(Editor’s note: This story was updated with more accurate information on Dec. 20 after WLJ spoke with Western Justice founder Dave Duquette.)
On Dec. 5, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in favor of sending Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s ordinance to ban rodeos in the city back to the drawing board.
Western Justice founder Dave Duquette called the decision a win for the rodeo community.
The day of the vote, 1,200 individuals showed up to the Los Angeles City Hall in support of rodeo, with 100 charros sitting astride horses. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who has advocated for deeper conversations regarding the ordinance, noted that this was likely the first time there were that many horses in front of the city hall since it was built, Duquette said.
Ordinance opponents criticized the lack of stakeholder input and the negative impacts a rodeo ban could bring on cultural events and communities of color.
The city attorney will now draft new ordinance language for the Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee to review before the measure goes before the council again. The language will likely be drafted by the end of January.
Duquette noted that while it is now far less likely that such an ordinance will pass in the city, Western Justice and other groups will still stay engaged and “fight the good fight.”
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has championed the ordinance effort for years, beginning with banning certain devices like prods from rodeo and escalating to an outright rodeo ban.
View the October 2023 rodeo ban amendment here. To keep up to date with information regarding the city ordinance and Western Justice’s involvement, visit www.westernjustice.info/laordinanceupdate.
