This post was about a call to act. Discussion time is over.

Thanks for the bump just the same.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Come to Supervisors Meeting Tuesday 4/17 at 2 p.m.:
Next to Fremont Theater in SLO:
County Government Center 1055 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Contact the County Board of Supervisors before Tuesday’s meeting! Imperative!!!
Telephone: (805) 781-5000 Toll free: (800) 834-4636

Harry Ovitt - hovitt@co.slo.ca.us
Bruce Gibson - bgibson@co.slo.ca.us
Jerry Lenthall - jlenthall@co.slo.ca.us
"Katcho" Achadjian - kachadjian@co.slo.ca.us
James R. Patterson - jpatterson@co.slo.ca.us

The Issues:
The SLO County Board of Supervisors is voting TUESDAY on two separate issues:

1. Whether of not vehicle recreation at the dunes conforms with the General Plan.
We need a YES vote.
Is it possible that the General Plan is wrong and overlooked 100 years of dune recreation? If recreation does not conform, the General Plan needs to be revised!

2. Whether to sell 584 acres of dunes land currently being used for recreation to the state parks who will continue that use.
We need a YES vote.
Selfish anti-family individuals that hate ATVs and vehicle recreation want the County to vote to keep the land and close it forever! They are extremists and some of them are all about money as they own local property and hope to have their own private beach after families are gone.

From: Crusty Demon
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 10:17 AM
To: 'hovitt@co.slo.ca.us'; 'bgibson@co.slo.ca.us'; 'jlenthall@co.slo.ca.us'; 'kachadjian@co.slo.ca.us'; 'jpatterson@co.slo.ca.us'

Subject: !Keep Pismo (Oceano Dunes SRVA) open for OHV Use!
Importance: High

Keep Pismo (Oceano Dunes SRVA) open for OHV Use!

1. Whether of not vehicle recreation at the dunes conforms with the General Plan.

We need a YES vote.
Is it possible that the General Plan is wrong and overlooked 100 years of dune recreation? If recreation does not conform, the General Plan needs to be revised!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Whether to sell 584 acres of dunes land currently being used for recreation to the state parks who will continue that use.

We need a YES vote.
Selfish anti-family individuals that hate ATVs and vehicle recreation want the County to vote to keep the land and close it forever! They are extremists and some of them are all about money as they own local property and hope to have their own private beach after families are gone.

Thank you,

Crusty Demon

Thanks Crusty, I'd give you some rep points but I guess I'm not allowed.

My letter was published in the tribune

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/182/story/18528.html

Viewpoints: Oceano Dunes Land Sale
Off-roaders bring in money
By Kevin McKenzie
A s a member of the off-road vehicle community, I am asking the supervisors to endorse the sale of 584 acres of sand dunes used for off-road recreation to the state parks agency that leases and operates the off-road vehicle park.

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is the most visited state park. It is one of a kind, allowing vehicular traffic for more than 100 years. Since 1982, the size of the park has shrunk from 15,000 acres to 1,500 acres and driveable shoreline from 18 miles to only 5 miles.

I have stood by and watched this long enough. The continued reduction of the ridable area is unacceptable to us. The affirmative vote to sell will stop this madness and send a message to the fanatical environmentalists and to the few homeowners that stand against the park for personal reasons that enough is enough.

In the Central Valley, sand duning is like a religion to us. It is a family-oriented lifestyle, a chance for parents to be with their children and recreate responsibly. In our group alone — six families each with two to three children — we visit the park three to four times a year. We invest thousands of dollars each time. On my street alone there are four other families that have similar- sized riding groups.

To me, the issue is simple. A vote for the sale sends a message to the off-road vehicle community that San Luis Obispo County is for responsible organized off-road recreation and wants to continue to enjoy the inflow of dollars that the off-roaders bring.

A vote against the sale sends the message that you do not want us to visit your county, and we will be forced to spend our recreation dollars elsewhere. Sorry, but it is that simple.

I ask that you see through the opposition’s claims that it is a dangerous sport, that our bikes pollute the air, that we throw our trash on the ground, or endanger swimmers. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Everyone I know in this sport is a bigger environmentalist than the ones who are paid to hold signs that say, “Close the Dunes.” I hope you see through their smoke and mirrors. Off-roaders were here first and we’re not leaving without a fight.

My family and I would appreciate your vote to sell the land to state parks and if the sale is determined not to coincide with the general plan of the county, that you would vote to continue the lease for another 100 years.

Kevin McKenzie lives in Visalia.

here's a story with the results, and a place to comment on the decision:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/183/story/19532.html

Remember, the eco nazi's do their best work to steal land from ohv use behind closed doors. I'm not close enough to all the details to know whether this is a good or bad thing, but my initial, personal reaction is one of concern for the future of ohv use at pismo. Why else would those supervisors take this behind closed doors?

here's a story with the results, and a place to comment on the decision:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/183/story/19532.html

Remember, the eco nazi's do their best work to steal land from ohv use behind closed doors. I'm not close enough to all the details to know whether this is a good or bad thing, but my initial, personal reaction is one of concern for the future of ohv use at pismo. Why else would those supervisors take this behind closed doors?

To the best of my knowledge, the only reasons for an elected body to consider anything in closed session is it's either a personnel matter or pending litigation. The story in the SLO paper said that real estate transactions are allowed too, but I don't buy that. This was an item on the public agenda, and it needs to stay that way. Maybe somebody with FoOD or the ASA or whomever wants to file a Brown Act violation complaint with the SLO County DA?

A quick read of the story doesn't look promising. Five supes, four votes needed to transfer real estate, and one recused himself... means a unanimous decision is now required. I don't think the votes are there to proceed with the sale. Maybe they'll renew the lease? Who knows, but taking this decision off the public record is not a good thing and needs to be contested vigorously.[size=5]

What the opposition has to say

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/182/story/18527.html

Digg it del.icio.us AIM Viewpoint: Dunes are for people, not foul machines
By Nell Langford
S ome of us property owners in Oceano and others from the surrounding area went down to the beach at the end of Pier Avenue again today with “Safe Beach Now” signs, standing our ground adjacent to the surf. The off-roaders, who call themselves “Friends of Oceano Dunes” parked their trucks and stood on the other side of the traffic with their signs.

Between us was the exodus of thousands of off-highway vehicles and 40-foot campers, who had packed up at Sand City and were heading for home in the Valley, to stop only for gas. They had done their dune-thrashing on the Dunes (bought with our gasoline tax) and on our county land (let for $1 for 25 years).

These sand dunes they claim for themselves are otherwise known to the Department of Interior as a National Natural Landmark for the whole world to behold, worthy of the mightiest efforts to preserve and protect.

Having plundered that treasure, these “dune enthusiasts” wreck-reated in the Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve, so designated by the California State Parks Commission to assure that vehicular traffic would never disturb its ecosystem. Then they drove through Arroyo Grande Creek, after which they trenched and fouled Oceano’s only beach.

Forward they stormed past us, these rude and ridiculous big boy toys, GI Joe tanks, giant rigs that could have instead paid for a college education. Onward came these testosterone-driven monster trucks in an unending gas-guzzling, foulsmelling, loud and offensive procession. From their high posts of steeled armor over steroid tires, they jeered down at us.

This beach belongs to machines, they insisted, and their machines growled and clawed the sand to prove themselves. These weekend warriors seemed to know only one orientation with their fingers and have a vocabulary limited to two words.

Our group is diverse, sometimes chanting, “Every day is walking day on Oceano Beach,” sometimes dancing while holding the corners of a blanket, or just sitting in chairs kept in an ever-moving relationship to the surf, to mark our territory. The kids we had with us stayed between us, and were escorted across the traffic.

There were three small children playing in the surf about 50 feet from our area. Their parents were on the upper beach, and the traffic was between them. The kids ran back and forth with the waves, excited to be on the beach. It has been over a decade since 3-year-old Amanda Orme ran to her mother from the surf but did not make it across the line of traffic. We will be there Saturday at 10 a.m.

Dr. Nell Langford lives in Pismo Beach.

giant rigs that could have instead paid for a college education.

Funny... if you google this guy's name you'll see information on beachfront rental properties. One of the articles mentions that you can drive on the beach and sand dunes, which are right in your backyard.

It seems like this Dr. feels that duners are uneducated . While this is certainly not the case with all duners, he seems quite perturbed that somone without a PhD would make enough money and choose to spend it as he or she pleases.

Dr. Nell Langford may be written at:

Dr. Nell Langford
P.O. Box 27
Pismo Beach. CA 93448

Driving on the beach is permitted, but non-street licensed vehicles are restricted to the nearby sand dunes.

Driving is permitted on a portion of the beach near the water, but there is plenty of beautiful beach where Seagull sits for children to play safely, for vollyball, and a campfire. (emphasis added)

California has 840 miles of coastline. The good Dr. apparently thinks it's a good idea to put kids right in the middle of the traffic pattern, on the only 5 (!) miles of California coastline legally open to vehicles. Putting their safety at risk to further her own private agenda. Did she happen to mention her financial interest in the region, i.e., the beachfront vacation rentals she owns? I doubt it.

Obviously level of education doesn't ensure possession of common sense.

Edited to remove "allegedly" from the above rant... and add this: A link to Dr. Langford's beachfront rentals website. Please note the language about driving on the beach...



Hmmmm, not one iota of protest about the evils of mechanized transportation encroaching on the pristine dune ecosystem? Maybe because that might just frighten away potential clients?

*effin' hypocrite!


Further edit: OMG even better! Read THIS:

Dear Dr. Langford,

Thank you for your eloquently-worded missive on the dangers of mechanized recreation at Oceano Dunes SVRA. However, there were a couple things that I must have missed, perhaps they were mistakenly edited from your original letter to the editor.

>From your web page (http://www.gobeachfront.com/seagull.htm), touting a beachfront home which I assume from the context that you either own or have a significant interest: "Driving is permitted on a portion of the beach near the water, but there is plenty of beautiful beach where Seagull sits for children to play safely, for vollyball, and a campfire." (emphasis added) This would seem to contradict your assertion that the access to Oceano Dunes SVRA is unsafe, as quoted:

"There were three small children playing in the surf about 50 feet from our area. Their parents were on the upper beach, and the traffic was between them. The kids ran back and forth with the waves, excited to be on the beach. It has been over a decade since 3-year-old Amanda Orme ran to her mother from the surf but did not make it across the line of traffic." (http://www.sanluisobispo.com/182/story/18527.html)

Secondly, I must have missed the reference to your ownership/interest in the property/ties predating the Automobile Age. I can only assume that to be the case, since motor vehicles have been permitted to access the beach at Pismo since the early 1900s, according to readily available photographic records.(http://www.bob2000.com/pismo.htm)

Thirdly, although you alluded to the fact that state gasoline tax revenues purchased and continue to provide revenue for the operation of the SVRA, as well as many others across the state, you neglected to include any attribution for your claim to "our" gasoline tax ("They had done their dune-thrashing on the Dunes (bought with our gasoline tax)", http://www.sanluisobispo.com/182/story/18527.html) yet explicitly stated that the "offroaders" you oppose had purchased fuel in or near Pismo ("...the exodus of thousands of off-highway vehicles and 40-foot campers, who had packed up at Sand City and were heading for home in the Valley, to stop only for gas," ibid.), and thus had paid gasoline taxes as well. Does the intent of gasoline usage somehow obviate one's right to use it? Do you, as a local landowner, have an exclusive right to determine who uses fuel purchased within your environs? And if so, do I have a right to deny you the right to use your gasoline should you happen to cross into my territory? We won't even mention registration fees on OHVs, which by law must be used for the maintenance of OHV access for the citizens of, and visitors to, this great State.

I would strongly suggest that in the future you would make sure that any and all assertions you make as to the nature, intent, or activities of "offroaders" be confined to verifiable facts. Also, protesting directly in the public right-of-way, especially with young children as unwitting pawns, is absolutely unsafe and completely morally reprehensible.

For the record: My family and I have been so-called "weekend warriors," operating "rude and ridiculous big boy toys, GI Joe tanks, giant rigs that could have instead paid for a college education" in an "unending gas-guzzling, foulsmelling, loud and offensive procession" for the past five years. In that time, my now eight-year-old daughter has seen more of wild California, literally at the end of her nose, than most children her age. She has developed an healthy appreciation for the wonders and beauty of the mountains and deserts of California, Oregon, and Nevada precisely because she's been there... not looking at pictures in a textbook. That's an education that no college education can provide. Mine certainly didn't.

Dave Wehlage
Simi Valley, CA

I can and I did, to both of you.

It's great to see people taking a stand and making sure their voices are HEARD!!



VW.

Well here is what I put up in the commets section.
*

Why is it that it seems everyone wants to close the dunes? The people that want to close the dunes have probley never been to the dunes at all and just want to stand up scream about something. I ask the people that want the dunes closed why is it when there is a big cleanup or function to help promote ATV use and Land Use and conservation, we the "off roaders" don't see you anywhere around? The land should stay open for further generations to use and enjoy in all ways not just one. I take my family camping at least once a month to different parks and state land. What is it you guys do once a month with your families? Outdoor recreation is the best for families to really come together. Leave the dunes open, we have been pushed enough and plenty of land has been closed down to ATV use.
J. Snowden Queen Creek, AZ

*
Hopefully it will help out and I'll be emailing soon. We need to get more pro atv commets up and sperd the word to people.
Let me know wht you guys and gals think.

My letter to Dr. Langford (and to the editor at the SLO Tribune, as well):



Damn I hate hypocrites. Grrr.

Snowden - Good Points for sure.

As many of you may or may not know, we are a Michigan based company, but are active with many different organizations and try to keep up on various land closure issues happening around all the major dune and off road hot spots. We support some of the organizations such as FoOD and the ASA in their efforts to keep these ride areas open.

I wish I would have heard about this a bit earlier, would have been more than happy to have gotten an email off through the proper channels.

It seems the off road community continues to come under a lot of scruitany by the "Greenies" these days. In fact we here in Michigan are dealing with our own issues as well, some of which don't come from the greenies, they come from other people's personal greed that I won't even get into at this time. Point is simple, they are making it more and more difficult for us to ride and get to the areas to ride.

I am glad that forums like this exist so people in the off road and sand sports community can voice their opinions, see what's really going on, etc. It's not just the individuals that are affected by closers, companies, jobs, etc. all feel the effects. I hope that one day some of these individuals take some time away from their lives and spend it with their families off roading or camping in the areas that keep getting shut down... Perhaps then they'll remember what good times and memories are all about.

Just my 2 cents.

~Jason in Michigan

This is such a fierce battle. Friends of Oceano Dunes has done such an excellent job fighting for their users. I cannot imagine what would have happened to the Oceano Dunes without that group. Well, actually, yes I can... it's the stuff of nightmares.

The battle they are in the middle of right now is especially costly. I think something like $50,000 in legal fees has gone out in just the last month or so. Some ridiculous figure that they can't possibly absorb much longer.

It may not be the right time for letters or faxes or emails, but it is definitely the right time for donations. Attorneys will not work for free and it would just be awful to lose this battle due to lack of funding.

There's an easy PayPal link right on the front of their website.

http://oceanodunes.org/

Every little bit helps...

Vicki

This is such a fierce battle. Friends of Oceano Dunes has done such an excellent job fighting for their users. I cannot imagine what would have happened to the Oceano Dunes without that group. Well, actually, yes I can... it's the stuff of nightmares.

The battle they are in the middle of right now is especially costly. I think something like $50,000 in legal fees has gone out in just the last month or so. Some ridiculous figure that they can't possibly absorb much longer.

It may not be the right time for letters or faxes or emails, but it is definitely the right time for donations. Attorneys will not work for free and it would just be awful to lose this battle due to lack of funding.

There's an easy PayPal link right on the front of their website.

http://oceanodunes.org/

Every little bit helps...

Vicki