HomeMy WebLinkAboutFriends of the Desert Mountains - State Budget Support Letters •
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FRIENDS OF • c.)
tisho' THE DESERT MOUNTAINS
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P.O. BOX 205,RAN(HOMIRAGE.6492270
, 1/ TELEPHONE (619)776-5026 2 "; C.)
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' TO: Supporters of the Conservancy Z .^I , ,103
FROM: Elizabeth Green E- % i v
SUBJECT: State Budget Support Letters 4 11.E
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The Coachella Valley Mountains ,Conservancy is submitting a request t the State to i 1 .d
be included in next year's state budget. That's FY 96-97, but they haws,-to start early ; A
to be considered. The Conservancy is asking for Just under $100,000 or ,staffing and H 2
operating expenses. • w..ri
You and I know what great work the Conservancy has done in helpirrg?to protect our 0 •
mountains through obtaining land donations, acquiring tax sale parcels.and getting
state and federal money to buy thousands of acres of key lands. The Conservancy is
also helping .CVAG prepare a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan for the entire
Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains.
The Conservancy has done all this good work on a shoestring, with contributions from
some of,the cities and with fund-raising efforts by its supporters. The Conservancy
can't however, raise enough money this way to fund itself the way it should be funded,. _
The Conservancy needs a stable funding,source if It is to continue to provide its
invaluable services to our community.
The Conservancy was established by the state legislature; but It received no state
funding. That was the only way that then Governor Deukmejian would'sign the bill
creating the Conservancy Jnto law. The hope was that state park and open space
bond measures would pass and the Conservancy would receive a share of those
' funds, or that a local benefit assessment district would form. Alas, in these tough
economic times, the voters haven't approved any such measures, and the
Conservancy has 'struggled endlessly to get by. There is no prospect for a bond _
measure or any other permanent funding. The Lake Tahoe Conservancy, the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Coastal Conservancy'all receive §tate
• funds, so It's the rule not the exception_ The Conservancy has been the exception, but
the governor who made it is gone, and times have changed. If the Conservancy isle
• succeed in getting Into the state budget, we need to support it by writing letters to
Resources Secretary Wheeler, Senator Kelley, and Assemblyman Battin. Will you help'?
A model letter is enclosed for your convenience, but feel free to write your own
original letter. Also feel free to distribute this letter to as many people as you wish,
the more letters the better.
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THANKS
HANKS for your help.
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Please send the following letter, or one like it to :
Douglas P. Wheeler Senator Dave Kelley Assemblyman Jim Baffin
Resources Secretary State Capitol State Capitol
1416 Ninth Street Sacramento,CA 95814 Sacramento. CA 95814
Douglas P. Wheeler
Resources Secretary
1416 Ninth Street, Room 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Mr. Wheeler
I want to urge your Support for the Coachella Valley Mountains
Conservancy's request to be included in the state budget for FY 96-97. The
Conservancy has been highly effective in protecting the mountains
surrounding the Coachella Valley. This is a tremendous service to all the
communities here which pride themselves on the beauty of the scenic
backdrop provided by the mountains. The mountains are a boon to our
tourist based economy, and their protection for the scenic, wildlife, and
recreation values is extremely important.
The Conservancy is also providing another invaluable service to the local
communities, as well as to the state, by playing a key role in the
preparation of a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan for the entire
Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains.
The Conservancy needs and deserves the state's support. I hope you will
assist the Conservancy obtain a modest level of support from the state.
Sincerely,