Issues update:
It has been a busy month. The first issue was what we discovered at the WRAC meeting in Palm Beach the various state agencies were holding meetings regarding off road vehicle use, and of course only invited environmentalist, including Nancy Payton to their meetings. After several robust conversations with legislators and agency folks, they agreed that we would be included in any future meetings. I was in Tallahassee on March 16 and 17 attending both The Marine Industries legislative event with Standing Watch, and the sportsmen’s caucus with the Everglades Coordinating Council. Agency heads and legislators know of our fight, but we are going to have to keep reminding them.
On the subject of legislation, there is a bill, SB2370 that will require anyone riding an ATV or dirtbike on public land to wear a helmet. I had spoken with one of the people who helped Sen. Smith write this earlier in the year, and suggested that requirement be changed to under the age of 18. It didn’t get written that way so we will probably need to push to get it changed before it changed BEFORE it becomes law. I have two friends who are delegates for ABATE, a motorcycle advocacy group, who had helmet laws, changed a few years back and we will be trying to enlist their help on this issue. Please watch the Website closely as we will have to move on this one soon. Seems ridiculous that you can ride a motorcycle at 70 mph on the interstate, but must wear a helmet at 10 mph on a dirt trail.
The last issue is one that really burns me. Our good friends at Division of Forestry are developing a 25 year plan called “The Future of Florida’s Forests”. They have assembled a panel including agency people from DOF, US Forest Service, and private timber companies to look at land use, timber production, recreation and a number of other issues. Sounds harmless enough but the panel also includes reps from THREE environmental groups, but not one user group. I spoke with them about this and of course the response was we could participate through the public input process, but they were not going to allow any user groups a seat on the panel. I formally requested to Mike Long, head of DOF that all non governmental organizations be removed from the panel, including environmentalist. This would allow equal representation of every special interest group. Needless to say, that proposal was rejected. These cozy little relationships between agencies and enviros are where terms like “INCOMPATABLE USAGE” are born and made policy. This is not just an ORV issue, the whole policy of selective discrimination against all user groups, hunters, boaters, campers etc. just frosts my butt. This policy needs to be changed now. Not just on this one but all agencies. This is the normal way they do business, not the exception. Please call your state rep, and DOF and complain. We are going to have to forge alliances with other groups to accomplish this. Speaking of which please check out
http://www.f-r-a-n.orgThis is just getting started out but I think we will need to support it. We’ll discuss that further later.
Brian McMahon
Remember those days when your friends and family would fill up the
coolers with lunches and drinks, load up the buggies and four wheelers, pile
into the pick up truck, and head out to Bad Luck? What about stopping at
G's general store on the corner of Wilson and Golden Gate Blvd. to fill up
your gas tanks and be stuck in line at the pumps for an hour because
everyone else was going out to the prairie too? Remember the mud fights
with your friends and then having to "wash" off in the nearest alligator
infested canal? My favorite memory is sitting in the back of a buggy on a
lawn chair looking up at the midnight sky and counting along with my cousins
how many stars fell from the sky. That sky was so clear, the air was so
fresh. There were no condos, no lights, no sounds other than the humming of
the buggies and ATV's trucking down the long bumpy road. I'll never forget
that night. I am lucky enough to have these memories, but I'm afraid my
future children won't be as lucky.
As of a couple months ago the prairie has been shut down. Water
Management thinks the Everglades need to be re-flooded. We had a meeting
January 5th at the Florida Sports Park that over 500 people attended!
"The largest group to ever attend a town meeting" said Sheriff Don Hunter.
The people are concerned about their rights to the land that they pay
taxes on, concerned in large numbers too. We need answers from our State
Representatives. We need to understand why our tax money is going towards
land that is being taken away from us. Our State Representatives have to
listen to us, we're VOTERS! You and I VOTE these Representatives into
office. We have a voice, now let's utilize it. I have telephone numbers
to two of our Representatives. These numbers are correct, I've already
tested them out. Call either Mel Martinez (out of Washington) or Mario
Diaz-Balart (local) and ask them what is going on with Picayune Strand
State Forest. Tell them how you feel about it being taken away from you.
Remind them that you are a Tax Paying Voter. Of course do this with your
best manners as you are representing all of us with your phone call. Call
every other day, call once a week, please call. Your phone call shows
these Representatives that we care and don't want to loose Picayune Strand
State Forest. Pass this on to your friends and family, anyone who wishes
to SAVE BAD LUCK PRAIRIE. Also, please visit
www.savebadluck.com to find
out information on upcoming events and meetings regarding Bad Luck
Prairie. If you are unable to access the website please feel free to
contact these gentlemen with any questions you may have....
>Mike Sorrell 571-7781
>Brian McMahon 250-3642
Here are the phone numbers for your Florida State Representatives
>Mario Diaz-Balart 348-1620
>Mel Martinez (202) 224-3041
