Tarzana Panelist Ousted From Animal Regulation Board

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

The council voted 13 to 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 that 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 they acknowledged that Cook had some “rough edges,” they argued that he has been a strong advocate for reform in the Animal Regulation Department.

“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 in front of 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 believed 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, however, missed and hit Afriat in the arm.

Barrett, who is married to Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), said afterward that the clash was the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes battles with Cook.

But Cook supporters argued that he was being ousted because he was not as politically connected as Barrett and others.

“His only fault is that he asked questions,” said Bell.