Here was my two (2) minute speech:  

My name is Christine Garcia-Kelly and I am the founder and president of Possums Welcome, a nonprofit whose mission statement includes the preservation of wildlife and open space, and protection and care of vulnerable species.

This proposed amendment before the Commission today - with lease renewals -will have a detrimental impact on wildlife, vulnerable species and water quality as it is written today.

I also have practiced animal law with The Animal Law Office for over 20 years and have drafted and passed legislation when I sat on the SF Animal Welfare Commission.  Decisions were never hard for me to make.  They were quite easy.  My vote was always on the side of animal protection and I had ample legal authority and evidence to support my vote.

Today, so do you.

Each member on this Commission has ample evidence and statutory authority to oppose the proposal from NPS.

On page 5 of your report, I read, “staff did not find evidence of a spillover effect onto coastal resources”…and…”staff believes the …measures proposed .. won't cause effects on coastal resources that conflict with the Coastal Act”

Your staff needs some assistance if they could not find evidence.

If you are seeking data and analysis of the negative impact on water into the coastal streams, you don’t need to go far.  Resource Renewal Institute corres page 5-to 14 of 98 articulates this science .  If you are looking for legal authority, go to the Turtle Island’s Restoration Project correspondence or talk to Jim Coda who has a wealth of information.

Reducing the zone by 2000 acres isn’t good enough.  And nowhere in any law from 1960’s or prior does it say that fences should be erected and elk should be prevented from sources of water on these lands.

Please exercise your duties under Coastal Act Section 30320(a), and do not sign off on a plan which ignores science, data on water quality and the laws regarding the protection of wildlife.

Every once in a while, Justice does prevail.  There are so many nuances to gaining "peace" after a violation of civil liberties or personal rights.  There is personal inner peace (emotional well being and re-centering of yourself) and then there is a peace from the Court system, which means that our public infrastructure supports (or doesn't support) what is right.  I would often tell my clients (after something horrible happened to them or their loved one) to take some time to heal themselves, because often healing emotionally does not coincide with litigation.  Litigation is hard to endure and is a very stressful experience.  It's filled with intrusive discovery and depositions and digging at your personal life.  And at the end, you may or may not win.  You have to hope you have the right Judge and the right Jury, etc.

Practicing animal law taught me that just because I am on the right side and just because I may have all the evidence on my side, it does not mean that justice will prevail.  Having all the right ingredients still does not mean that you will get the verdict that you deserve or are entitled to receive.

So when I heard the jury verdict yesterday, as I sat outside at St. Francis Fountain while eating the best restaurant vegan burger ever in the entire world (The Devil Burger), I was blown away!   Immediately after the verdict was released, I could hear the tap dancers dancing with joy on the sidewalk of the corner of 24th Street and York.  I heard the fire sirens going off in solidarity with the verdict.   I heard fire works.  I know it shouldn't be a treat and something special when something correct happens, but my eyes have seen a lot and when good prevails it is something notable.  This time, Justice prevailed!  It's so wonderful and so amazing when it works!

And the relief!  I was lighter.  I felt safer.  I felt like I was part of a country that shared my views.  I felt like the jury was actually a group of my peers.  And, most importantly, that the world was not as disparate as I had imagined it to be.  

This is a hopeful statement for the future.  Talk about a breath of fresh air.  It is no coincidence that my last post was about George last year.  What a dark period we were in one year ago.  Brighter days ahead!   

Just a side note, thank you to everybody who keeps their phone out and records when they see injustice or violations upon people, animals or the environment.  It's a reminder of just how important that the video evidence was in this case.  We all need to keep our phones charged with enough storage space to capture these moments.  Hopefully, we never have to use that space to film such an event in the future, but I am so grateful for the people who recorded and spoke out for George!

Again, I try not to let litigation impact my own inner-peace, but when something like this happens, it really has a profound impact!  Anyway folks, have an amazing rest of your week!