Battle rages at City Hall over proposed rodeo ban

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Rodeos are causing a circus at City Hall.On Tuesday, rodeo lovers and animal welfare advocates descended on downtown Los Angeles to argue for and against a draft ordinance that would ban the hooved spectacles within the city.

The thing is — the ordinance wasn’t even on the agenda.In 2023, the city council voted unanimously to support the drafting of a ban by the city attorney.But Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, the chair of the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee — which oversees rodeos — has yet to introduce the ordinance.

The proposed rule, which was drafted in 2024, will expire at the end of the month if not brought to the City Council for a vote.Climate & Environment The Los Angeles City Council has approved an amendment meant to assuage concerns that a rodeo ban would unfairly block equestrian events of cultural significance.“Because this item was introduced before Councilmember Jurado took office, our office has taken a thorough and deliberate approach to reviewing the proposal and meeting with community stakeholders to fully understand its history, cultural context, and potential impacts,” said Alejandra Alarcon, a spokeswoman for Jurado.

“We do not have a confirmed meeting date for this item at this time.”The law defines rodeos as spectator events that include bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, or any other event or activity that involves physically taking down an animal, roping an animal, or attempting to ride a bucking animal.The ordinance included language that excludes equestrian events, as well as American Indian, Native American, Indigenous Rodeo, Mexican Charreria and Escaramuza events that don’t involve the activities cited in the law.For example, trick roping performed by horse riders that don’t actually lasso animals or choreographed riding to music are not inclu...