RangerDan

It's almost here...the 500,000 car trips per day 405 freeway will be closed for the entire weekend between the 10 and 101 freeways. As a kid, did you ever have an ant farm and shake it up just to see the turmoil inside? This should be the adult version of that game. I am hunkering down in my home park and not venturing out until Monday... Dan

Yes. If there are no glitches the 405 is scheduled to reopen at 5:00AM Monday. There are some concerns however including "dropping" half of a bridge onto the 405 lanes with only sand to protect against impact damage. If the lanes get torn up...it will really turn into a fun adventure. Dan

EVER WONDER WHY CALIFORNIA IS BROKE? These are all California State Agencies California Academic Performance Index (API) * California Access for Infants and Mothers * California Acupuncture Board * California Administrative Office of the Courts * California Adoptions Branch * California African American Museum * California Agricultural Export Program * California Agricultural Labor Relations Board * California Agricultural Statistics Service * California Air Resources Board (CARB) * California Allocation Board * California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority * California Animal Health and Food Safety Services * California Anti-Terrorism Information Center * California Apprenticeship Council * California Arbitration Certification Program * California Architects Board * California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board * California Arts Council * California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus * California Assembly Democratic Caucus * California Assembly Republican Caucus * California Athletic Commission * California Attorney General * California Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California Bay-Delta Authority * California Bay-Delta Office * California Biodiversity Council * California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists * California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors * California Board of Accountancy * California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology * California Board of Behavioral Sciences * California Board of Chiropractic Examiners * Californ ia Board of Equalization (BOE) * California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection * California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind * California Board of Occupational Therapy * California Board of Optometry * California Board of Pharmacy * California Board of Podiatric Medicine * California Board of Prison Terms * California Board of Psychology * California Board of Registered Nursing * California Board of Trustees * California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians * California Braille and Talking Book Library * California Building Standards Commission * California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education * California Bureau of Automotive Repair * California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair * California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation * California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine * California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services * California Bureau of State Audits * California Business Agency * California Bus iness Investment Services (CalBIS) * California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD) * California Business Portal * California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency * California Cal Grants * California CalJOBS * California Cal-Learn Program * California CalVet Home Loan Program * California Career Resource Network * California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau * California Center for Analytical Chemistry * California Center for Distributed Learning * California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California) * California Chancellors Office * California Charter Schools * California Children and Families Commission * California Children and Family Services Division * California Citizens Compensation Commission * California Civil Rights Bureau * California Coastal Commission * California Coastal Conservancy * California Code of Regulations * California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis * California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth * California Commission on Aging * Ca lifornia Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation * California Commission on Judicial Performance * California Commission on State Mandates * California Commission on Status of Women * California Commission on Teacher Credentialing * California Commission on the Status of Women * California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Junior Colleges * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office * California Complaint Mediation Program * California 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Commission * California Delta Protection Commission * California Democratic Caucus * California Demographic Research Unit * California Dental Auxiliaries * California Department of Aging * California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control * California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) * California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS) * California Department of Community Services and Development * California Department of Conservation * California Department of Consumer Affairs * California Department of Corporations * California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation * California Department of Developmental Services * California Department of Education * California Department of Fair Employment and Housing * California Department of Finance * California Department of Financial Institutions * California Department of Fish and Game * 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Division * California Refugee Programs Branch * California Regional Water Quality Control Boards * California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee * California Registrar of Charitable Trusts * California Republican Caucus * California Research and Development Division * California Research Bureau * California Resources Agency * California Respiratory Care Board * California Rivers As sessment * California Rural Health Policy Council * California Safe Schools * California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy * California San Joaquin River Conservancy * California School to Career * California Science Center * California Scripps Institution of Oceanography * California Secretary of State Business Portal * California Secretary of State * California Seismic Safety Commission * California Self Insurance Plans (SIP) * California Senate Office of Research * California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Small Business Development Center Program * California Smart Growth Caucus * California Smog Check Information Center * California Spatial Information Library * California Special Education Division * California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board * California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STA R) * California Standards and Assessment Division * California State Administrative Manual (SAM) * California State Allocation Board * California State and Consumer Services Agency * California State Architect * California State Archives * California State Assembly * California State Association of Counties (CSAC) * California State Board of Education * California State Board of Food and Agriculture *California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) * California State Children's Trust Fund * California State Compensation Insurance Fund * California State Contracts Register Program * California State Contracts Register * California State Controller * California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) * California State Disability Insurance (SDI) * California State Fair (Cal Expo) * California State Jobs Employment Information * California State Lands Commission * California State Legislative Portal * California State Legislature * California State Library C atalog * California State Library Services Bureau * California State Library * California State Lottery * California State Mediation and Conciliation Service * California State Mining and Geology Board * California State Park and Recreation Commission * California State Parks * California State Personnel Board * California State Polytechnic University, Pomona * California State Railroad Museum * California State Science Fair * California State Senate * California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) * California State Summer School for the Arts * California State Superintendent of Public Instruction * California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) * California State Treasurer * California State University Center for Distributed Learning * California State University, Bakersfield * California State University, Channel Islands * California State University, Chico * California State University, Dominguez Hills * California State University, East Bay * California State University, Fresno * California State University, Fullerton * California State University, Long Beach * California State University, Los Angeles * California State University, Monterey Bay * California State University, Northridge * California State University, Sacramento * California State University, San Bernardino * California State University, San Marcos * California State University, Stanislaus * California State University (CSU) * California State Water Project Analysis Office * California State Water Project * California State Water Resources Control Board * California Structural Pest Control Board * California Student Aid Commission * California Superintendent of Public Instruction * California Superior Courts * California Tahoe Conservancy * California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists * California Tax Information Center * California Technology and Administration Branch Finance * California Telecommunicat ions Division * California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TAMS) * California Transportation Commission * California Travel and Transportation Agency * California Unclaimed Property Program * California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board * California Unemployment Insurance Program * California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission * California Veterans Board * California Veterans Memorial * California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee * California Veterinary Medical Board * California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board * California Volunteers * California Voter Registration * California Water Commission * California Water Environment Association (COWPEA) * California Water Resources Control Board * California Welfare to Work Division * California Wetlands Information System * California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch * California Wildlife Conservation Board * California Wildlife Programs B ranch * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) * California Workers Compensation Appeals Board * California Workforce and Labor Development Agency * California Workforce Investment Board * California Youth Authority (CYA) * Central Valley Flood Protection Board * Center for California Studies * Colorado River Board of California * Counting California * Dental Board of California * Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage) * Humboldt State University * Jobs with the State of California * Judicial Council of California * Learn California * Library of California * Lieutenant Governors Commission for One California * Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy) * Medical Board of California * Medi-Cal * Osteopathic Medical Board of California * Physical Therapy Board of California * Regents of the University of California * San Diego State University * San Francisco State University * San Jose State Univer sity * Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy * State Bar of California * Supreme Court of California * Teach California * University of California * University of California, Berkeley * University of California, Davis * University of California, Hastings College of the Law * University of California, Irvine * University of California, Los Angeles * University of California, Merced * University of California, Riverside * University of California, San Diego * University of California, San Francisco * University of California, Santa Barbara * University of California, Santa Cruz * Veterans Home of California Our government says that the only places they can cut expenses is Police and Fire....YEAH RIGHT!!!

If you think the mega list of CA agencies is bad enough... Try hanging out with State Auditors who insist that replacing a rusted trash can isn't "maintenance"...but it should be listed as a "capital improvement project" including the reports and paperwork...and maybe CEQUA...to go along with it... Dan

they don't have lower threshold amounts for "capital improvements"? We have some measures for capital- $2500 or more, with an expected lifespan of over 3 years... of course, that dollar amount hasn't changed in 30 years, so while it used to seem like a bog number, now it won't buy a toaster oven Hey- auditors have to audit... they have to correct you, change what you do, and make you do more stuff, or else, they are useless I have a feeling that's the way a lot of agencies are= they basically do stuff, so they can exist. Somebody told me that a large percentage of what the IRS brings in, is spent on making sure the IRS keeps getting the money (audits, policing, etc) we had an audit at work- and without giving away details, they said we HAD to change some things... NO other facility within the system does it this way (it was an internal audit... members of ALL the other facilities make up this auditing team)... i was at a loss for words, so I spit it out in the most PC way I could "well... we were given direction by so and so to do it this way in 2002... if the other facilities aren't doing it (and you are ALL saying they aren't) THEY are in violation, and THEY need to change it back to the way we are doing it! two weeks and a hundred emails later, they confirm that I am right... oh yeah... they WERE doing it the same way as we were... SHEESH! dan- I have some plastic trashcans you can have... no charge... no paperwork Yea and plastic doesn't rust either! I guess I shouldn't bring up the fact that at one time they had to have "custom colored" trash bag liners that went for $.87 each, instead of just regular off the self ones for around $.20 Dan

And don't forget that then we will need an agency to study that agency....and so on and so forth. Sad thing is...they might really do it!

You are better off finding out how they really run their business "now" instead of getting hired on and then you end up getting treated like you know what. If they only put 3-4 hours into your evaluation before they call you up and give you the thumbs down...can you imagine what they would do during regular employee interactions with you? Don't even look back at them...

That will work. He will probably be let out on "early release" by the State due to the budget gap by then anyway!

I might be wrong...but I'm betting it's a long time before we see a budget that passes the 2/3 vote in Sacramento. There's already a lot of political wrangling going on over the proposed compromise budget and calls for a down vote on it. I hope I'm wrong, but I bet we are going to see IOU's, layoffs, and a continued stalemate for a while yet.

Best wishes for her speedy recovery!

Proper "big kitty" courtesy would dictate you should have shared a bunny with your new found friend. That's OK as long as you give him/her two bunnies next time.

"...it's better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6..." Old LE saying...

Anza Borrego Desert National Park??? More likely other State and local park agencies would step in to help on either a temporary or permanent basis. My agency has already offered to take over operations of several State Parks if the worst does happen. National Parks can not just "add" parks on their own authority...that literally takes an act of Congress or a Presidential executive order. They might step in to provide "assistance", but there is no legal way for them to assume ownership or management oversight of State Parks. They could ask for the Federal funding back...to which we could say "we will just deduct that amount from the underfunding of other Federal mandates within the State of California"...that would get some political emotions going! Seriously folks, the parks are not going away. Some may be closed temporary, but most likely it will be a matter of cutting maintenance and operational budgets even further.

Hey...let's all go work for the City of San Diego! Again, just to clarify, NOT all public agencies have such high pay. My agency hasn't provided ANY cost of living adjustments in over 5 years. At that time, they did a 5% COLA...and it was another 5 years previous with no COLA to that one. Thus, my agency has provided "one" "5% increase" since 1999 (ten years). In addition, most of the folks working in my division earn less than $40,000...and NO there are no "other income" sources to this. Try to qualify for a home loan or even makes ends meet in SOCAL on $40,000 per year!

So...can you drive class A vehicles for a public agency and not breech your retirement contract? If so, and you don't have any background issues (felony convictions), you should try applying at water districts, Cities, Counties, and related. Heck, if I my budget wasn't recently slashed...I'd give you an interview. We have a hard time finding valid class A drivers...and I know this is true of other agencies as well. My best bet would be try the water districts...they are funded by water sales and are fairly isolated from these recent financial implusions. Other public utilities would also be a good spot to try. Lastly, don't hesitate to send out "unsolicited" resumes. Just find out the name of the maintenance supervisor and send it directly to him or her.

Want a simple tip to "gain acceptance" in a green, politically correct, and generally anti-OHV society? Carry a camera! Say what? YES, carry a camera...test it for yourself. Ride up to a typical group of "non-riders" and talk about the weather or what ever. Now ride up to another group and promptly whip it out... (the camera that is...) start taking pictures and saying what a fabulous view this is. I have seen even "Earth First" candidates soften their tone and actually "wanting" to talk to you after they see you with a camera. Simple psychology, but it works. Just carry some kind of camera on you when ever you ride (even one of those disposable ones...with all the photos gone already!). When you get the "non-approving" glare from a bystander...just stop, get out the camera, and possibly change someone's opinion about motorized riders.

Not only horses, but dog crap, and yes...a lot of human "waste" also. It really is a "shitty" job...

Regarding public employee compensation. Yes, there may be "certain jobs" that are overpaid. But I can assure you parks isn't one of them. I've never made more than $62,000...and that's as a Division Chief. Most of my folks earn around 14.00 per hour and then have up to 500.00 a month taken back out for their share of benefit burden. Their retirement is a 2% at 60 plan which means at age 60, they will get 2% for each year of work. Thus, an employee who works 30 years will get 60% of their pay or about $8.40 per hour retirement wage. At the same time, regarding my $62,000 income...I have cut operating costs in my division by over $1 million dollars per year, and obtained grant funds that reduced costs to local tax payers while increasing their number of parks. In reality therefore, I have provided the public with a net positive...that being I have generated and saved many times the amount of my own salary. Yes, there are "some" exessess in public pay. Just as there are excesses in private pay...AIG anyone? Sorry, it's just not that easy to say that all public employees are overpaid, don't do their job, and don't provide a real public service. I didn't even go into the lives I've saved over the decades...

Bottom line (and this will "irritate" a lot of you...) is that this is all typical politics. It is very easy to blame government and government employees...but who really puts these "irrational" policies into place. Each and everyone of us is the "government". I remember a typical example of this while I was working parks down in San Diego. We had obtained grant money and had installed a new trail to local mountain top. Nice trail...with benches, shade structures, views of Lake Hodges, and so forth. Unfortunately, the trail's view point also looked down into some private residences maybe a half-mile away. These folks and the surrounding community didn't want "people looking into our back yards". They went to the board and demanded the trail be closed. The local equestrian, mountain bike, and hiking groups got wind of this and also went to the board and demanded the trail be left "as is". Many attempts at negotiation between the groups followed...with no movement on either side. In addition, since it was Federal land operated under a "Recreation Use Permit", the area in question just couldn't be closed to public use. The end result: The Board ordered the trail closed, but had signs posted that read: "The trail behind this sign is closed to all public use...you are welcome however to hike cross country to the overlook 1.5 miles ahead". So how stupid is this...you have a brand new, grant funded trail that can't be used and is blocked off...yet you hike up to the top as long as you don't use the trail! Now, I ask you, who was at fault for such a stupid public policy? The park employees? They did their job by finding grant funding, installing a nice trail, and operating it effectively. Wasn't the real problem here the citizens of the community who can't agree upon or negotiate any compromises? Of course, the comments from both sides after this stupid policy was implemented was "look at how stupid government is..." Bottom line. These type of situations have everyday and in all sections of government. It's just a whole lot easier to blame the guy or gal shoveling the horse crap off the trail...than to turn the mirror on yourself.

NOTE: Stopping and doing "self-portraits" is missing the point...

Howdy, I'm a new member of SDAR and I'm just trying to "get up to speed" here regarding the organizations past or current efforts on land access issues. I'm actually a park ranger and have worked in these areas for about 22 years. I'm a long time dual sport rider...and I promise that I'm not a Sierra Club spy Specifically: Is there a specific focus group at SDAR that deals with access issues? Does SDAR hold a IRS 503 © (3) Nonprofit Organization status? I've seen the trail makers on a route by Corral Canyon that states it's maintained by SDAR. What agreements are in place with the forest service for this? Does SDAR hold any other agreements with other agencies: BLM, State Parks, County Parks? Has the SDAR ever applied for CA OHV Grant funds? Does SDAR have an attorney(s) as members? Has SDAR pursued any legal actions with the above resource(s)? Has SDAR filed any FOIR's (Freedom of Information Requests) regarding access issues? Sorry for all the questions...just trying to see where we are at. Thanks

Yes...I agree with all the posts here. Believe it or not, but there are a "few" of us public employees who actually oppose tax increases, big government, and the "socialist agenda" which seems to have overrun Kalifornia. That's why I intend to retire in Arkansas. Partly because I have friends there...but also I couldn't afford to live here on my retirement income. With 27 years in the PERS system I will get around $2300 a month AND then they will cut my Federal Social Security in half because they consider having an additional source of "government retirement" a "winfall profit adjustment". Thus, I'll get about $370 from Social Security. Total: try retirement in CA on $2670 a month...and no, I could never qualify for a home loan on my income either ( and I wouldn't sign one of the "liar loans"). Consider the above the next time you hear the lie that it's the "overpaid public employees" that are the State's problem... Dan

Any room for a newbie member on this ride? I will actually be off-duty and in the area this weekend. I don't have a computer down in Vista, so I will send my cell number to you. Let me know...Thanks.

I was actually trying to find the "pizza eating" icon...

They are using OHV funds to secure more emergency personnel "in addition to" their regular ranks without having to make long term budget impacts such as adding full time employees. This practice actually saves the agency money, first because they are "grant funds" and are in addition to their general fund budget, second, they can choose not to renew the contract if they need to use the funds somewhere else later. You are not going to see "Kalifornia" moving towards any lower level of recreation management anytime soon.