[Supv. Antonovich] – Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich opposes the proposed Executive Order by President Barack Obama that seeks to designate over 600,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino as a National Monument.
“Congresswoman Judy Chu’s attempt to designate the forest as a National Recreation Area failed to get traction in Congress and now she is bypassing stakeholders by requesting that the President designate it a National Monument via Executive Order,” said Supervisor Antonovich. “This designation will impact County operations including flood protection, roads and water resources along with the communities of Mt. Baldy, Wrightwood, and the millions of residents that visit the forest each year.
Community leaders and business owners also oppose this designation and over 150 protesters gathered out in front of Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Pasadena office on Monday demanding that this designation be delayed until it is vetted by the community or scrapped all together.
COUNTY REPORT DETAILS NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION
From Supervisor Antonovich, 10-8-2014
LOS ANGELES COUNTY —The Los Angeles County Departments of Public Works and Fire reported concerns to the Board of Supervisors with the proposed National Monument Designation for the San Gabriel Mountains. This report was requested by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich on September 2, 2014 after numerous community stakeholders and business leaders expressed growing concern for the proposed change in designation of the San Gabriel Mountains.
“This list of issues is alarming. We have been told repeatedly that this designation will have no impacts on County operations, yet our County departments immediately identified multiple areas of concern,” said Supervisor Antonovich. “We now have more questions than answers, and unfortunately, we will be unable to definitely determine the potential impacts of a designation prior to the President’s ill-advised Executive Order.”
In their report, the Department of Public Works and Fire Department identified areas of concern, including:
- Fire suppression
- Water resources
- Flood control facilities
- Roads
The Monument Plan is in response to perceived gridlock in Congress regarding the National Recreation Area Bill. However, the National Recreation Area Bill had significant public input and transparency.
“Congresswoman Chu and the President are bypassing stakeholders by rushing this Monument Designation,” said Supervisor Antonovich. “This should be tabled until the Monument Designations Management Plan has been finalized and vetted with the community and impacted agencies.”
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10 Comments
He is such a knob
Sorry, but I agree with NOT changing the area’s status. I do a fair amount of work in Ticonderoga, NY, and that whole area was designated a National Park and the surrounding areas prohibited from further development. This has destroyed the economy of thriving regional towns including Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Mariah Township, Lake George, and many other areas. Many people still live there, but are finding it harder to survive or get jobs under the newer, restrictive regulations.
I lived in Soledad Canyon, near the site of the old Russ Siding (SPRR) just above Oasis Trailer Park for years, and loved it there, but the idea of it becoming a National Monument is not well-considered. If nobody lived in the San Gabriels, maybe it would be fine. But so many towns and neighborhoods would be negatively impacted it’s not worth it.
Antonovich is considering the Big Picture, and he’s correct to do so.
Good. It’s a horrible idea
Save the Three Spine Stickleback!
just what we need another executive order from this failed administration…
Thank you Mike!
Those opposed to turning the area over to the National Park Service (NPS) from the current U.S. Forest Service (FS) are so wrong I hardly know where to start.
First, the Angeles National Forest is not being managed for recreation now. It isn’t being managed for anything. The Congress in its wisdom has underfunded the FS for years, allowing for little else than fire suppression. In fact, the FS has already run out 0of fire fighting funds this year and the Congress (read the GOP) refuses to appropriate more money. So, the FS is taking money from every other area of its responsibility to cover the shortfall.
IF the FS received proper funding to manage the Angeles Forest properly — provide good visitor services, interpretive services, decent park maintenance — then keeping the area under FS control would be sufficient. But this is not happening.
So, the only realistic way to properly manage the area for recreation is national monument status. Such status would allow the NPS to provide the needed budget to do what the people of the area really need done.
Given the gridlock in Congress — and the absolute opposition to properly funding the FS — it is the only way open to fixing the serious problems now existing in the Angeles.
It is Mr. Antonovich and other local business and city leaders who are really the shortsighted ones here.
I don’t approve of more restrictive management in our local mountains. It’s more of the same sierra club exclusionist BS. We need less restrictive designations that do a better job of allowing for recreation over turning our forests into museums you can look at from a distance but can’t touch.
thank goodness someone has some brains and common sense. Thanks Mike !
Antonovich thinks all he must do is SAY he opposes something and that’s that…
His opinions mean squat…
How about some ACTION..? Supervisor…