Dear Liz,
Please attend the California Coastal Commission meeting on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 8:00am to show your support for the La Jolla Seals. This is the long-delayed hearing that will finally decide the fate of the seasonal closure of Casa Beach during the five critical months of harbor seal pupping season (from December 15 to May 15 annually). It has taken nearly 4 ½ years of hard-fought battles to get to this point, but it will all have been worth it if the Seals can pull off a victory at the Coastal Commission.
If the Seals win on August 14, the sand of Casa Beach will be closed to people beginning December 15, 2014, and will remain closed through the end of the pupping season on May 15, 2015.
If the Seals lose on August 14, there will be no seasonal closure of Casa Beach, and it will be business as usual for the seal harassers, who will continue to mistreat the pregnant seals and newborn pups throughout the pupping season.
The Coastal Commission places great weight on public testimony. The enemies of the Seals know that this decision is do-or-die for their anti-seal agenda, and it is certain that they will show up in large numbers, as they always do. The seals desperately need all of you who support protection for the La Jolla Seals during their pupping season to come in person to the CCC meeting on August 14.
Every person who comes in person to the August 14 meeting will make a huge difference. The Seals need all of you!
Here are some important details about the 8/14/14 California Coastal Commission meeting:
ATTIRE: Wear business attire and arrive at 8:00am. Although everyone is hoping that it won't take all day, you should nevertheless plan to stay for the entire day.
SPEAKER SLIP: Regardless of whether or not you plan to speak at the meeting, each person should fill out a
speaker slip. Each speaker is going to be limited to either 1 or 2 minutes.
This is why it is critically important for people who support the seals, but don't want to speak publicly, to come to the Coastal Commission meeting in person - because you can cede your 1 or 2 minutes of time to another supporter who does want to speak, and needs more than the allotted 1 or 2 minutes for their presentation. You must indicate your request to cede time on the speaker slip that you fill out. If you cede time, you must be present in person at the meeting until the time when the person to whom you ceded your time actually speaks.
- Agenda Item Number: 13a
- Application/Appeal No.: 6-14-0691
- Date: August 14, 2014
- Name: Your Name
- Organization Represented: NONE
- Address: Your Address
- Check the box to the left of "In Favor of Project"
- Write "I will cede my time" on the line below the last check box
IF YOU SPEAK: Remember to state your name first before anything else. Remember to say in closing, "PLEASE APPROVE THE CITY'S PERMIT APPLICATION." Do not end your speech with "I am in favor of the seals."
DIRECTIONS: You can get door-to-door directions here (click on the word "Directions" in the middle of the map, and then enter your starting point in the white box to the right of the green letter "A")
SIGNS: We will be handing out
APPROVE WINTER BEACH CLOSURE signs. Please wave your sign to show support for seasonal beach closure. No clapping or booing, please.
WHERE TO SIT: Please sit in the center section as close to the front as possible. We will fill the seats from front to rear.
We hope to see all of you at the Catamaran Resort in person next Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 8:00am to show your support for seasonal protection for the harbor seals of Casa Beach. With your continued help and dedication, the Seals will finally get the peace they deserve during their pupping season!
Sincerely,
