City Council Ousts Animal Regulation Commissioner

At the request of Mayor Richard Riordan, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to remove a controversial member of the city Animal Regulation Commission, despite appeals from several animal rights representatives.

The council voted 13-1 to remove Commissioner Russ Cook of Tarzana from the five-member panel and replace him with former Commissioner Camille “Mimi” Robbins.

The other four commission members had asked Riordan to remove Cook, saying he has been combative with staff members and has violated the panel’s confidentiality rules.

“He’s had a history of problems in the department in terms of dealing with issues of personnel,” Commission President Steven Afriat told the council before the vote.

But about 40 animal rights activists filled the council chambers to defend Cook. Although some said Cook had some “rough edges,” they argued that he has been a strong advocate for reform in the Department of Animal Regulation.

“I have yet to see a commissioner like this work so hard to reform this department,” said Michael Bell, president of Wildlife Protection League.

During earlier testimony before a council committee, Cook said he is “bewildered” by the charges that he has been combative. But he acknowledged being passionate about his commission post.

“I’m passionately devoted to the animals and if in my passion I become a little vociferous, so be it,” he said.

Councilman Nate Holden, who provided the only vote to retain Cook, said he thought the commission should try to work out its differences.

Cook’s removal comes only a few weeks after he and Commissioner Gini Barrett clashed during a public hearing that ended with Barrett yelling an obscenity at Cook and then tossing an empty water bottle at him. The bottle missed Cook and hit Afriat in the arm.