California State Fair - Board meeting, Friday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.

[Guest guest]

Monday, May 16, 2005

 

F.Y.I. -

 

The Board of the California State Fair meets this Friday, May 20, at

12:30 p.m., at CalExpo, Sacramento. (See their website for details, at

www.calexpo.com - the agenda is listed under " Public Meetings, " about 10

lines down in the left-hand column.)

 

There's a Public Forum early-on in the meeting, should anyone wish to

speak about animal issues at the fair (rodeo, elephant rides, exotic

animal acts, petting zoos, horse racing, animal " birthing " exhibits,

etc.) There'll be NO elephant rides this year, but it's already rumored

that they'll be back next year. We need to keep the pressure on.

 

I'll be out of state May 18-27, so will miss this meeting. Here's

hoping some of you can go to express your concerns.

 

The Fair's 27-member " Animal Welfare Advisory Committee " (AWAC) met last

week, and the results were considerably less than we had hoped for.

Nobody is taking our many concerns seriously, apparently. Reportedly,

the Committee will make recommendations to the full board for a final

decision. To date, no one knows what those recommendations are. Curt

Ransom (HSUS/Sacramento) is the sole member of this committee

representing the animal welfare community. He could offer further

insights (916/344-1710).

 

Adding insult to injury, CEO Norbert Bartosik appointed PRCA lobbyist

Bob Fox to this committee at the same time he appointed Curt Ransom, of

HSUS. Fox has opposed EVERY rodeo reform bill ever introduced in the

State Capitol. He's also tight with Cotton Rosser (Flying U Rodeo), who

also sits on this committee. Now it seems that the Fox truly IS

watching the henhouse....Four of the members of the AWAC contract animal

acts with the State Fair (rodeo, elephant rides, exotic bird and

mammals), yet they're some of the very same people voting on the changes

we're asking for! Twenty-one of the AWAC members are State Fair staff,

including the CEO and several assistant managers. The mind boggles....

Conflict of interest, anyone?

 

Express your concerns to your state legislators, too. All can be

reached c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

 

PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

 

Please e-mail/call me with a report, if you do attend this meeting.

 

Thank you.

 

Eric Mills, coordinator

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

tel. 510/652-5603