Urgent Action Needed Johnson Valley

[Wayne_Nosala]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2009
By Wayne Nosala
Mark Howlett

Contact Harry Baker
PFJV Chair
818-370-3582
Harry@PFJV.org

DIANNE FEINSTEIN STAFF INDICATES JOHNSON VALLEY IS INFREQUENTLY USED BY RECREATING PUBLIC
The Partnership for Johnson Valley urges users of Johnson Valley to email Senator Feinstein’s office with a personal message to keep the 189,000-acre multiple-use area as public land


Glendale, CA - The Partnership for Johnson Valley (PFJV) has recently become aware that United States Senator, Dianne Feinstein has been briefed that Johnson Valley sees little use from the public. The information, while ill-advised, supports the highly controversial marine base acquisition of the popular Johnson Valley. Unfortunately, the information given to Senator Feinstein’s office is unfounded and lacks specific stakeholder-use data that has already been disclosed to multiple public agencies including The San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfeld, the US Marine Corps and adjoining townships to Johnson Valley.

“A meeting has been scheduled with Feinstein’s staff on Tuesday, March 10th to discuss the multiple users of Johnson Valley as well as other issues,” says Harry Baker, Chair of the Partnership. The PFJV leadership team have traveled throughout California over the last twelve months advising agencies as well as stakeholder groups regarding the possible closure of the Johnson Valley desert land. The Partnership has documented there are over 750,000 annual usage days of Johnson Valley from diverse groups ranging from the film Industry, scouting organizations, equestrians, flying clubs and off highway organized sports groups.” Closure of Johnson Valley would be a significant loss for all of California as well as the nation, based on stakeholder usage data. This is especially noteworthy since the Marines can expand their training operations to the east of the existing base, public land that is mostly unused.

The Partnership is asking all users of Johnson Valley to email Senator Feinstein’s office a short personal message stating what specific affect a Marine takeover of Johnson Valley would have on you, your family, business, friends, or any other impact. Specifically, Visits days per year, How many in your group, and how much you contribute to the local economy

Please take a brief moment to visit Senator Feinstein’s email message center located here:
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/i...tactUs.EmailMe

Simply complete the fields and leave a brief message. Senator Feinstein’s staff has informed the Partnership that they will not accept “letter generator” type emails. Please use the above link to leave a personal message. Alternatively, you can fax a letter to Senator Feinstein’s Los Angeles office at: 310-914-7318. The Partnership’s target deadline for this urgent action is Tuesday morning.

The Partnership is seeking donations, Please visit www.PFJV.org for details

About The Partnership for Johnson Valley:
The leadership of the Partnership For Johnson Valley has been cooperatively working with the military and the affected Stakeholders in an effort to explore alternatives to the proposed land expansion. The PFJV is a division of the 501(c)3 California Trail Users Coalition led by Harry Baker, Chairman with Mark Howlett as Executive Director, Wayne Nosala as Secretary and directors Ray Pessa and Helen Baker. The Mission of the Partnership is to unite the many people who enjoy the diverse activities available in the multiple-use open access area of Johnson Valley. The Partnership’s charter is to promote responsible recreation and the use of desert resources through conservation and education. The goal of the Partnership is to ensure public open-access to the area in the present, and to future generations who Live, Work, and Recreate in Johnson Valley. For more information and updates, please visit www.PFJV.org

[u-joint]

Thanks for sharing the info Wayne. I'll write a message shortly.

[TomJeeps]

Well it's like this folks, for the Marine core to train three Divisions and say out of JV all together, they need the Northern Tip of the Sheephole Wilderness, looks like the late comers finally figured this out...TJ

[EarlKann]

Tom, why are you talking about Sheep Hole here? Of course those of us involved are aware of what you're saying, but there is nothing that even suggests that in Wayne's statement.

Do you have some information that wasn't mentioned?

[aphantomduck]

Sent mine about an hour or so ago.

This is very important and needs you attention.

["Tonka"]

message sent

[Kiwis]

Email sent

[TomJeeps]

Originally Posted by EarlKann

Tom, why are you talking about Sheep Hole here? Of course those of us involved are aware of what you're saying, but there is nothing that even suggests that in Wayne's statement.

Do you have some information that wasn't mentioned?

No but it talks about her late arrival to the party, I think it's a good thing because it could mean the Sheephole Widerness is actually being considered, as opposed to JV. The only option Wilderness advocates have is to say No expansion, or say just get those vermin (us) off the land to the west, CBD just said No expansion, Miss Dy-Fi is saying Go West Marines...TJ

[u-joint]

Message sent. I wrote a very lengthy message & I hope it gets the attention and consideration I tried to outline to her & her office.

[Wayne_Nosala]

You can toss in the Sheep hole issue in there if you like, But main message is
for Tuesday morning deadline is usage.

Thanks for the quick response here.

Wayne

[EarlKann]

Originally Posted by TomJeeps

No but it talks about her late arrival to the party, I think it's a good thing because it could mean the Sheephole Widerness is actually being considered, as opposed to JV. The only option Wilderness advocates have is to say No expansion, or say just get those vermin (us) off the land to the west, CBD just said No expansion, Miss Dy-Fi is saying Go West Marines...TJ

Gotcha, Could be getting her attention because someone has mentioned a possible de-designation of the wilderness. That would be good news.

I'm with Wayne here though. Lets focus the comments on our usage of the area.

Donald

[Dukes69]

e-mailed and faxed. As an FYI her DC(where is probably is) fax number is: (202) 228-3954

[OlMan]

Done.

[Provelogear]

Sent message! Send this link to everyone.

[rokcrawlintoy]

Done

[aphantomduck]

From Helen Baker as posted to the District 37 AMA site:

A little background.

Harry talked to Senator Feinstein's Deputy State Director, James Peterson, on Friday. Peterson made the comment that there was very low usage of the Johnson Valley area. Peterson is basing his comment on the fact that the only data that was provided by the BLM was for permitted events. (55 events 100,000 users). Since JV is not a gated or fee area, that's the only count the BLM has. I think that it is ridiculous and it absolutely DOES NOT take in to consideration the casual users, the residents, or anyone else that visits the area.

We are asking people to send a message to Feinstein that indeed, WE DO COUNT.

We desperately need people to provide their usage data. The number of times they visit JV, the number of days of each visit and the number of people in their group each visit. Economic data is useful as well as it shows our value to the local community.

Here is Peterson's direct email, please ask your people to use this email address.
james_peterson@feinstein.senate.gov

james(underscore"_")peterson@feinstein.senate.gov

Thank you,
Helen Baker
www.pfjv.org

[bakerhab2003]

Here is the CORRECT email address for James Peterson.

james_peterson@feinstein.senate.gov

that's james (underscore) peterson.

I'm brain must be fried from being at the TDS Safari. Great event!!!!!!!

helen

[N24low]

Letter sent.

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by bakerhab2003

Here is the CORRECT email address for James Peterson.

james_peterson@feinstein.senate.gov

that's james (underscore) peterson.

I'm brain must be fried from being at the TDS Safari. Great event!!!!!!!

helen

I sent emails to all three email addys that were sent out (got this in my email box hour or so ago...). Only one of them got kicked back, but thanks for the update.

Is this posted here only, or in any other forums? I don't think most people check here...

[bakerhab2003]

Originally Posted by desertPOS

Is this posted here only, or in any other forums? I don't think most people check here...

It's only in Johnson Valley & Land Use on Pirate. It's on several other groups forums.

Please repost it whereever you think that it will do the most good. A duplicate post is way better than a missed opportunity.

Thanks, Helen
www.pfjv.org

[desertPOS]

To anyone else who's been on Pirate for a while:

Is it 'poor' to post these types of things in other forums as well? I feel that it should be done, but also could see people having a problem with land use issues posted in Gen4x4 all the time, etc. Thoughts? I'm going to cross-post this to Toyota and Gen forums right now, but would appreciate thoughts you guys might have. Not to water down this thread...

[desertPOS]

Done. Posted to Toyota and Gen4x4 forums. Hope it helps? Anyone else want to post it to one of the 'less important' forums, feel free

Actually, I'll post it in chit chat real quick too...

[GETTINTHERETOY]

Emails sent.

[bggrnchvy]

I'm glad you cross posted it. I probably wouldn't have seen it for a couple of days which would have bee too late.

I hope someone actually reads these things and doesn't just tally the general intent and delete them.

[rnoyoda]

sent