CORE / CarnegieForever Update
Posted by Dave on March 5, 2010 under Updates. This post currently has 3 responses.
- Our organization (CORE) is meeting with a blue chip San Francisco law firm to assist us in setting up a non-profit corporation. This will be necessary in the near future to offer tax-exempt donations to our financial supporters and give us status in legal venues.
- Our Internet staff will continue to prepare an effective strategy to communicate with the 15,000 people who signed our “Save Carnegie” petition.
- At our meeting on Wednesday March 3, 2010 (graciously sponsored by Tri Valley Moto the KTM dealership in Livermore across from the airport), the first Carnegie Hero Award was awarded. The winner is 10 year old Max H. This young man who came up on the stage at the “Save Carnegie Rally” took the mike and spoke his heart. Max was given a round of applause from the CORE members assembled and received a $100 gift certificate issued at Scott Dunleavy’s Berkeley Honda-Yamaha.
- There have been no updates on the lawsuit (now at the Appellate Court in SF) from the OHV Division office in Sacramento as many brace themselves in anticipation of the outcome.
- The Carnegie California Hillclimb series start on March 20. George Horne indicates the park is the process of approving his layout for the event. The Pro Hillclimb is set for April 10/11. Visit skipspromotions.com for details.
- Don Amador of the Blue Ribbon Coalition wants us to help put this information out to all CORE fans: http://www.sharetrails.org/letters/letter.php?id=50
I wish you guys would post about the meetings before they happen. I, for one, would love to go. Maybe next time?
In my last comment I warned of a secret plan by the Obama administration to designate thirteen million aces in the Western states as National Monuments without public comment, feedback from state or local officials or legislative review. Stonyford in the Mendacino National Forest will be included in this designation.
Stonyford is an epic destination for families, off-road riders and cross-country racers living in Northern California. Without access to nature and family recreation, what does Obama expect our kids to do? Does he think that watching nature shows on public television will make up for loosing the real thing? As usual this arrogant administration unilaterally ignores the public good.
He defends this giant land grab by claiming that he is protecting it for future generations. By that he means that our children and grandchildren we will be prevented from riding their bikes on trails that we have enjoyed for generations.
This is not trivial. Where are we going to be able to go when all our riding areas are shut down? This is part of the big grab. The Sierra Club and other publicly funded groups receive vast amounts of tax deductible funds from wealthy donors who feel guilty about their own environmental impact. The donors assume that these organizations protect the environment. Sometimes these groups try to stop legitimate polluters, but sadly their biggest victories are won protecting the environment from illusionary and bogus threats posed by unorganized, and discrete off road interests. If we had the lobbying power of the NRA this wouldn’t be happening.
If we don’t act now we will have nowhere left to ride. There is no time to loose. With the closure of Clear Creek and other threatened closures (including our beloved Carnegie) this in no time to be complacent. SUPPORT BLUE RIBBON with tax deductible donations and join if you haven’t already done so. Finally go the Blue Ribbon web-site to find out more about this land grab and how to contact your congressional representatives.
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=685&filter=media
AN ANALYSIS OF A CERTAIN JUDGE’S LEGAL PHILOSOPHY
First we were frustrated by the judge’s order shutting down a state public park to protect the fishes and the habitat of endangered critters from the dirt-bikers, creatures who had co-existed with dirt bikes for almost a century.
This judge has a penchant for interfering with the discretionary actions of California public agencies. He directed the California Water Board to require a waste discharge report from the Carnegie State OHV and directed the State to shut down Carnegie until a waste discharge report was approved. Thank God this egregious decision was appealed.
Next this judge overturned an emergency decree issued by the Governor to put state workers on furlough three days a month to avoid laying them off because of lack of funds. I support the workers and unions as much as the other guy, but this just goes to show. This judge is a judicial activist who thinks he knows better than our governor who presides over the state budget. Is this arrogance? Where does he get all his expertise: From the bench?
According to the San Francisco Chronicle on March 16th the judge ruled that the voter approved cap on the number of residences in the city is illegal. The ruling is the first by a California judge to change zoning to accommodate new housing. The power of a local municipality and its citizens be damned. Dig up the undeveloped hillsides and cover them with concrete. No sympathy for the little defenseless critters that he was trying to save at Carnegie.
He has come full circle. Maybe now…………………………
Uhoh….Condominiums in the middle of Corral Canyon?