HomeMy WebLinkAboutPaula Sardinas FMSGS Letter D-194 Opposition 04202022FMS Global Strategies, LLC.
PO Box 2941
Renton, WA 98059
O: (971) 266-1218
E: info@fmsglobalstrategies.com
“We bring people together”
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Danielle Marshall
Email: dmarshall@rentonwa.gov
Phone: 425-430-7272
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Re: D-194- Retail Pet Sales Proposed Ordinance
To the Honorable Members of the Renton Planning Commission:
Over the past seven-months, we have advocated openly and honestly before the planning
commission. The goal has always been to provide facts about legal pet adoptions and retail pet
sales. Our policy argument has been based on four facts:
• The recently enacted RCW statutes on pet shop sales which, as a matter of Constitutional
law, are supreme and occupy the field.
• HB/1424 grandfathers in the Renton store and we believe this ordinance may constitute
torturous interference and a violation of the law.
• Puppyland is not a Puppy Mill, and the Renton Planning Commission lacks the jurisdiction
to “serendipitously” make such an assumption, with most members having never even
visited the Renton store.
• Outwardly it appears the Renton Planning Commission is not acting in “good faith” and has
instead elected to act as an arm of a “left-wing” fringe group, engaged to write policy that
does not best serve the constituency. (City Attorney’s Comments at the last meeting)
As you consider this issue, we’d like to address something that was brought our attention:
Emails and Decorum:
We respect the Planning Commission, City Council, and the mayor. As advocates, customers, and
owners, those we work with do not engage in threats. We unequivocally denounce such
reprehensible behavior. As Justice Ginsburg exemplified, you will make more of an impact on the
world if you can learn to "disagree without being disagreeable."
FMS Global Strategies, LLC.
PO Box 2941
Renton, WA 98059
O: (971) 266-1218
E: info@fmsglobalstrategies.com
“We bring people together”
As public records will show—the conduct of the opposing side can only be classified as
repressible and at times inflammatory. Their falsehoods go unchallenged and unchecked by the
planning commission.
Lobbyists:
So much is being made about the fact that we are lobbyists. To be clear, I’m one of less than five
PDC registered black lobbyist in the state of Washington. All sides of this issue have engaged the
service of professional lobbyists and advocates. Our registrations are a matter of public records
under the RCW. Our side is happy to disclose this, we ask Bailing out Benji do the same (rather
than ambushing us in public meetings). Here is more information about the causes we advocate
for, many benefit small businesses and communities of color. Below is a summary of the work:
• Washington Senate hearing on insurance credit scoring bill shows no easy solution
• https://www.fmsglobalstrategies.com/wbba
• Demonstration shows how state’s transportation system can go electric
• Paula Sardinas’ Effort to Help BIPOC Communities
• Environmental Justice: Washington Leading on Climate Action
• Statewide Renter Protections are on the Way
• New Washington law will help people of color get into the marijuana industry
We are very proud to be SMEs in 22 distinct policy areas. Much like elected and appointed officials,
we recognized a need for more diversity in public policy. Our goal is to educate, advocate, and
allow the facts not emotions to dictate our policy positions. We are proud to support small
businesses and workers’ rights.
Our clients:
The owners of Puppyland/Puppyworld do not now; nor have the ever supported the inhumane
or unethical treatment of animals. We have actively participated in the regulatory process.
Our clients have:
1. Invited and offered lawmakers and commissioners a site tour of their store to assuage
concerns.
2. Availed themselves to all questions and comments from the media, commissioners, local
city councils, Mayors, and the other elected officials. (They are more thorough than most
businesses).
3. Provided an answer to all Commissioners questions concerning JAKS.
4. Understand retail sales contracts fall under the purview of the Washington State DFI.
5. Provided written testimony in opposition to this bill and other ordinances.
6. Connected with constituents and citizens in each community they serve.
FMS Global Strategies, LLC.
PO Box 2941
Renton, WA 98059
O: (971) 266-1218
E: info@fmsglobalstrategies.com
“We bring people together”
7. Conducted community resource drives to help those in need.
8. Supported veterans suffering from PSTD with acquiring trained service animals for an
average cost of $15,000 (to the owners of Puppyland).
9. Help both able-bodied and those with exceptional needs, find their furry friends.
10. Provided vet notes for the allegations made by a pet owner in an earlier hearing.
11. Offered compliance above what is mandated by the USDA.
12. Attested to having a direct, personal relationship with their breeders and a strenuous
vetting process.
13. Offered to extend their guarantees—and to pay vet bills and offer a new “furry friend”
when a case is well documented; and the loss of a Puppyland pet is due to no fault of the
owner.
14. Offered information regarding the FAQ’s, contracts, and care of their “furry friends”.
15. Puppyland has had their stores vandalized and been subject to hate mail. It’s a matter of
public record and was provided in conjunction with the testimony on HB/1424.
16. Our clients do not pay their staff to testify. They testify voluntarily.
What the other side is NOT saying:
So much of the argument is emotional and personal attacks. Let’s get back to the facts: It’s very
hard to adopt a puppy, and some groups have a more difficult time than others. By limiting and
banning the sales, you unjustly impact members of the diverse community. Never has the
opposition disputed these facts.
• UF: What we’re reading about diversity and equity in animal welfare
• Time to Rescue the Rescue Dog Industry? - The Regulatory ...
• New York Times: Everyone Wants a Rescue Dog—Not Everyone Can Have One.
• The Cut: Why Adopting a Rescue Dog Is So Hard Right Now
• NBC News: How to Ace Your Pet Rescue Application (really?)
• Issaquah, WA: Class- and Race-based Biases as Barriers to Pet Adoption
FMS Global Strategies, LLC.
PO Box 2941
Renton, WA 98059
O: (971) 266-1218
E: info@fmsglobalstrategies.com
“We bring people together”
Progressive Leasing will pay $175 million to settle FTC charges that it misled consumers
Consumer Protection Cases: If consumer protection were the issue here, there are far more
egregious instances of retail leasing concerns in your community. Progressive leasing has been
fined millions for charging over 100% interest rates at retailers like Big Lots (Renton), Lowes
(Renton), Best Buy (Tukwila), and other retailers in your community on various appliances, and
electronics, computers, and home goods. Yet, you have done nothing to reign in these outrageous
costs. Consumer surveys indicate your constituents purchased more appliances, electronics, and
home goods than puppies.
Progressive leasing offers a Rent-to-own program at more than 30,000 stores by such brands as
Best Buy, Lowe’s, Big Lots, and Kay Jewelers in many states like Washington. “In a complaint filed
Monday, the regulator said Progressive Leasing led consumers to believe they would not be
charged a premium for financing purchases with the program. The complaint says, many
consumers ended up paying more than double the ticket price for furniture, appliances, jewelry,
and other purchases. The complaint alleges that Progressive Leasing continued to “employ the
same practices to lure consumers despite tens of thousands of customer complaints.”
Because we are tasked with reviewing all policies through the lens of equity, it was important for
our team to share these facts.
Suggestions:
• Grandfather in all existing stores; and those who sought a license or permit prior to the
adoption of the new rules.
• New rules and bans should apply to animal rescue groups, adoption agencies, and “new”
pet retail stores. If the ordinances are right for one industry, we want the ethical treatment
of all animals.
• State laws are typically constitution; we would question whether asking another state to
comply with Washington’s RCW is constitutional (which is limited to complying with federal
law, i.e., USDA).
In closing, as a former citizen of Renton (we now live in Issaquah), we love Renton, the City Council,
Planning Commission, and the mayor. It was where we chose to have our home when we relocated
to Washington state. Our kids graduated from Liberty High School. Unlike those who are emailing
and advocating from Seattle, Olympia, Kent, and other cities, we lived and paid taxes in this
beautiful city.
FMS Global Strategies, LLC.
PO Box 2941
Renton, WA 98059
O: (971) 266-1218
E: info@fmsglobalstrategies.com
“We bring people together”
We thank you for your consideration as a Planning Council and very much look forward to
continuing to work with all of you. What we would caution is this, elected officials should not give
in to bullying tactics, spam emails, or fringe groups attempting to write ordinances.
We believe that the passage of this ordinance will in fact make the sale of puppies much less safe
and your constituents will be informed that your actions culminated in that degradation.
Our final recommendation is a – DO NOT PASS and that Puppyland seek litigation against the
Renton Planning Commission and each Commissioner, should they pass this ordinance.
In respect and community,
Paula F. Sardinas, April 20, 2022, | paulasardinas@fmsglobalstrategies.com
Cellphone| 206-823-9344
___________________
President & CEO FMS Global Strategies