West Hollywood approaches ban on fur clothing

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West Hollywood City Council got a standing ovation from more than 200 citizens at 1:15 a.m. today when it decided the city might ban the sale of fur. It would be the first city in the world to pass such a law - but there are still plenty of hair-raising questions.

Keith Kaplan, the executive director of the Fur Information Council of America, sides with city business leaders in opposing the move. He believes the ordinance is a half-measure which would only hurt the fashion industry.

"To me, cooperation and education is a much better way to go than forcing a ban on a product, forcing restrictions on business and restricting consumer freedoms," Kaplan said.

The measure is just too sweeping, Kaplan's organization contends, when around 90 of the city's clothing stores carry fur fashions. West Hollywood would be wiser to enact an alternative plan like a fur-free certification program that doesn't limit customers' options. They will submit an independently commissioned economic impact study to City Council this week.

But founder of Animal Alliance Ellen Lavinthal told Annenberg TV News that the city's vibrant fashion industry could benefit from a fur ban: "We're hoping that young designers will take a look at what happened in West Hollywood and ask themselves, what is it about fur? What is it about this industry that would make an entire city ban the sale of it?"

But the city hasn't banned the sale of fur, Kaplan argues - the ordinance doesn't touch leather, meat or even fur-adorned furniture. Just fashion.

"It mitigates the city's ability to make the claims that it initially set out to make of being fur-free, because they're not," Kaplan said. "Come out into West Hollywood and buy a fur pillow. In fact, buy a fur throw and cut armholes in it and wear it as a cape - but you can't buy a cape."

City Council will make changes to the ordinance at least once more before its second reading. It has not yet set dates for that hearing or for its final vote.