Family Adventures in Activism
A week of advocacy and family bonding as we roar for change at the San Francisco Zoo!
My Op-Ed about the proposed arrival of pandas at the San Francisco Zoo dropped in this mornings in The San Francisco Standard:
The broken and neglected San Francisco Zoo is no place for giant pandas
Here’s how it all went down…
Last Wednesday, my morning began with a jolt when I woke up to a text from my wife, away on a work trip. It was a link to the San Francisco Chronicle:
“A grizzly bear chase. A dead penguin. Behind the scenes, the S.F. Zoo is in turmoil over safety.”
A mix of anticipation and apprehension washed over me; the culmination of years of advocacy and concern had finally found its way to the front page.
For nearly two decades, I've worked to bring the truth about the San Francisco Zoo into the spotlight. In 2008, when a group of activists, myself included, successfully lobbied the city’s animal welfare commission to recommend transitioning the zoo into a rescue and rehabilitation facility, Mayor Gavin Newsom refused to take action.
In 2019, I initiated requests to obtain internal documents from the Zoo. When met with refusal, I embarked on a three-year journey. The task force in charge of upholding government transparency ruled in my favor, determining that the zoo management violated local and state public records laws and breached its contract with the city by withholding internal records from me.
Over the years, I have made endless calls to journalists hoping they’d take the mantle. Write a story, dig a little bit. A front page exposé was a relief, to say the least.
Thursday morning, I woke up to another text from my wife. Did you see the news?
“San Francisco Zoo to get coveted giant pandas from China in big win for city.”
As I read through the article, I was infuriated. The fire in my belly, ignited at age of 13 when I first launched "Citizens Lobbying for Animals in Zoo," had transformed into a blazing inferno.
I sprung into action, firing off emails to the most progressive wing of the Board of Supervisors. I pitched op-eds, crafting arguments to shed light on the situation. I inundated journalists and TV news assignment editors with emails brimming with informational links about captive pandas, aiming to spark their interest and prompt further investigation.
On Friday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with my 2-year-old daughter, Uma. I presented her with a choice: a visit to the Oakland Zoo, the Academy of Science, or City Hall to advocate for animals at the San Francisco Zoo.
Uma decided on City Hall, so off we went. Our first stop was at Supervisor Dean Preston’s office — he is both my district supervisor and one of the most progressive voices in San Francisco. As I walked in with Uma in my arms, we were warmly greeted by Jennifer, one of Dean’s legislative aides. To my surprise, she exclaimed, “Hello Bear Boy!”
Her familiarity caught me off guard. “I was just reading your email about the zoo and checking out your book,” she laughed “It’s so cool to have you just walk into the office here.” She assured me that she would prioritize putting the zoo on her team's agenda.
Uma was quick to fall asleep in my arms, but I proceeded with our tour of the open supervisors' offices, where aides' level of interest in my agenda varied. On the bus ride home, Uma stirred. "You fell asleep so quickly!" I chuckled.
"Papa, I didn't want to talk to those people, so I decided to take a nap," she said. I felt grateful that she had chosen City Hall for our morning adventure. Even though she dozed off, I loved an opportunity to show her, if only briefly, what civic engagement and activism mean to me.
That evening, Noah and I had a candid talk about the recent developments at the San Francisco Zoo. Given our regular discussions about our extra 20-mile trek to the Oakland Zoo, it felt like the perfect moment to share. With no reservations, I recounted the alarming incidents: a bear escaping, an orangutan enduring two years in cages infested with rats, and the heartbreaking loss of a baby penguin.
"I hate the San Francisco Zoo, I want to be a keeper there when I grow up!" he exclaimed, his words carrying a sense of contradiction to my adult brain. But with reflection, I sensed that he was trying to express his care for zoo animals.
On Saturday, I launched SF Zoo Watch and connected with more journalists.
On Sunday, as I researched and wrote my op-ed, a profound sense of gratitude and excitement washed over me.
The opportunity to advocate for meaningful change and continue my work for zoo animals with my family in tow filled me with immense appreciation. Alongside my wife, who is deeply committed to human rights and racial justice, we stand united in our mission to speak out for what we believe in and involve our children in our work. Together, we aim to cultivate a familial ethos of thoughtfulness, civic engagement, and activism.
Justin this is amazing. That picture of you and your little kicking butt on the civic front is absolutely charming/devestating - which is a bit like wanting to work at the zoo you hate.
I had no idea the zoo was so mismanaged. Thank you for the work you’re doing, and love to see you sharing it with your daughter.