As for our West Hollywood citation claiming the Tiger Video Truck violated West Hollywood’s ban on mobile billboards, things are getting more and more interesting. At the beginning of last week our lawyer Shannon Keith was told that the fine for our citation was going to be dropped, and that SHARK was going to be given a warning (for a violation we didn’t commit).

This was still unacceptable to us, as we intend to drive the Tiger where we wish to exercise our First Amendment right to, in this case, expose the little Duff as a supporter of animal abuse. However, a city administrator suggested that perhaps we could meet with the city to see if something could be worked out. I felt that this was a good plan. Once the city’s decision makers actually saw the truck, they would realize that it didn’t fall under the provisions of the city’s ban on mobile billboards.

This responsible approach was abruptly curtailed when another West Hollywood official decided that the fine would not be dropped. This decision was made even though we have been told by people in the know that those who actually violate the ban on mobile billboards in West Hollywood are given a warning the first time around. How interesting – but there’s more!

At about the same time that we were being told that the citation against the Tiger would remain, we were also being told that a Freedom of Information Request that we had submitted for all the evidence in this case was NOT going to be turned over in the period of time required by law. We were told that “other departments” would have to be consulted by the city. What department might that be, the Department of Duff Minions?

The city of West Hollywood is supposed to be animal friendly, but so far it isn’t shaping up that way. So now we are going to make the battle it has picked with us a very public one.

Frankly, I think Hilary Duff is an utterly lost cause. We’ve done what we can do with her – we’ve exposed her, including two national tabloid publications. The Tiger Truck will visit Ms. Duff’s stomping grounds again in the LA area in a couple weeks, but then we have other entities that we want to start focusing on. Ms. Duff will still get exposure via our HilaryDuffIsCruel.com web site, which, it appears, is going to be around for a very, very long time to come.

I hope people in the market for cruelty-free products will buy them from someone who doesn’t perform for animal abusing morons or in bullring torture houses. In five years I suspect you might say “Hilary Duff” and people will say, “Who?”

The city of West Hollywood, on the other hand, will still be there. City administrators may therefore care about the future image of their town. They may also want to avoid federal court.

I am asking that you contact the West Hollywood’s mayor and very politely, very cordially ask him to deal with this issue in a responsible way.

Our video truck does not violate a ban on billboard advertising vehicles because it does not have billboards, and it is not advertising. If the mayor wants to deal with the real issue here, it would be to find out if perhaps there was some inappropriate behavior on the part of a city employee possibly accepting favors from someone who just might have connections to an uncaring, marginally- talented pop singer from Texas.

Please contact Mayor John Heilman at:

Mayor’s Office
City of West Hollywood
8300 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone number: 323-848-6400
Email: http://www.weho.org/contacts/index.cfm/id/5/lk/1/

We have some extraordinary issues looming ahead of us. First, here is where we are going with rodeos.

SHARK’s web site exposing Coca-Cola’s involvement in rodeos is going to get a facelift, including adding other forms of cruelty the company supports. This includes the Iditarod dog sled race that Coke supports that results in the deaths of dogs every year. In fact, we invite activists who are aware of other abuses supported by Coca-Cola to contact us so that we can hold the company accountable on each and every animal abuse issue.

But there is much more. The United States Army is giving millions of YOUR tax dollars to the Rodeo Mafia annually. We think this is something that the American taxpayer should know about, so SHARK is going to become the messenger. The American taxpayer should know that the same Army that claims it can’t afford to give American soldiers enough body armor on the battlefield is willing to make rodeo thugs rich.

As I have previously stated, SHARK is going to stay involved in the bullfighting issue. First, we are going to expose “Manolete,” a movie now in production that will glorify bullfighting. The movie stars involved are Adrian Brody and Penelope Cruz, both of whom I am told are “friendly” to animal issues. Two more Hilary Duffs, I say. Brody and Cruz are going to get the Duff treatment, perhaps a few times over. There will be much more about this trash movie from SHARK in the very near future.

Also, the Catholic Church has long been involved in bullfighting. Even though some past popes have condemned this torture slaughter, and threatened to excommunicate those involved, the Bullfighting Mafia has been able to use its power to corrupt the church. While the Catholic Church is an enormously large entity – easily the largest SHARK has ever dealt with – there may be some reason for hope. Karen Dawn, founder of DawnWatch, says this may be the most humane-minded pope in a very long time. Given the overwhelming video files SHARK has of bullfighting, perhaps the time is ripe for monumental change in the Church.

This would put immense pressure on bullfighting countries. SHARK has already proven that it can cut off corporate sponsors like Pepsi Cola and Coca- Cola. If the Catholic Church were to also abandon this pitiless bloodsport, bullfighting will face being relegated to the history books.

We have a plan to begin building Church support at the grassroots level in the US, and then hopefully branching out to Europe and the rest of the world. It is time for bullfighting to be put to the sword. This will be a great and monumental battle, and so we should begin the fight as soon as possible.

A Catholic ceremony in the bullring just prior to the beginning of the bullfight.

As if all this weren’t enough, we will soon have another major announcement on the rodeo front. One thing is for certain; there will be little rest for the SHARK team in the foreseeable future. For now I hope you will write to the mayor of West Hollywood. We cannot walk away from this fight. The Tiger will return to West Hollywood for many issues, including the Manolete movie before too long. Losing the battle with West Hollywood is not an option.

Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and your SHARK Team