ThumperX
Well-known member
:hail
S.B. 249 OHV Division Reauthorization Legislation
- Thread starter Butch
- Start date
:hail
I just talked to Senator Beall's office. S.B. 249 goes next to the appropriations committee.
I think we need to do a better job of contacting our legislators. I have mentioned that all my representatives have told me that they keep score of constituents that contact them in favor of, or opposed to, a bill.
Beall's office just told me that they have had more folks tell them to support SB 249 than not. This is bad. There are more of us than Celeste and her pals, I think.
Please contact you assemblyperson and state Senator...
I think we need to do a better job of contacting our legislators. I have mentioned that all my representatives have told me that they keep score of constituents that contact them in favor of, or opposed to, a bill.
Beall's office just told me that they have had more folks tell them to support SB 249 than not. This is bad. There are more of us than Celeste and her pals, I think.
Please contact you assemblyperson and state Senator...
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ThumperX
Well-known member
!!!!!!!
It's so easy to just complain!!!
I've started carrying my letters on the trail to get people to sign with their address. I then look up the right people to send them to. I think I'll start sending them to the Governor as well.
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.
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.
I just spoke with Julianne with Allen's (the bill's author) Sacramento Office (916) 651-4026 http://sd26.senate.ca.gov
the bill is with the Assembly Appropriations Committee and there will be another hearing for public comment.
I had Julianne note my opposition to the bill as written.
the bill is with the Assembly Appropriations Committee and there will be another hearing for public comment.
I had Julianne note my opposition to the bill as written.
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the latest on SB 249; Support as amended
I am going to contact all my legislators on Monday...
this is by Amy at CORVA:
Update on SB 249: you guys have all helped achieve what we previously thought might be impossible! Just a few short months ago, we never would have believed we could take out 90% of the objectionable components of SB 249, and rewrite the bill using current law as the basis moving forward. From that point on, with a coalition and working with the OHMVR Division itself, we looked for improvements to environmental reporting and monitoring of SVRA's, which will help defend our parks from frivolous lawsuits in the future. SB 249 now calls for removing the sunset, giving us a permanent program and grants program protected by statute!
Because of your calls and communications to your legislators, and justified anger at the original language in SB 249, we were able to convince the author and his sponsors to work collaboratively with us to craft an OHV bill. There is little left in the current SB 249 that was originally contained in the bill, although there are some compromises that won't hurt the program but the author and his sponsors wanted. We've evaluated every word in these bills to make sure there is no hidden language that could hurt our parks, our access or our grant funding to the best of our ability. It's been a lot of hard work by a united OHV community that brought us to this point.
Now we need you to support both SB 249 and SB 159, the associated bill that renews the greensticker registration program. Call your legislators, and please ask them to support the current versions of these bills with amendments because the author worked collaboratively with OHV representatives to craft a bill the OHV community supports
edit: legislator linky is in the first post
I am going to contact all my legislators on Monday...
this is by Amy at CORVA:
Update on SB 249: you guys have all helped achieve what we previously thought might be impossible! Just a few short months ago, we never would have believed we could take out 90% of the objectionable components of SB 249, and rewrite the bill using current law as the basis moving forward. From that point on, with a coalition and working with the OHMVR Division itself, we looked for improvements to environmental reporting and monitoring of SVRA's, which will help defend our parks from frivolous lawsuits in the future. SB 249 now calls for removing the sunset, giving us a permanent program and grants program protected by statute!
Because of your calls and communications to your legislators, and justified anger at the original language in SB 249, we were able to convince the author and his sponsors to work collaboratively with us to craft an OHV bill. There is little left in the current SB 249 that was originally contained in the bill, although there are some compromises that won't hurt the program but the author and his sponsors wanted. We've evaluated every word in these bills to make sure there is no hidden language that could hurt our parks, our access or our grant funding to the best of our ability. It's been a lot of hard work by a united OHV community that brought us to this point.
Now we need you to support both SB 249 and SB 159, the associated bill that renews the greensticker registration program. Call your legislators, and please ask them to support the current versions of these bills with amendments because the author worked collaboratively with OHV representatives to craft a bill the OHV community supports
edit: legislator linky is in the first post
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ort
Bruce's post from SBR:
On Sept. 1, the state assembly committee voted to pass the latest revision of SB 249, the program that controls out OHV program. There have been major changes to the bill since it was first introduced and most of the changes have made the bill easier to swallow. One major change is the elimination of a sunset date for the program.
To read the latest revision: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB249
Ride on
Brewster
CORVA
https://www.southbayriders.com/forums/threads/157537/
On Sept. 1, the state assembly committee voted to pass the latest revision of SB 249, the program that controls out OHV program. There have been major changes to the bill since it was first introduced and most of the changes have made the bill easier to swallow. One major change is the elimination of a sunset date for the program.
To read the latest revision: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB249
Ride on
Brewster
CORVA
https://www.southbayriders.com/forums/threads/157537/
Yes, Celeste Garamendi is behind this, and the four (4) lawsuits challenging the adoption of the new General Plan (which includes the expansion area which they call Tesla) at the Carnegie SVRA.
Eric B
Know-it-none
I checked the Friends of Tesla Park FB page. Post dated early September - they no longer support the bill, after the modifications/rewrites. :laughing
We should all post on the page, cheering this bill. "A win for OHV & the environment!" :laughing