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

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


Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
tel. 510/652-5603