Welcome to September!
September is the month that reminds us that if there are still any remaining tasks on our yearly “to do” list, it’s time to get cracking. photo: AdobeStock
And before you know it … it’s September! The month of sapphires, forget-me-nots, and morning glories. It’s also the month that reminds us that if there are still any remaining tasks on our yearly “to do” list, it’s time to get cracking. But not to worry - we still have at least three more months to complete them.
On a more topical note, September marks the sixth in-person meeting of the Animal Commission since returning to City Hall after three years of pandemic-prompted remote meetings. It will also be the third meeting with our new commissioners, who collectively bring impressive interest, compassion, and intelligence to our public body. All are extremely articulate, and even though they may be relatively new to the commission, they have all settled in comfortably. As someone who still feels awkward at public meetings myself, which in turn makes me feel inarticulate when I talk, it’s inspiring for me to watch and learn from them.
But even though I may feel uncomfortable at times, I know I can never let that stop me from continuing to do all I can to help animals. In the words of the French novelist Emile Zola, “The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous.” Now on to the update.
At our August meeting, the commission began a discussion about the live animal markets operating in the city and what we can do to help address the various issues related to them. We heard an excellent presentation by Animal Outlook, whose investigative work about the markets was informative and heartbreaking. Presenting were Jareb Gleckel, the organization’s staff attorney, and Scott David, its director of investigations. Following the meeting, the commission received additional information from Animal Outlook, which will help us as we discuss possible next steps. The commission looks forward to continuing our work with Animal Outlook on this very important issue. https://animaloutlook.org
In the months ahead, commissioners will further continue our work on proposed legislation regarding inhumane glue traps, which we hope will eventually lead to their ban in the city. We also hope to hear from the organization RATS (Raptors Are The Solution), which will present humane alternatives to the rat and rodent poisons that are regularly used throughout the Bay Area.
In addition, we look forward to discussions on topics our new commissioners would like to address. With backgrounds that include working with birds and smaller animals, animal activism, marketing and social media, navigating the city structure, and a strong passion to help animals, the new commissioners bring a wealth of experience to our discussions. With their help, I feel sure wonderful things are going to happen.
As always, the commission looks forward to the community sharing its thoughts. Whether it’s via in-person public comment, remote public comment, or by email message, we want to hear from you. Comments may be emailed to the commission at michaelangelo.torres@sfdph.org or feel free to join us in-person or remotely at our next meeting.
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The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in San Francisco City Hall, Room 408. Information about remote access to meetings is available on the commission’s website. Agendas for upcoming meetings are published 72 hours prior to that meeting.
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Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed in this column are those of Commissioner Torres and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare.