League of Humane Voters of New Jersey
Jersey City Ordinance to Ban Wild Animal Performances on Public and Private Land Passes First Reading

Jersey City took another step tonight to advance the ban on wild animal circuses on both public and private lands! The town council approved the introduction of the ordinance and will take a final vote on September 14. Six voted yes, two voted no, and one abstained. See actual votes below.

If you live in Jersey City, please take the action below. For everyone else, if you know someone who lives in Jersey City, please forward this alert to them. 

On August 15, by the invitation of Mayor Fulop, who supports the ban, LOHV-NJ regional district director Laurie Perla delivered a powerful presentation about circus cruelty at the Jersey City caucus session. Laurie did a fabulous job and addressed all council questions.

This amazing development in Jersey City comes after LOHV-NJ worked with Mayor Fulop's staff for many months. It also comes on the heels of the Bergen County ban enacted on July 26. See video of Freeholder praising LOHV-NJ regional district director Julie O'Connor for that effort here.

ACTION: 

1. Please email Mayor Steven Fulop at FulopS@jcnj.org to thank him for his support of wild animals and support of this important measure.

2. Email each council person to ask them to vote yes for the second reading of the ordinance on September 14. See sample letter and council contact information below. If they vote no, ask them to reconsider and vote yes this time.

Sample email text:

Dear Councilperson, I am writing to ask you to vote YES on the second reading of ordinance amending Chapter 90 (Animals) to prohibit performances of exotic animals within Jersey City. 

The city is no place for wild animals. They are a danger to the public. Also, the animals are forced to perform through cruel training methods such as whips and food deprivation. They travel throughout the year without ever knowing what their natural environment feels like. Let Jersey City follow the lead of other communities and not support this cruelty. 

Sincerely, name, address

Jersey City council members (see tonight's vote in first column): 

YES - Council President Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr.: RLavarro@jcnj.org  
NO - Councilwoman at Large Joyce Watterman: jwatterman@jcnj.org 
YES - Councilman at Large Daniel Rivera: DRivera@jcnj.org 
ABSTAINED - Councilman Frank Gajewski: FGajewski@jcnj.org 
YES - Councilman John Hallanan: JHallanan@jcnj.org 
NO - Councilman Rich Boggiano: RBoggiano@jcnj.org 
YES - Councilman Michael Yun: MYun@jcnj.org 
YES -Councilwoman Candice Osborne: COsborne@jcnj.org 
YES - Councilwoman Diane Coleman: dcoleman@jcnj.org 

Please support LOHV-NJ's ongoing work to help animals by donating today:
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