FJ Cruisers of Northern California

ATTENTION ATTENTION CAL SVRA PARKS UNDER ATTACK !!!!!!!

We must ACT NOW to save the OHV program!

The Issue: On Friday, February 18^th, the Assembly Budget Committee voted to take $27 million out of the OHV operating budget. This would NOT be a loan, and would continue unstopped year after year. It would result in closures and cut-backs to the California OHV Parks – Carnegie, Clay Pit, Heber Dunes, Hollister Hills, Hungry Valley, Mammoth Bar, Oceano Dunes, Ocotillo Wells and Prairie City. The Snow Grooming program and State Sno-Parks will also be greatly affected or closed. In addition, the Governor is proposing to take $21 million more from the OHV program. This could be the end of the OHV program as we have enjoyed it for the last 40 years.

This Wednesday, February 23^rd, the Conference Committee will meet in the State Capitol to iron out difference between the State Assembly and Senate Budget Committees. We have to influence the following Conference Committee members through our elected legislative representatives: Senator Leno, Vice Chair; Senator Lowenthal, Senator Negrete McLeod , Senator Huff, and Senator Emmerson, and Assemblyman Blumenfield.

What can you do: ACT NOW! and contact your legislative members ASAP. Find your representatives here, and use the speaking points below, or add some of your own: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators...

è The budget proposes only an $11 million cut for 270 State Parks, yet a cut of $27 million is proposed from the OHV division which has only 8 State OHV Parks. This represents less than a 10% cut to State Park operations, but over a 40% reduction to the operating budget of the OHV parks. The OHV Division is a user funded program, taking NO money from the General Fund.

è The State OHV Parks are all about children, offering them opportunities to recreate outdoors. The OHV parks encourage families to go camping, and offer urban residents the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. The OHV parks enjoyed a 150% increase in attendance over the last 10 years, which State Parks cannot equal.

è The Law says the OHV division of State Parks should have equal priority among the other State Parks. Budget impacts should be equally shared....yet the State OHV Parks have had $112 million dollars taken over the last 3 years. Now the Assembly proposes to gut the program, favoring less popular State Parks. This is certainly discriminatory, and counter to the law. The OHV community has given more than it's fair share of the OHV Trust Fund. These are dedicated user fees.

è The OHV community has taken legal action for two other attempts of this kind...and the State has lost! We sued you and won $21.5 million. We are willing and able to do this again, and the State will lose even more money before all this is over. We will pursue all legal remedies to stop this action, and stop the discrimination against the State OHV Program and affiliated activities.

GET INVOLVED RIGHT NOW OR DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY PLACE TO WHEEL ANYMORE!!!!!

This is not a joke, nor is it an over dramatization, This is real, this is happening right now.

Get Involved !!!

Also pass the word around the web, repost this on all forums to get max participation!

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on February 22, 2011 at 9:13pm

Everyone who read this need to send a letter to the representatives RIGHT NOW !!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by DivnGirl on February 22, 2011 at 10:15pm

Re-posted on NorCal 80's Group.

Letter sent.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on February 23, 2011 at 5:50am

Thanks..

The most important thing we can do is get the word out to as many people as quick;y we can!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Markie Sharkie on February 22, 2011 at 10:35pm

Definitely will send a letter.

Absolutely ridiculous.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bozly on February 23, 2011 at 7:58am

Letters sent.

Reposted on Socal.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on February 23, 2011 at 9:09am

Thanks.. I this spreads very quickly around the web and that many people can get the word out and letters written..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sonof40 on February 23, 2011 at 9:39am

I applaud the effort and will do the same.

But. Let's face it. $27 large is a drop in the bucket to what this state is in for and I can imagine that our efforts are wasted. We can thank a liberal run state for badly mismanaging our money.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on February 23, 2011 at 3:10pm

Yes I agree, but we still must make our presents known to all elected politicians the we (the 4x4 community) vote.

Also, that we want and use our parks.. It is a long road ahead but we all need to get involved right now show mass numbers..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by manoweb on February 23, 2011 at 2:39pm

So, as a non-citizen, apparently I cannot do much - but I would like to understand the issue. Those 27 millions you mention, what are used for? To subsidize the maintenance of the OHV parks?

What I have fear of is that places like Death Valley and Mojave, once open to all sorts of activities, now thanks to "government money" have been developed with nice paved roads BUT at the same time offroad trails are being closed, fires are not permitted outside for-pay campsites tailored for large RVs, no hunting or shooting possible, etc...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on February 23, 2011 at 3:24pm

Its almost like we are turning more and more the europe with more and more things that we are not allowed to do. hehehe

Basically( very, very basically) the OHV program has Trust or some other large plot of money that is invested and used to fund just the OHV system. Since OHV also charge for their use, this Large sum of money has been left alone (mostly) and able to earn interest while being tapped into for large projects or purchases. Since the state is in such a mess financially, they have a new plan for the large sum of money. They want to take $27 million from the sum of money that is invested. Then the Governor Brown wants to take another $21 million, which as I understand it would wipe out the entire lump sum of money all together..

Of course with less money in the system there will be closures statewide, maybe even Hollister...

The state is in such a financial downturn, they are willing to kill a well run and excellent system like OHV...

Basically robbing Peter to pay Paul....