Denver November 2004 Election
The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff is urging voters to reject Initiative 100 [July 25, 2004, "Don't outlaw the circus in Denver"]. From the editorial, "Some Denverites would ban circuses in the city through an initiative on the Aug. 10 primary ballot. But what if they succeeded? There's a full circle of suburban jurisdictions that would love to host circuses and enjoy the $8 million they are said to generate annually in Denver. Neither the circus nor its fans would miss a beat or a year. But we don't need to rely on the 'if you don't, they will' argument to urge a 'no' vote on Initiative 100. If there were no other cities for 200 miles, it would still be unnecessary - even foolish - to evict circuses from Denver. The proposal, as written, doesn't ban circuses per se, just the traditional heart of them: 'the display of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment and amusement.' Whether intended or not, by the way, the initiative apparently would prohibit petting zoos, animal nurseries and even seafood restaurants with exotic fish tanks. But certain other animal events are specifically exempted from the ban, such as the Denver Zoo, Ocean Journey and the National Western Stock Show. That's clearly a political concession, not a matter of principle, since people who hate circuses tend to be hostile to rodeos, zoos and the like. There's no reason to try to ban circuses anywhere. Circuses visiting Denver have never been charged with the abuse, neglect or mistreatment of animals. They're regulated under local, state and federal laws, and regularly visited by inspectors. Veterinarians travel with the circus and local vets are on call. Circuses also respond to public opinion, which now recoils from some of the stranger animal feats of yore - such as muzzled bears in tutus riding unicycles. Most such acts already have been rightly banished from circus precincts."
6:41:50 AM 
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