CA OHV Trust Fund Battle Remains Hot Issue (with Video)

As we head into the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, it only seems appropriate for the Recreation HQ to give riders an update on the fight to protect our OHV Trust Fund.

This has been the most intensive 4 month period of time for me on a professional basis since I started working on land-use issues in 1990.  Fighting to protect the OHV Trust Fund has been one of the toughest state fights  combined with an additional host of federal land use challenges.

I want to borrow a recent quote from Terry McHale who is an OHV lobbyist in Sacramento (you can see him in action at 1:39:19 in the video below) where he said, ”Things are better than they were.”

After watching the almost hour long video below where the legislature debates on how to use the 34M dollars found in the scandal at State Parks,  I agree with Terry that OHV has become more of a front and center issue.  Never before have I seen a state legislative body discuss in detail the three funding pots for OHV (e.g.  registration fees, park fees, and off-road fuel tax monies).

It is clear to me that they had been briefed in detail and were painfully aware of how hot an issue this has become.   HQ recommends you watch the entire OHV portion of the video so you too may understand the import of this debate.  You will see the Department of Finance give circular answers to the elected officials.  Both Democrats and Republicans challenge the Department of Finance to give accurate accounts of the 34M. 

Video (OHV starts at 55:05) of 8/23/12 Budget Committee Hearing on AB1478

http://vimeo.com/48412668

There are a lot of good quotes in the video but one of the best was when Senator Simitian stated (1:03:10) that he had “taken a lot of hell” from  users regarding his original plan to gut the local assistance grants program and cap it at 10M.  You will see an effort by him to restore 11M on top of that 10M cap to make the grants program partially whole again.  However, I don’t think we will know if that happens until the Attorney General completes his investigation later this year.

Thanks to all who worked so very hard on this issue and to those of you who supported us  or sent in letters, made phone calls, and got your county board of supervisors to weigh in.

The OHV Trust Fund Saga continues…

SF Chron - Vote NO on Prop 21

For a number of months, the Recreation HQ has shared it views and concerns about Prop 21 – the California State Parks Initiative.

Aug. 24 Blog on Prop 21 and Sac Bee hit piece on OHV
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/08/prop-21-new-tax-slush-fund-or-good-idea.html

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PHOTO: The Great Dontradamus
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If you remember the Sac Bee hit piece on the OHV program and faux crimes occurring in SVRAs, it should come as no surprise that it endorsed Prop 21 today. Even a blind person could see that “slow pitch” coming over the political plate.

Sept. 16 Sac Bee Op Ed in Support of Prop 21
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/16/3033002/yes-on-21-parks-need-a-stable.html




Besides being a slush fund for enviro groups and a money pot for many of this state’s non-park regulatory agencies, The General believes the biggest hurdle for Prop. 21 is that it levies a tax on a large group of citizens (mostly low-income) who DO NOT use state park facilities.

What surprised HQ yesterday is when the often liberal SF Chronicle agreed with The General and came forward with an Op Ed against Prop. 21. The Chronicle made many points about what is wrong with Prop. 21 including the fact that it will be the low-income that are hurt most.

Sept 15 SF Chronicle Op Ed to Vote NO on Prop 21
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/14/ED0P1FDO0O.DTL




March Blog with Predictions/Overview for Prop. 21
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/03/california-state-parks-initiative-18.html




Donstradamus stated in his March blog that voters will decide if the merits of Prop. 21 warrant their support. His suggestion is that parks must become relevant and self-sustaining if they are to survive. Depending on public largess when the unemployment rate in CA in over 10 percent and in many rural areas is above 20 percent is a gamble at best.

Predicting the outcome of any political proposal is difficult, but Donstradamus will continue predicting that Prop. 21 has a long way to go in convincing a majority of Californians (many who do not visit state parks) they need to drop another check in the mail on their way to the unemployment line or next unproductive job interview.

Prop. 21 - New Tax, Slush Fund, or Good Idea?

The Recreation HQ wants to remind riders that we are heading into the heat of the 2010 political election season. There will be many issues and candidates for OHVers to review and consider.
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PHOTO: HQ's trusty 2001 Montero (with 136K miles)

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One such issue is the California State Parks Initiative (Prop 21). On several occasions The General has shared his views on that plan to create a $500,000 dollar/yr. slush fund that will be used, among other things, as a way to shunt monies to environmental groups and green agencies (that have nothing to do with state parks) such as the Ocean Protection Council.

HQ’s March 10 Overview of Prop. 21
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/03/california-state-parks-initiative-18.html

As HQ told the Sac Bee reporter when he called for info (info that was left out of the “crime in state parks” article) regarding TG’s view on state parks, OHV, and Prop. 21… “OHVers have several ways to look at this issue. For those who use SVRAs, it might be a fiscal wash since they won’t have to pay entry fees. For those who only ride on federal lands, they might feel it is a double or triple tax since their green sticker funds already go to support those units. But the real question for the proponents of Prop. 21 is if the 60-80 percent of Californians who don’t use state parks will want to pay another tax for something they don’t use?”

It looks like The General is not the only one questioning the fiscal wisdom of Prop. 21. In the link below, Michelle Steele gives an excellent overview from her perspective.

Michelle Steele’s take on Prop 21 as a new car tax
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_15850952

HQ loves state parks and its concerns should not to be taken as a lack of support for either motorized or non-motorized units. Rather, The General questions the wisdom of asking taxpayers to cough up scarce monies in this current economic downturn to fund a program that in large part simply creates yet another slush fund in Sacramento.

Op Ed on Crime in CA State Parks and Yellow Journalism

HQ wrote the Op Ed below because it believes the Sac Bee and a number mainstream media outlets are guilty of yellow journalism or a shade thereof when they mischaracterized crime statistics for political purposes by claiming that illegal activity in state parks (mostly where OHV and powerboats are allowed) is out of control.

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PHOTO: The Quiet Warrior

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July 27 Sac Bee Editorial on Crime in State Parks
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/27/2916380/its-the-wild-west-in-our-state.html

Thank goodness we have an alternative media. The General sent this Op Ed yesterday to the Sac Bee, Merced Sun Times, Fresno Bee, SF Chronicle, Modesto Bee, and McClatchy Washington Bureau yet none of those papers even called to verify that it had been received and was under consideration. At the time this blog was launched, no newspaper had printed the Op Ed.

So today, HQ is bypassing mainstream media and publishing this Op Ed. Slams like this against families who like to OHV at SVRAs and for folks who like to PWC or fish/water ski using powerboats will not be tolerated by The General.

OP ED

Visitor Contacts are Not a Crime
By Don Amador
July 27, 2010

As a native Californian and land-use professional, I was disappointed today by your editorial entitled: It’s the Wild West in our state parks.

Rather then developing an opinion based on a dispassionate review of the facts, the Bee appears to have relied on the hype surrounding the State Parks Initiative and its proposal to create a $1/2 billion dollar per year slush fund by levying an $18/yr. tax per vehicle owned.

The editorial wrongly lumps ranger contacts with visitors who are reporting a bee sting, or a raccoon stealing a sack lunch, with real crimes such as DUIs, drug trafficking, vehicle theft, and vandalism of public property.

The State Vehicular Recreation Areas, water-based State Recreation Areas, and State beaches have the highest visitor usage in the State Park system. Of course there are going to be higher crime rates with parks with the highest visitation. But it is wrong to mischaracterize a visitor contact as a crime.

Crisis mongering is unattractive and seldom offers real solutions. I have always supported law enforcement and proper management of our public lands. However, popular self-funded user-pay/user-benefit programs such as OHV and Boating and Waterways should not be sacrificed on the alter of political correctness to support an Initiative that directs tens of millions of dollars to non-park related environmental groups and state agencies such as the Ocean Protection Council.

Support for the State Parks Initiative should be left up to the individual taxpayer and public land user without cheerleading from a biased media.

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Don Amador was a commissioner on the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission (1994-2000) and is currently a land-use consultant. He writes on environmental issues from his office in Oakley, California. He may be contacted by email at: damador@cwo.com

For those who are interested, you can check out my archived blog below on the subject of
the State Parks Initiative.

Blog/Overview of State Parks Initiative
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/03/california-state-parks-initiative-18.html

Somebody else who questions pork in the Initiative
http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/san-diego-outdoors-blog/2010/mar/06/state-cut-funding-mlpa/

Thanks for your service and support of The Quiet Warrior. Being quiet on the trail is good -- being silent when OHVers are getting hammered is not.

California State Parks Initiative - $18 Dollar/Yr. Vehicle Lic. Fee

Over the next few days and weeks, The Recreation HQ will highlight some important issues as they relate to California State Parks. As you know, The General has an old saying that ALL land-use decisions are political decisions.

One of those political decisions you will have to make this year is regarding the California State Parks Initiative. It is currently gathering signatures (and supporters) so it can be placed on the November 2 ballot.

This Initiative is designed to create a dedicated park fund that will generate $500 million dollars a year by placing an $18 dollar/yr. fee on street licensed cars, trucks (not big rigs), motorcycles, and RVs. As a reward for your payment, your vehicle and its passengers will get FREE admission for day-use into all state park units including SVRAs and State Recreation Areas.

Info on the California State Parks Initiative
http://www.yesforstateparks.com/

List of State Park Units covered by the Initiative
http://www.yesforstateparks.com/get-the-facts/list-of-parks-and-maps

Article with concerns about Initiative from a recreation/conservation perspective
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/06/parks-tax-would-shortchange-conservationists/

Article about benefits of Initiative
http://www.yesforstateparks.com/images/stories/Santa_Cruz_Sentinel.2.25.10.pdf

Another plan to fund state parks is on the table and it proposes to generate monies for state parks by doing some environmentally-friendly oil drilling off the coast of California. Just recently the non-partisan budget analyst issued a report that shows this concept has merit.

See article on oil drilling plan
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/03/state-should-restart-offshore-oil-drilling-analyst-says.html

Voters will have to decide which of the above concepts merit support. I have heard from some off-roaders who think the Initiative is a good deal since the increased license fee would be offset by free entrance into the state park. Some conservative legislators may support this plan since it proposes to spend about $180 million/yr. for construction and repair projects to address an estimated $1.5 billion dollar maintenance backlog.

Fiscal conservatives or people who are fed up with bloated government may support the oil drilling plan or just say that parks has to become more relevant to Californians and be self-sustaining/user-funded on its own such as OHMVR and Boating and Waterways.

This is sure to be a hot topic of discussion at The Recreation HQ and by riders sitting around a campfire this spring. The General urges you to review these issues and asks that you feel free to post a comment or send a private message to HQ with your views.

Thanks for your service!