CODE RED ACTION ALERT - CA OHV Program Under New Attack

Several weeks ago, The General asked you to send in letters to lawmakers in Sacramento regarding a potential attack on the OHV Program and its Trust Fund. Many of you responded and stopped that attack cold - I salute you!

Now, there is a new threat to our OHV Program. According to sources in Sacramento, the Governor and Legislator are looking at taking money from the OHV program and diverting it to regular state parks – where there are NO OHV opportunities.

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Article on Threat
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2009/06/29/guvs-plan-b-deficit-fix/
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This concept of stealing money from OHV is not new. Some of you may remember the 2005 California Bureau of State Audits report that showed (among many things) that non-OHV parks were taking OHV monies.

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2005 Report (A good read for you AFTER you send in your letter today)
http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/2004-126
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The General’s Orders for today are simple – FAX and send in letters TODAY! Tomorrow could be too late.

BRC has issued an action alert and has a sample cut and paste letter with Sac. Contact info.

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BRC ACTION ALERT
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1042
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You can use BRC's Rapid Response Center to Contact the Gov. or Legislators

... just type in your Zip Code

http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

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GREEN VIEW -- If you want to see the enviro's action alert regarding their support for

taking OHV Trust Funds... go to:

http://www.dpcinc.org/blog/2009/07/01/california-state-parks-still-in-danger-of-closure/

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Please fwd this note to your email lists and thanks for your service!!!

The General

If you want to see what the Gov. is saying in response to emails... ck out the note that

Olde Scott (FWMC and EOMB) got back from Arnold

From: governor@governor.ca.gov [mailto:governor@governor.ca.gov] Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:00 PMTo: putorius@dishmail.netSubject: Re:keeping all major state parks and svras open

Thank you for writing to me about funding for our state parks system. Yourinput is important to me during these challenging times. California's natural beauty is renowned throughout the world, and I havemade it my priority to protect our environment so future generations ofCalifornians can continue to experience and enjoy what we have all come tolove. Our state parks provide a fantastic introduction to the Californiaexperience and help bring our residents and visitors closer to ourlandscapes.Unfortunately, the state cannot continue to bear the costs of supportingevery program.

Believe me when I say that these cuts have been the hardestdecisions of my career as Governor, but we are in the midst of the greatesteconomic crisis since the Great Depression. Our revenues for the comingyear are at least 27 percent below where they were projected to be just twoshort years ago. We now face a shortfall that has grown to $24.3 billion,and the people of California have made their voice clear: they want thestate to live within its means and solve its problems through spending cutsand not tax increases. To help manage our budget shortfall, I have proposed eliminating GeneralFund support for the Department of Parks and Recreation. I understand thatthese cuts will impact not only the lives of our park employees but themillions of park visitors who visit these national treasurers every year.

In spite of these General Fund cuts, though, I will work to keep as manyparks open as possible with funding from user fees. It may require raisingentry and camping fees, expanding partnerships with local government andnon-profit groups, and seeking additional creative ways to support oursystem in the future.As I work with my partners in the Legislature to find solutions to theseproblems, know I will keep your thoughts in mind. Working together, Ibelieve we can weather this storm and start the slow but steady march backtoward prosperity.

Sincerely,Arnold Schwarzenegger