RBOC wants us to contact our legislator:
"Contact Your Legislator to Preserve Boating Leadership & Programs as Single Entity
October 16, 2012
RBOC is requesting that boaters ask their state legislators take a stand now to preserve boating leadership, programs and services as a single entity in state government.
Boaters should contact their Senators and Assembly Members and request that they contact Governor Jerry Brown, urging him to preserve the boating division and leadership, as well as boating programs and services, as his administration implements the Governor's Reorganization Proposal #2 [GRP #2] over the next eight months.
RBOC President Cleve Hardaker stated: “We are greatly concerned that the implementation of the reorganization proposal will depart from the GRP #2 that was presented to the Legislature, and will not provide for a boating division with a deputy director as its policy leader. Instead, implementation could scatter $69 million each year in boating programs and services out of a boating division, diluting them within other divisions and units in state parks."
Continued Hardaker: “Dispersing boater-funded programs and services through the State Parks is a terrible idea, especially in light of the allegations of significant financial mismanagement at the department." Numerous accounts have revealed that State Parks management staff took advantage of a costly vacation buyout, and that State Parks had $54 million in surplus money hidden for over a decade.
“It is essential that action be taken to ensure that the funds boaters pay the state are used wisely and effectively, with leadership and transparency." Concluded Hardaker: “It is critical that legislators contact the Governor and stress the importance of this issue."
A number of critical boating programs are at risk. The Department of Boating and Waterways funds, plans, and develops boating facilities on waterways throughout California and ensures safe boating for the public by providing financial aid and training to local law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Department has responsibility for boating safety and education, licensing of yacht and ship brokers and salespeople, aquatic weed control in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and beach erosion control and sand renourishment along California's coast and operates an oceanography program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla.
Scattering these programs throughout State Parks would be a reversal of the assurances in presentations of the Governor's administration to the Legislature and the Little Hoover Commission that boating leadership, programs and services would be preserved.
Indeed, the Little Hoover Commission report to the Legislature stated: “The Governor's plan does simplify the state's organizational structure and unites a greater number of recreational activities under one leader, which should improve coordination and communication and make it easier for state leaders to determine tradeoffs in setting spending and program priorities." The statutory provisions of the reorganization proposal also establish a division with the programs and services intact.
Identify your Senator and Assembly Member: http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp. A sample letter is here: http://www.rboc.org/documents/RBOCSampleLetter-SaveCalBoating10-16-12.pdf
Best,
Jerry Desmond, Jr.
Director of Government Relations
Recreational Boaters of California
www.RBOC.org"
"Contact Your Legislator to Preserve Boating Leadership & Programs as Single Entity
October 16, 2012
RBOC is requesting that boaters ask their state legislators take a stand now to preserve boating leadership, programs and services as a single entity in state government.
Boaters should contact their Senators and Assembly Members and request that they contact Governor Jerry Brown, urging him to preserve the boating division and leadership, as well as boating programs and services, as his administration implements the Governor's Reorganization Proposal #2 [GRP #2] over the next eight months.
RBOC President Cleve Hardaker stated: “We are greatly concerned that the implementation of the reorganization proposal will depart from the GRP #2 that was presented to the Legislature, and will not provide for a boating division with a deputy director as its policy leader. Instead, implementation could scatter $69 million each year in boating programs and services out of a boating division, diluting them within other divisions and units in state parks."
Continued Hardaker: “Dispersing boater-funded programs and services through the State Parks is a terrible idea, especially in light of the allegations of significant financial mismanagement at the department." Numerous accounts have revealed that State Parks management staff took advantage of a costly vacation buyout, and that State Parks had $54 million in surplus money hidden for over a decade.
“It is essential that action be taken to ensure that the funds boaters pay the state are used wisely and effectively, with leadership and transparency." Concluded Hardaker: “It is critical that legislators contact the Governor and stress the importance of this issue."
A number of critical boating programs are at risk. The Department of Boating and Waterways funds, plans, and develops boating facilities on waterways throughout California and ensures safe boating for the public by providing financial aid and training to local law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Department has responsibility for boating safety and education, licensing of yacht and ship brokers and salespeople, aquatic weed control in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and beach erosion control and sand renourishment along California's coast and operates an oceanography program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla.
Scattering these programs throughout State Parks would be a reversal of the assurances in presentations of the Governor's administration to the Legislature and the Little Hoover Commission that boating leadership, programs and services would be preserved.
Indeed, the Little Hoover Commission report to the Legislature stated: “The Governor's plan does simplify the state's organizational structure and unites a greater number of recreational activities under one leader, which should improve coordination and communication and make it easier for state leaders to determine tradeoffs in setting spending and program priorities." The statutory provisions of the reorganization proposal also establish a division with the programs and services intact.
Identify your Senator and Assembly Member: http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp. A sample letter is here: http://www.rboc.org/documents/RBOCSampleLetter-SaveCalBoating10-16-12.pdf
Best,
Jerry Desmond, Jr.
Director of Government Relations
Recreational Boaters of California
www.RBOC.org"