Rein came up, and we did an ice cream social giveaway before the meeting. Lots of folks from all sides had smiles on their faces as I yelled out, “Non political ice cream. Non controversial free ice cream. Chill out before the hearing!”  Even Roger Short, the ‘angry old man’ farmer of the anti SMP and CAO crowd got a free ice cream, and had a smile on his face. I will use this idea again.

About 100? people testified. It was standing room only in the courthouse. Rein and I testified. I spoke almost last, and focused people on the Puget Sound Partnership’s report on the State of the Sound, to counter the idea that the Sound and Straits are in great shape. Told them to read the collected science before making assumptions that all is well. Then I mentioned that the local Prosecuting Attorney had published a report on commonly asked questions which was on the back table, saying that people should read the report for answers to many of the questions that had come up. Lastly, I told folks that we had lots of shoreline homeowners and workers on the committees (a common refrain against the SMP), and actually named Peter Downey, Tom Giske, Karen Best (the real estate agent) and Gerry Gorsline as folks who had represented different POV on the shoreline and actually owned property there. This quieted them down. As to me, I stated that I represented the thousands of members of P4PS who care deeply about protecting the shoreline of the Sound and Straits, enough to actually take action to help restore it.

Thanks again to Rein!

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