Re “Downtown needs winter events like rodeo” (Jan. 15): The opinion that off-season events like rodeos help keep downtown restaurants open focuses narrowly on revenue and misses the larger issue: Rodeos profit from extreme animal suffering.
Rodeos cause real harm — internal injuries, broken bones, punctured lungs and even death are well-documented outcomes for animals forced to participate. Ignoring this suffering in favor of financial arguments is deeply concerning.
San Diego is widely recognized as a caring, animal-friendly community. Many of us believe that financial gain cannot justify cruelty or ethical compromise.
Local businesses can — and do — benefit from a wide variety of humane events including concerts, professional wrestling and motorsports, without turning a blind eye to animal suffering. Compassion and economic vitality are not mutually exclusive.
— Cece Smith, San Diego
I agree that Petco Park should book events year-round to help bolster downtown businesses. However, keeping businesses profitable is not justification to embrace the cruelty and abuse of animals at the rodeo. There are a myriad of other events that Petco Park can book during off-season that don’t entail killing and/or maiming innocent animals.
— Frank V. Puglia, El Cajon