Info About Sierra Conservancy

[Guest KTMrad]

Info from another list........please read and stay informed about what is threatening our public land access all over the state.......

I talked with a staffer named Russell at Senator Ashburn's bakersfield office yesterday about opposing the creation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. To my surprise he said that he has not had any comments from the public suggesting Seantor Ashburn oppose this. I hope more of you will be able to use the phone or email info below to contact your senator as well as Mike Chrisman's office & the governor to let them know that another conservancy will not help the environment or the taxpayers. It has not worked in other areas like the Coastal Commision or the Tahoe Conservancy.

If this largest ever conservancy is created residents of the Sierra will see their taxes sprial upward as more & more ranches & farms will be bought by non governmental organizations with billions of your tax dollars & taken off the tax rolls. The tax shortfall will have to be made up by me & you.

It will likely put more land off limits to the public & may allow non elected officials from outside the Sierras almost total control of what we are allowed to do in our own home area. Local residents will have little or no say in the matter.

Please take a half hour & make the calls or emails before 6/29/04. Get your friends & famly to do the same. This Conservancy will be a huge problem if it is formed.

Subject: ALERT:Hearing scheduled for Sierra Nevada Conservancy bills 6/29/04

ALERT..........ALERT.............ALERT.............ALERT.............ALERT............ALERT.............ALERT

DATE: JUNE 16, 2004

TO: ALL GRASSROOTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS

FROM: ROSE COMSTOCK, ALLIANCE FOR AMERICA <>www.allianceforamerica.org

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR LIST AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO RESPOND. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

WHAT: WILD LANDS PROJECT AT WORK - JUNE 29, 2004 - HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TWO BILLS - AB1788 & AB2600 -EACH AUTHORIZE ESTABLISHING A SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVANCY IN CALIFORNIA TO ACQUIRE, AND DIRECT THE MANAGEMENT, OF PUBLIC LANDS LOCATED PRIMARILY WITHIN THE CORE SIERRA NEVADA REGION.

STATUS: BOTH BILLS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE. THIS COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL OF CA. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES!

ACTION: DON'T WAIT! OPPOSE LEGISLATION UNLESS LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING ARE CONSIDERED! LETTERS, EMAILS & FAXES ARE NEEDED TO CALIFORNIA STATE SENATORS, SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER AND CALIFORNIA RESOURCES AGENCY.

Find your State Senator - <http://www.sen.ca.gov>www.sen.ca.gov

CA. SENATE COMM. ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/sen/committee...me1/PROFILE.HTM

Mike Chrisman Secretary of Resources 1416 9th Street, St. 1311 Sacramento, CA. 95812-2815 Ph/916-653-5656 FX/916-653-8102 <http://www.resources.ca.gov%C2%A0>www.resources.ca.gov

Assistant to the Secretary for Resources Cynthia J. Paulsen <mailto:Cyndy.Paulsen@Resources.Ca.Gov>Cyndy.Paulsen@Resources.Ca.Gov

Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-445-2841

Fax: 916-445-4633 <http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp>www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp

governor@governor.ca.gov

TALKING POINTS:

Any proposed conservancy gives us cause for serious concern. Countless problems have been created in our region by state employees with no accountability to the people and little connection to the areas their decisions impact. Like the Governor, it is our desire to see government become more responsive and connected to the people, not less so.

If there is to be a Sierra Nevada Conservancy, it must be built upon respect for and collaboration with the people who live in the Sierra.

Such a conservancy can be established only if its design requires collaborative decision-making. The Conservancy board must contain strong representation from the Sierra region, and, more importantly, any major board action must be based upon general consensus with local elected officials.

Local governments are responsible for local land use planning and decisions, and are held accountable by their constituents for such decisions. Unless local government has the ability to say "no" to conservancy acquisitions it finds objectionable, the conservancy will have the power to approve acquisitions with no local oversight.

Giving local communities a true voice would be unique for a conservancy. However, any conservancy stretching across the entire Sierra Nevada would be unique. No existing conservancy contains the vast area, diverse sub-regions, and varied land uses encompassed by the Sierras.

The best government efforts always draw from the perspective, volunteerism, and commitment of local communities. By ensuring the conservancy only undertakes projects embraced by local communities, we can create the goodwill and trust critical to effective efforts.

In addition, a new conservancy must not be funded on the backs of taxpayers. How can Sacramento lawmakers justify crating another agency in the business of buying up more land, while the state is dealing with a severe budget deficit affecting education, healthcare, fire protection and other vital services? Unless funding is drawn from existing conservation programs, a new conservancy would only add to the existing budget burden the state is facing.

BACKGROUND:

AB1788 Leslie This bill creates the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) in the Resources Agency, with a governing board consisting of 20 voting members and three non-voting members, to acquire, and direct the management, of public lands located primarily within the "Core Sierra Nevada Region."

AB2600 Laird This bill creates the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) in the Resources Agency, with a governing board consisting of seven voting members and three non-voting members to undertake activities that encourage tourism and recreation, protect,

conserve, and restore the region's resources, reduce the risk of natural disaster, protect water quality, help local economies,

identify high priority projects for funding, enhance public use and enjoyment of public lands, and advance environmental

preservation and economic well-being.

Bill Status and Background Information:

AB 1788 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquer...arch_type=email

HISTORY http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_...09_history.html

STATUS http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_...615_status.html

AB 2600 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquer...arch_type=email

HISTORY http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_...09_history.html

STATUS http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_...615_status.html