect the wild geese before they become endangered.
But why does the ban only apply to clothing and not to the the many many home furnishings (likely thousands of square feet of fur per year) sold throughout the city via all the decorators, furniture stores, interior design firms and more. There is more fur sold this way than is sold on clothing. WEHOVILLE, can you please ask???
nir, you are mistaken….all those amazing people who built this wonderful city
are not moving….they are current members of the city council.
Ban sharkskin suits and alligator shoes. Innocent animals
Would Wehoville consider sponsoring a personal interaction between Mayor D’Amico and Charles Cohen on this very subject? Are the PDC tenants inoculated against the the constraints of the Fur Free Law?
The city’s crosswalks continue to be DEADLY and extremely dangerous yet Dumico is focused on this ludicrous fur ban? How come he’s ignoring everything else that’s wrong in this city but still on the stupid fur ban? And how come NONE of the interior decorators, designers and furniture stores located in the PDC and throughout the city which sell truly crazy amounts of fur products by comparison are exempt from this ban? Does it have anything to do with the vast amounts of influence ($$$) PDC owner Charles Cohen wields with the do-nothing council? DUH. If the PDC tenants could… Read more »
Mayor D’Amico made his deal with the devil in disguise. Is his aptitude relevant to Fur Free and Go Go Dancers on a par with serious community issues? He let everyone believe that he was a practicing architect when in reality he is a project manager w architectural degrees. His absence of leadership on Planning Commission brought us many inferior projects. Leadership comes from clear definitive thinking and collaboration with knowledgeable minds not cheerleading for lame causes.