What's happening with ORV money is criminal

[cdaxena]

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From: <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 9:45 AM
Subject: [SFDirtbikes] Digest Number 901



> There are 2 messages in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1. Not surprising...
> From: "Tor Anderson" <[e-mail]>
> 2. Re: Not surprising...
> From: chaZ28o <[e-mail]>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 05:45:49 -0000
> From: "Tor Anderson" <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Not surprising...
>
> From the San Diego Union-Tribune:
>
> By Michael Gardner
> COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
>
>
> 10:59 p.m. August 17, 2005
>
> SACRAMENTO - In a blistering report, California's auditor revealed
> Wednesday that the state Department of Parks and Recreation has spent
> millions of dollars collected from off-road enthusiasts with little to show those who
> put up the money. Auditor Elaine Howle found that the state has committed
> $38 million to buy three parcels of land that "offer little or no" benefit to the
> off-roaders who pay registration fees and state gas taxes.
>
> Howle also accused the agency that oversees off-road programs of lax
> oversight of millions of dollars in grants, of at least 80 examples
> of jiggering contracts to avoid open bidding and regulatory oversight,
> and of misappropriations that included chartering private aircraft and
> paying for articles that were never published.
>
> The state Department of Parks and Recreation agreed with most of the
> findings, but officials stressed that the most egregious miscues
> occurred a few years ago under a deputy director who has left the agency.
> Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman said that while he accepted most of
> the report's conclusions, the state's land acquisition program is justified.
>
> Parks Director Ruth Coleman "has said fix it - make it right. We intend to
> do just that," said Roy Stearns, a department spokesman. "It's a good
> program. It just needs a mid-course correction."
>
> However, several appointed commissioners who set policy for the
> program submitted independent responses, reflecting deep divisions on
> a board that Howle said lacks "a shared vision." Some commissioners
> agreed; others said the split represents the public's division over
> off-road use.
>
> State Sen. Bill Morrow, who lobbied for the audit, and off-road
> enthusiasts praised the report.
>
> Morrow, R-Oceanside, had endured accusations that his pursuit of an
> audit was in retribution for a 1996 run-in with a parks ranger after
> being caught doing "doughnuts" - tight circles at high speeds - in a
> four-wheel drive vehicle that sported special Assembly plates.
>
> "There are a lot of people who feel vindicated. Their suspicions have
> been confirmed," Morrow said. "In many respects, the division got its
> hand caught in the till, bureaucratically speaking."
>
> He said he has been particularly troubled over the agency's use of
> fees and taxes to buy land for other purposes.
>
> One parcel in Sacramento County would be used as a buffer, but it is
> four miles from the nearest off-road park. Another parcel in Kern
> County could potentially be used to expand existing federal off-road
> area, but no formal park for off-roading is planned.
>
> A third parcel in Riverside County would mitigate off-highway vehicle
> damage to the environment, but only a tiny part would be open to
> off-roaders.
>
> The Sacramento County parcel has been bought; the other two are still
> under consideration, but money has been set aside for their purchase.
>
> "The off-road people had their pockets picked," he said.
>
> One of those is Jim McGarvie of El Cajon, who is vice president of
> the Off-Road Vehicle Association.
>
> McGarvie said he only had time for a cursory review, but said what
> gnaws at him most are the land acquisitions and the thought of paying
> extra fees for programs that do not directly benefit the sport.
>
> "To see this $38 million spent on projects that is not going to help
> off-roaders is frustrating," he said.
>
> Parks officials defend their land-buying strategy, saying buffers and
> open space are necessary to ease pressure on existing parks. For
> example, urban encroachment forced the state to shrink the size of the
> off-road park near Hollister.
>
> The sport is soaring in popularity, putting more pressure on the
> eight off-road parks scattered across the state, including Ocotillo
> Wells and Heber Dunes east of San Diego.
>
> Californians bought 900,681 decals required for off-road vehicles
> this year - more than double the number sold in 2000. Last year, the
> state recorded 3.84 million visits to the eight off-road parks.
> Off-roaders pay about $50 million a year between the registration fee
> of $25 every two years and through the state gas tax, according to
> state figures.
>
> The audit noted that after 13 years, a nearly $600,000 grant to Los
> Angeles County apparently still has not been accounted for, among many
> other financial irregularities, such as shifting $3.6 million to parks
> that ban off-road use.
>
> Just as critical, Howle pointed out, the oversight commission and
> department must develop a "single vision, one set of values and
> similar goals" to make the program effective.
>
> www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20050818-9999-1n18offroad.html
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 06:24:10 -0700 (PDT)
> From: chaZ28o <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Re: Not surprising...
>
> History repeats it's self all too often
>
> This happened with the revenue that Hunter's pay via license & permits
>
> What's happening with the money is criminal and should be treated as such
>
> Then it would stop