baldyskier
Member
Feedback to the appropriate government leaders can help stop this misguided proposal. I received the email below from Robby Ellingson, General Manager of Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts with details and points of contact:
National Monument Proposal Threatens Access
As stewards of the 700 acres permitted to the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts since 1952 we care deeply about the preservation and cleanliness of the San Gabriel Mountans. Since the 1960s there have been varying opinions regarding the land use in this mountain range. As it pertains to the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts specifically, we have lobbied for years to keep the backside of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts' permitted area in the San Bernardino National Forest, kept out of proposed wilderness expansions. The goal being to keep ski and snowboarding possibilities alive on the stellar slopes of Mt Baldy's Backside. Today the San Gabriel Mountain range as a whole. is at risk of losing vast amounts of recreation and access due to the threat of a proposed National Monument designation that would include the entire mountain range west of Interstate 15.
In June of 2014, Rep Judy Chu (D-CA-27) submitted legislation (HR4858) that would create a San Gabriel National Recreation Area along with Wilderness expansions and multiple Wild & Scenic river areas.
According to Congresswoman Chu, the intent of this legislation is to increase the recreation opportunities and to protect and preserve the mountains and rivers. But her proposed legislation would dramatically limit recreation. In the weeks leading up to the submittal of this legislation, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts Inc. was in contact with members of Rep. Chu's staff in an effort to keep the Backside of Baldy out of any Wilderness area. In addition numerous elected officials, cities, chambers of commerce, individual home and business owners as well as recreational enthusiasts expressed great concern about the potential long-term negative consequences the legislation appears to have. As a result the bill lost traction in Congress.
On August 18, 2014 Rep. Chu announced that, because her bill stalled in Congress, she had asked President Obama to use his authority through the Antiquities Act to declare over 600,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains a National Monument, from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino. This action bypasses Congress because the Antiquities Act gives authority to the President, by presidential proclamation to restrict the use of public land, owned by the Federal Government.
RESTRICT THE USE
The foundation of the Act is to restrict use, not create more. The mountains are open right now, everyone is welcome. The United States Forest Service manages it well with their limited funds. Their mission, besides recreation, is to "sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations." What’s wrong with that?
Apparently Rep. Chu wants to bypass the democratic process with little or no public involvement. Why? Because her plan is extremely flawed and deceiving on two major issues.
Issue One: New funding, Rep. Chu has been boasting about all of the extra amenities that will be available once this area is a National Park or National Monument. However when asked directly where the extra money is going to come from she has no answer. Whether they call it a National Park, National Monument or keep the Forest Service in charge, the money comes from the same place. There is no magic source of money. The same Congressional Committees have to supply the money.
Issue Two: Advocates of the new National Monument like the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, San Gabriel Mountains Forever, Friends of the River and others want you to think that if you get a National Monument or National Park, you are getting something. Actually, if they remove the Forest Service and replace it with a National Monument or National Park the people of Southern California will be losing access. The literature in the Antiquities Act says it all.
We oppose any undemocratic National Monument designation by President Obama
This proposal is not about more access for more people. It is about...
Less access for those who can not afford it
Pushing out US Forest Service special use permit holders
Utilizing eminent domain to seize private property
Re-allocating water rights with new federal regulations
...and no one knows its happening. This Natioanl Monument Proposal is the biggest threat to the operations of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts that exsists. We have been working very hard with the Angeles National Forest to enhance our Summer operations to increase activities within our permitted boundries. We fear that if this Monument Proposal is signed by President Obama that it could be extremely detrimental to the future of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts' operations Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
What can you do?
Call the White House comment line (202) 456-1111
Be prepared to speak your mind, the operator on the phone is a volunteer and will do their best to write down what you say. The goal is to have a consistent message. "I'm calling to say, NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument"
Visit the White House website and leave a comment whitehouse.gov/contact/
You will need to select from a drop down menu for your subject heading. The US Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture and the National Parks Service is part of the Department of the Interior. Submitting your email to each may be a good idea.
Call the US Department of Agriculture (202) 720-2791 leave messages for Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture stating "NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument"
Visit POPVOX.COM and click that you are opposed to (HR4858)
If, like me, you have not visited this website before, you will need to register in order to for your comment to be seen. I was happy to see this website exsists and will be visiting it again in the future.
Tweet @Whitehouse @BarackObama @RepJudyChu NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Let's Keep Our Mountains FREE
We care very deeply about these mountains and the issues that Rep. Chu raises in wanting to help protect them. However, as someone who grew up exploring and learning in these mountains, I feel she is extremely misguided. Please take action to keep our mountains free. If you have questions or comments directly for the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts or would like to volunteer to help spread the word please reply to this email.
Thank you,
Robby Ellingson
General Manager
Mt Baldy Ski Lifts Inc.
National Monument Proposal Threatens Access
As stewards of the 700 acres permitted to the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts since 1952 we care deeply about the preservation and cleanliness of the San Gabriel Mountans. Since the 1960s there have been varying opinions regarding the land use in this mountain range. As it pertains to the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts specifically, we have lobbied for years to keep the backside of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts' permitted area in the San Bernardino National Forest, kept out of proposed wilderness expansions. The goal being to keep ski and snowboarding possibilities alive on the stellar slopes of Mt Baldy's Backside. Today the San Gabriel Mountain range as a whole. is at risk of losing vast amounts of recreation and access due to the threat of a proposed National Monument designation that would include the entire mountain range west of Interstate 15.
In June of 2014, Rep Judy Chu (D-CA-27) submitted legislation (HR4858) that would create a San Gabriel National Recreation Area along with Wilderness expansions and multiple Wild & Scenic river areas.
According to Congresswoman Chu, the intent of this legislation is to increase the recreation opportunities and to protect and preserve the mountains and rivers. But her proposed legislation would dramatically limit recreation. In the weeks leading up to the submittal of this legislation, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts Inc. was in contact with members of Rep. Chu's staff in an effort to keep the Backside of Baldy out of any Wilderness area. In addition numerous elected officials, cities, chambers of commerce, individual home and business owners as well as recreational enthusiasts expressed great concern about the potential long-term negative consequences the legislation appears to have. As a result the bill lost traction in Congress.
On August 18, 2014 Rep. Chu announced that, because her bill stalled in Congress, she had asked President Obama to use his authority through the Antiquities Act to declare over 600,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains a National Monument, from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino. This action bypasses Congress because the Antiquities Act gives authority to the President, by presidential proclamation to restrict the use of public land, owned by the Federal Government.
RESTRICT THE USE
The foundation of the Act is to restrict use, not create more. The mountains are open right now, everyone is welcome. The United States Forest Service manages it well with their limited funds. Their mission, besides recreation, is to "sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations." What’s wrong with that?
Apparently Rep. Chu wants to bypass the democratic process with little or no public involvement. Why? Because her plan is extremely flawed and deceiving on two major issues.
Issue One: New funding, Rep. Chu has been boasting about all of the extra amenities that will be available once this area is a National Park or National Monument. However when asked directly where the extra money is going to come from she has no answer. Whether they call it a National Park, National Monument or keep the Forest Service in charge, the money comes from the same place. There is no magic source of money. The same Congressional Committees have to supply the money.
Issue Two: Advocates of the new National Monument like the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, San Gabriel Mountains Forever, Friends of the River and others want you to think that if you get a National Monument or National Park, you are getting something. Actually, if they remove the Forest Service and replace it with a National Monument or National Park the people of Southern California will be losing access. The literature in the Antiquities Act says it all.
We oppose any undemocratic National Monument designation by President Obama
This proposal is not about more access for more people. It is about...
Less access for those who can not afford it
Pushing out US Forest Service special use permit holders
Utilizing eminent domain to seize private property
Re-allocating water rights with new federal regulations
...and no one knows its happening. This Natioanl Monument Proposal is the biggest threat to the operations of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts that exsists. We have been working very hard with the Angeles National Forest to enhance our Summer operations to increase activities within our permitted boundries. We fear that if this Monument Proposal is signed by President Obama that it could be extremely detrimental to the future of the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts' operations Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
What can you do?
Call the White House comment line (202) 456-1111
Be prepared to speak your mind, the operator on the phone is a volunteer and will do their best to write down what you say. The goal is to have a consistent message. "I'm calling to say, NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument"
Visit the White House website and leave a comment whitehouse.gov/contact/
You will need to select from a drop down menu for your subject heading. The US Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture and the National Parks Service is part of the Department of the Interior. Submitting your email to each may be a good idea.
Call the US Department of Agriculture (202) 720-2791 leave messages for Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture stating "NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument"
Visit POPVOX.COM and click that you are opposed to (HR4858)
If, like me, you have not visited this website before, you will need to register in order to for your comment to be seen. I was happy to see this website exsists and will be visiting it again in the future.
Tweet @Whitehouse @BarackObama @RepJudyChu NO San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Let's Keep Our Mountains FREE
We care very deeply about these mountains and the issues that Rep. Chu raises in wanting to help protect them. However, as someone who grew up exploring and learning in these mountains, I feel she is extremely misguided. Please take action to keep our mountains free. If you have questions or comments directly for the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts or would like to volunteer to help spread the word please reply to this email.
Thank you,
Robby Ellingson
General Manager
Mt Baldy Ski Lifts Inc.
