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!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DivnGirl on March 27, 2011 at 6:07pm

I have no words. Ya just gotta read...

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20110327/NEWS/110329919/10...

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Permalink Reply by Bz on March 27, 2011 at 6:23pm

Wow re-posting on Facebork...

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Permalink Reply by 5AND5TORM on March 27, 2011 at 6:49pm

My reply from the Gov's office, 23-MAR 2011

Great, let the law suit begin and waste more Ca money.

Thank you for contacting Governor Brown’s office regarding funding for OHV parks.

Governor Brown’s Budget proposes a far-reaching realignment of government functions by restoring to local government authority to make decisions that are best made closer to the people, not in Sacramento. The governor’s plan also envisions reorganizing state government to make it more efficient and save scarce tax dollars by consolidating or eliminating functions. Since it will take some time to fully implement these changes, he plans to ask the voters for a five-year extension of several current taxes so that we can restructure in an orderly manner with minimal disruption.

If we make the tough decisions now and put our accounts in order, we will again make California the national leader in job creation as our nation slowly recovers from the current recession. We begin 2011, after the longest budget stalemate in the history of California, with a budget gap of more than $25 billion. Short-term measures and gimmicks adopted in recent years did not solve our problem and in fact made it worse. This Budget closes our short-term budget gap and also eliminates projected future deficits.

As California’s economy begins to recover — and recover it will — the governor’s restructuring plan will make California government more transparent, efficient and responsive to the people. This is a tough budget for tough times. The governor looks forward to working with you and taking decisive action without delay.

Once again, I thank you for sharing your views with Governor Brown on such an important topic.

Sincerely,
Office of Constituent Affairs

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Permalink Reply by Boss73 on March 27, 2011 at 7:56pm

Blah Blah Blah ... hehehe

Honestly 160 million has been taken and not a dime has ever been paid back. I simply cannot understand why they can keep taking money away from a well managed find... Oh I guess that would be the reason right there..

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Permalink Reply by MoreFJland on May 22, 2012 at 12:56pm

The state wants to take MORE money from the OHV program!

OHV Trust Fund Threatened Again!

Can you afford to lose $21 Million?
If not then please read on and take Two Minutes to make three phone calls

Senators Simitian and Evans want to take $21 million of your OHV Trust Funds to prop up State Parks. The real person behind this problem in the first place is State Parks Director Ruth Coleman!

They are doing this in order to bail out the State Park budget due to Director Coleman's failed leadership. These are the Green Sticker fees and gas taxes that you pay specifically for the OHV Trust Fund.

If we loose that money it could eliminate trail maintenance crews. WIthout maintenance there could be trail closures, as well as increased environmental impacts.

Even if you do not enjoy OHV recreation many of the trails you use probably have benefited from OHV Trust Fund, so all people who enjoy trail recreation or care about public lands stand to lose if they steal the OHV Trust Fund.

If your OHV trust Fund money is taken then all the state OHV grant funding for areas like CC Camp, Cow Mountain, Stonyford, Georgetown, Hollister, Foresthill, Shasta-Chappie, Metcalf, pretty much all BLM and Forest Service OHV areas, will be eliminated.

Two Minutes to STOP Your Green Sticker Funds from being STOLEN!!

Please call or email the Director and her bosses the Secretary and the Governor and tell them:

"Don't Take Our OHV Trust Funds". Ruth Coleman hasn't exhibited the leadership necessary to save State Parks from closures, she needs to step down and let someone better take over. Instead of taking funds from our OHV Trust Fund, State Parks needs to look at their issues and solve their own problems without hurting the OHV program.

The OHV Trust Fund is a program that works and needs to remain intact.

1. Call State Parks Director Ruth Coleman at: 916-653-8380
Email Ruth Coleman at: ruth@parks.ca.gov

2. Call Secretary Laird at 916) 653-5656
Fax: (916) 653-8102
Email Secretary Laird at: secretary@resources.ca.gov

3. Call Governor Brown at 916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php