Carnegie / Tesla Expansion: Meeting in Pleasanton next Tuesday 11/12

[Butch]

Please look at today's 11/9 post "5"...

they bought the land next door to the SVRA with our Green Stickie funds years ago, and it has been a continual struggle because some assholes who are more politically active than we are have been making a stink.

We can stop them and have a much bigger park I we all make some noise, and let our assembly persons know we care about this, we vote and we have lots of friends.

This is hot off the press for June 10:

Carnegie Forever
Keep Carnegie SVRA open!
Tuesday 4, June 2013
Carnegie SVRA Expansion Under Attack

A brazen attempt to steal the Alameda/Tesla Expansion out from under our noses will take place on Monday June 10th at 6:00 PM at Tracy High School in Tracy, CA. The Off Highway Division of State Parks will present the status of the master plan to finally open this needed area of Carnegie after 15 years. Our enemies will be there in force! Will YOU?

JUNE 10 BE HERE: http://carnegiegeneralplan.com/announcements/13

LOCATION: https://plus.google.com/113339485096854000069/about?gl=us&hl=en


Like in the movie “Oceans 13” a subversive group of OHV haters have been working to steal our new park. Among other things:

They have been meeting for 7 years with the East Bay Regional Parks in Oakland, CA to get them to take over our property.
They were behind the lawsuit that ALMOST closed Carnegie.
They have been getting local papers/news organization on their side and against us.
They formed “Friends of Tesla Park” to collect $25K to fight us.
They solicited 7,000 emails from all over the US to Carnegie SVRA opposing the expansion.
They stole the name of our property (Alameda/Tesla Expansion Project) and renamed it “Tesla Park.

Here is a sample of the way YOU are treated in the press:

http://www.independentnews.com/news/article_45f76902-c954-11e2-a988-001a4bcf887a.html

When Carnegie almost closed in 2009 you rose up and joined our corps of defenders. We now have over 13,000 supporters at Carnegie Forever, Inc. We are a non-profit corporation and try to keep you informed. Like our Marines, we are rushing to the fight, not away from it.

Special note: Bring the youngsters to the meeting. We adults have had our Carnegie fun for years but now we have to give the next generation an education. They MUST see how their future is being subverted by selfish people who basically HATE us. Let their pure voices drown out those of the assembled Grinch’s.

See you in Tracy!

Carnegie Forever Board of Directors

PS: Donations really help.
Dave Duffin Carnegie Forever – 344 Westline Dr. Ste C113, Alameda, CA 94501

Kudos: Don Amador of BRC “sleuthed out” the East Bay Parks connection with local ranchers Connolly/Garamendi to have the new property taken from us.

http://carnegieforever.org/

 

[bent_pipe]

Here is a sample of the way YOU are treated in the press:

http://www.independentnews.com/news/article_45f76902-c954-11e2-a988-001a4bcf887a.html



http://carnegieforever.org/

I can’t make it to the meeting on Monday but I did take the time to write an e-mail to the independent regarding this misleading article that is trying to get OHV haters to show up at the meeting intended to discuss how the park should expand not if the park should expand.

I hope a lot of us show up and represent!:superhawk

~ Tom

 

[OldFatGuy]

Here is a sample of the way YOU are treated in the press:

http://www.independentnews.com/news/article_45f76902-c954-11e2-a988-001a4bcf887a.html

Nope, no bias there. Not a bit. :rolleyes

About the only part of the whole article that isn't completely full of shit is this paragraph:

Both sides of the dispute believe they are in the right. The off-roaders point out that their taxes and fees have not only paid for their activities but also supported a trust fund for land acquisition by the Parks Department’s Off Highway Division. They say they have outgrown Carnegie and should be able to expand into the Tesla property that the Division bought some 15 years ago for that purpose.

 

[Stiffler]

Greetings from Sacramento! I wish I could be there at the meeting but I just submitted an offer on a house and I need to be available tonight. Good luck out there! Will donate some monies when I can.

 

[Butch]

Meeting in Pleasanton next Tuesday:

CALIFORNIA - CARNEGIE/TESLA ACTION ALERT

WHAT - Attend Carnegie SVRA/Tesla Public Meeting

WHEN - Tuesday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE - Pleasanton at the Amador High School on 1155 Santa Rita Road

As many Bay Area off-roaders already know, the California OHV Division will be hosting an open house to present the preferred concept at a series of work stations. This is an update on the General Plan process and the preferred concept. The preferred concept was developed based on detailed resource and constraints information, and on stakeholder comments received on the three concept alternatives presented in June/July 2013.

Normally these types of public meetings are low key affairs attended by users of the park. However, the Carnegie SVRA/Tesla/East Bay Regional Park District fight has become a regional battle between hard-core anti-OHV groups and those of us who support responsible OHV use on land purchased with OHV Trust Fund monies back in the 1990s.

The Sierra Club upped the ante on November 6 when they issued an alert to their Bay Area supporters to come and overrun the meeting. Just as the OHV community responded with massive turnouts during the East Bay Park public meetings last year, BRC is asking you to do the same on November 12.

Here is a link to the July 12, 2013 Park District Vote to Ban OHV Use at Tesla
http://www.sharetrails.org/news/201...ard-votes-block-motorized-recreation-ohv-park

Here is link to the OHV Division's Response to the Park District Vote
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Tesla_letter_from_Parks_Dept_08.21.13.pdf

Take the bikes out of your vans and load them up with your buddies. I will see you there.

 

[OldFatGuy]

There's a pretty good chance I can make it to this one.

 

[Butch]

bump.
What these people are doing is blatently illegal, but if we make no noise, they will get away with it.

 

[deekortiz3]

Bump

I'll be there. :thumbup

 

[deekortiz3]

The man behind Save Tesla Park really got on my (and most people's) nerves tonight. I started writing a bit of an op-ed/rant about his involvement with Save Tesla Park. It is rough but here you go...

What is the real goal behind Save Tesla Park

If you are from the Tri-Valley you have no doubt heard of what is being called Tesla Pak. Tesla Park is 3,400 acres located in Livermore that is adjacent to the Carnegie SVRA. The Tesla Park property was purchased in 1998 by the state of California using OHV funds and has been meant to become a part of Carnegie SVRA. Currently, a general plan is in the process of being approved for the planned expansion into Tesla Park. The general plan is meant to show sensitive areas of Tesla Park that will not be used for OHV recreation and also to seek public feedback on how the land can best be utilized to not only serve as an OHV park but to preserve and promote the history of the land and its unique natural resources.

While we have seen many off-road enthusiasts provide feedback and support for the expansion into Tesla Park, there has also been opposition to this expansion. The most vocal opposition group has been “Save Tesla Park” or “Friends of Tesla Park” depending upon which vernacular they choose to use. Save Tesla Park is an organization that claims to be seeking protection for the biologically unique and culturally significant landscape. The organization has not been constructive in coming up with any solutions that support OHV use in any way in any part of the Tesla Park property. Considering that the property was purchased with OHV funds you would think that they would at least be able to compromise in some way but that is not the case.

You may wonder who is leading the charge for Save Tesla Park. Save Tesla Park is an organization started by Mark Connolly. Connelly is an attorney based in Tracy. He is also the owner of 9,000 acres of land directly below the Carnegie SVRA. Some may have heard of a case that was brought upon in 2009 that was aimed to permanently close Carnegie based on ground water contamination. This frivolous lawsuit was brought upon by Connelly. Tesla Park is not the first time Connelly has become a thorn in OHV user’s sides.

Let’s talk a bit about exactly what Connelly does on his several acres of land adjacent to Carnegie. It might be a bit shocking to discover that a man who would claims to be a conservation and environmentalist runs a service to provide folks with the opportunity to hunt Tule Elk. In case you are wondering a 4 Day Tule Elk hunt experience will run you $11,000. This area also houses Connolly farms a 330 head cow/calf operation. Connelly is very quick to tell the OHV what to do with its land but he has no desire to open up any of his land to public use.

In the latest run in OHV supporters had with Connelly he referred to users of Carnegie as “tattooed morons” and when asked if he would support any OHV use on the Tesla property even if all environmental regulations were met he said “No.” I feel the need to point this out because many supporters of Save Tesla Park at meetings I attended seemed to be comfortable with the spaces laid out in the general plan being left untouched and preserved while other parts of the land are used for OHV. I want the so-called “Friends Of Tesla Park” to know that the leader behind the organization is not promoting a compromise and is simply not willing to accept anything less than Tesla Park being completely untouched. Most folks I meet seemed to be reasonable and want to come to a solution that works for both parties. That is not the prerogative of Save Tesla Park. I hope that folks can work together to help create a great park for OHV use that will be utilized by families for years to come while also providing information about the land and preserving its beautiful landscape.

 

[OldFatGuy]

I have one little nitpick with your story. The property is not, and has never been, "Tesla Park". This is a name made up by the Save Tesla Park group to make it seem as though we want to use their pristine park for off-roading, when the truth is that they want to take our OHV land and turn it into a park. Subtle, yet important, difference.

They cannot "Save Tesla Park" because "Tesla Park" never existed in the first place. And I agree that some members of that group seemed perfectly reasonable.

 

[deekortiz3]

I have one little nitpick with your story. The property is not, and has never been, "Tesla Park". This is a name made up by the Save Tesla Park group to make it seem as though we want to use their pristine park for off-roading, when the truth is that they want to take our OHV land and turn it into a park. Subtle, yet important, difference.

They cannot "Save Tesla Park" because "Tesla Park" never existed in the first place. And I agree that some members of that group seemed perfectly reasonable.

I agree I was trying to figure out what exactly to use in place of the Tesla Park name but left it for now since this is just a draft. Need to go back clarify some points, expand on others and cite some references. I am looking to make it somewhat geared toward folks who currently are on the other side to really understand who they are supporting and the true nature of the group which is simply a man protecting his bottom line on an adjacent property. I'd more than welcome some of their ideas for what to do with the land where we know that OHV use is not possible.

 

[Butch]

The man behind Save Tesla Park really got on my (and most people's) nerves tonight. I started writing a bit of an op-ed/rant about his involvement with Save Tesla Park. It is rough but here you go...

What is the real goal behind Save Tesla Park

If you are from the Tri-Valley you have no doubt heard of what is being called Tesla Pak. Tesla Park is 3,400 acres located in Livermore that is adjacent to the Carnegie SVRA. The Tesla Park property was purchased in 1998 by the state of California using OHV funds and has been meant to become a part of Carnegie SVRA. Currently, a general plan is in the process of being approved for the planned expansion into Tesla Park. The general plan is meant to show sensitive areas of Tesla Park that will not be used for OHV recreation and also to seek public feedback on how the land can best be utilized to not only serve as an OHV park but to preserve and promote the history of the land and its unique natural resources.

While we have seen many off-road enthusiasts provide feedback and support for the expansion into Tesla Park, there has also been opposition to this expansion. The most vocal opposition group has been “Save Tesla Park” or “Friends of Tesla Park” depending upon which vernacular they choose to use. Save Tesla Park is an organization that claims to be seeking protection for the biologically unique and culturally significant landscape. The organization has not been constructive in coming up with any solutions that support OHV use in any way in any part of the Tesla Park property. Considering that the property was purchased with OHV funds you would think that they would at least be able to compromise in some way but that is not the case.

You may wonder who is leading the charge for Save Tesla Park. Save Tesla Park is an organization started by Mark Connolly. Connelly is an attorney based in Tracy. He is also the owner of 9,000 acres of land directly below the Carnegie SVRA. Some may have heard of a case that was brought upon in 2009 that was aimed to permanently close Carnegie based on ground water contamination. This frivolous lawsuit was brought upon by Connelly. Tesla Park is not the first time Connelly has become a thorn in OHV user’s sides.

Let’s talk a bit about exactly what Connelly does on his several acres of land adjacent to Carnegie. It might be a bit shocking to discover that a man who would claims to be a conservation and environmentalist runs a service to provide folks with the opportunity to hunt Tule Elk. In case you are wondering a 4 Day Tule Elk hunt experience will run you $11,000. This area also houses Connolly farms a 330 head cow/calf operation. Connelly is very quick to tell the OHV what to do with its land but he has no desire to open up any of his land to public use.

In the latest run in OHV supporters had with Connelly he referred to users of Carnegie as “tattooed morons” and when asked if he would support any OHV use on the Tesla property even if all environmental regulations were met he said “No.” I feel the need to point this out because many supporters of Save Tesla Park at meetings I attended seemed to be comfortable with the spaces laid out in the general plan being left untouched and preserved while other parts of the land are used for OHV. I want the so-called “Friends Of Tesla Park” to know that the leader behind the organization is not promoting a compromise and is simply not willing to accept anything less than Tesla Park being completely untouched. Most folks I meet seemed to be reasonable and want to come to a solution that works for both parties. That is not the prerogative of Save Tesla Park. I hope that folks can work together to help create a great park for OHV use that will be utilized by families for years to come while also providing information about the land and preserving its beautiful landscape.

Nice write up, thank you.
Can I steal parts of it? I want to send something to my state senator and assembly person, and heck, the gov...

 

[deekortiz3]

Nice write up, thank you.
Can I steal parts of it? I want to send something to my state senator and assembly person, and heck, the gov...

Thanks! Sure grab what ever you want. Feel free to make any edits or change any wording you deem necessary as well.

 

[Lunch Box]

Good stuff. I may use some of this in my letters, as well. Good input from OFG, too. That's an important item to call-out, for sure.