At the P-22 Celebration of Life event last weekend, there were a lot of big announcements — including an upcoming P-22 library card from the Los Angeles Public Library, new legislation that requires CALTRANS to plan for wildlife crossings in all future projects, large donations to the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, and the establishment of the Wildlife Crossing Fund to help fund and build wildlife crossings throughout the entire country.
When Rep. Adam Schiff took the stage, though, he announced a proposal that got a very big reaction from the crowd — a push to memorialize P-22 on a U.S. Postage Stamp.
Schiff, along with Representatives Julia Brownley and Ted Lieu, wrote a letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee recommending the deceased Mountain Lion of Griffith Park as the subject for a stamp. They would like an image depicting P-22 in front of the Hollywood Sign, in honor of both the only documented mountain lion to live inside L.A.’s largest park and the Hollywood Sign’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
Rep. Adam Schiff speaks at the P-22 Celebration of Life at Griffith Park’s Greek Theatre
They wrote:
P-22 was many things: our favorite celebrity neighbor, the occasional troublemaker and a beloved mascot for our city. His exploits were followed not just by ordinary community members, but he had a devoted following online, and his comings and goings were even tracked by the local news. But most of all, he was a magnificent and wild creature, who reminded us all that we are part of a natural world so much greater than ourselves. Even in Los Angeles.
How to Help the Effort to get P-22 on a Stamp
Anyone can nominate a stamp to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, but Schiff said receiving additional requests from members of the public would help push the efforts forward.
You can help by submitting your own proposal for P-22 by writing to the committee via U.S. Mail. Mail is the ONLY way they accept proposals!
Consider the criteria for stamp subjects (Schiff noted one of the criteria is “positive contributions to American life, history, culture and environment,” which sounds pretty good for P-22!). Be sure to include any dates and historical info, then mail your suggestion to
Stamp Development
Attn: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501
You can see the entire process on the CSAC website.
Header image of P-22 by Miguel Ordeñana
Tags: mountain lion, p22, postage stamp
