from Diana at CORVA:
Every one of us has both a State Senator and an Assembly member. Ask them to oppose SB249…ask, tell, demand and plead. Make sure they know where you stand and that you are a constituent. I promise they are keeping track, and those in support are registering their preference. Each of our representatives accept email from their constituents. The time commitment is very small. The impact is critical.
The Story:
What we know:
California has a nationally recognized OHV program.
The program is self funded, which means unlike regular State Parks, the SVRA’s get no money from the general fund. We pay for them, AND we also fund all other state parks through our taxes.
Our program is due to sunset in December this year.
Moving its way through the legislature is SB249. This bill was introduced by Senator Allen, who was recruited to carry the bill by anti OHV advocates. That is the simple statement. What I need every one of you to understand is 11 of the 21 groups that signed onto support of the initial bill, originated with the anti Carnegie expansion people. Eleven out of twenty one!!!!!! To me this says those who oppose OHV at Carnegie, are attempting to influence state law!
Over the last few months your advocates, including CORVA, have gotten some of the most detrimental aspects of the bill removed, but it still will hurt our program as it is today. As taxpayers, we anticipate we won’t allocate resources to fix what isn’t broken, like our OHV program. Instead, it would make sense to tweak the program as it stands to “fix” what either doesn’t work as it should, and change what doesn’t match current state programs. Over the last three years, there have been several changes to the State Parks department and programs. Of course, the OHV Division should be configured to integrate these changes.
BUT the fact is, we have a program that works! USFS, the BLM, statewide law enforcement, associations that educate, clean up, or restore all get grant dollars from the program that they have come to depend on. The nine SVRA’s operation and expansion budgets come from the program. The DMV gets dollars to issue OHV registrations. Rural counties and the California HIghway Patrol also have some budget inflow from the OHV program.
Yet a few people who have been able to convince some very powerful and connected people that OHV in California is all BAD, are positioned to compromise our program. As I look at this, I am fascinated that this is happening despite how the program benefits all but the few city dwellers who never leave their urban environment. Every single unpaved road in the state of California is “off highway” and all get some maintenance funding from the program. Every single trail, that offers access to hunting, fishing, rock hounding, geocaching, or even just scenic vistas, gets some help from the program.
AND lets look at the reverse psychology. It has taken us over 20 years to grow a program that offers incentives to OHV users to enjoy their recreation, safely, in appropriate venues and sustainably. Twenty plus years of effort, in jepaordy because a few NIMBY citizens don’t want OHV anywhere near where they live, or play, or might one day want to go. At the same time UTV’s and dirt bikes are being sold at an all time high. Where do they think these people will operate them? I invite you to accept that they simply don’t care.
AND before any of us go off on liberals, democrats or environmentalists, I promise you there are plenty of those three who enjoy OHV. Some of them are our biggest advocates.
I have written before about Carnegie, the expansion and what we MUST do to protect what we love. I have also explained why, where Carnegie is located today and where the expansion will happen, are the best possible options for OHV in the Bay Area. I am happy to get any of you information on these topics if you need it.
Now the issue is bigger, much bigger. The very same adversaries are attempting to control OHV in CA for the years to come. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS. Be heard.
Pass this on.