CA Boaters - important

[Cas]

Call To Arms -- Help Us Save CalBoating
Our boating advocates in Sacramento all agree that the governor
plans to eliminate the California Department of Boating and
Waterways, and that this process probably will begin soon.
Boat owners and aficionados deserve better than this and we need
to tell the governor so in a letter -- in lots of letters.
Details and a sample letter are contained on our web site at
http://www.californiadelta.org/politics.htm
CalBoating is funded by boaters' gas tax dollars, boat
registration fees, and interest derived from loans for marina
projects, and does not impact California's budget.
Please get your letter on its way today.
S A M P L E L E T T E R
ü Sign and send ASAP by fax to 916-441-3520, by email to rboc@rboc.org, or by mail to RBOC, 925 L Street, Suite 220, Sacramento CA 95814.
May 1, 2004
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: California Performance Review
Request Not to Eliminate Cal Boating
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
As a recreational boater, I urge you not to eliminate the California Department of Boating and Waterways in the Reorganization Plan that is being developed by The California Performance Review process.
It is critical that this stateÂ’s more than 3 million boating enthusiasts, who support a $17 billion per year boating industry, continue to have the leadership, accountability and dedication that are ensured by a boating department with a Director whose principal focus is boating. Since becoming a department in 1967, DBW has proven to be an effective, efficient and model department.
DBW and its vital, boater-funded programs are critical to:
Safety on the waterways for over 3 million boating enthusiasts.
Environmental protection for the state waterways.
Stimulation of the stateÂ’s economy through loans and grants for boating facility construction.
DBW does not receive monies from the stateÂ’s General Fund. Rather, DBW activities are supported by boater-generated fuel tax dollars, registration fees, federal gas sales tax funds, and interest earned from loans of those funds.
DBW has a vital role in ensuring that CaliforniaÂ’s unique recreational boating environments continue to be supported by a world-renown recreational boating infrastructure. Indeed, DBWÂ’s programs are essential for the state to meet the demand for new and upgraded public-access boating facilities that will total $837 million over the next 16 years.
Recreational boating generates a $17 billion annual economic statewide impact that represents 1.2 % of GDP. Recreational boating also contributes more than $1.6 billion in state and local taxes, represents 284,000 California jobs, and supports more than 8,500 California businesses.
Governor Schwarzenegger, I urge you to ensure that The California Performance Review does not propose any changes in the departmental status, efficient structure, or essential programs of Cal Boating.
Sincerely,
_________________________
[name]
_________________________
[street address]
_________________________
[city \ state \ zip]

[Rexone]

Cas is right guys. This is an important one. Don't ask what happened later like the noise law that passed last year without much public opposition. Write to the gov people and do it now.
You ask what does Dept of Boating and Waterways have to do with me. Here are a few things that are in jeopardy of being handled properly in it's absence.
Programs and Services (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/ps.htm) Among other things Boating Safety Education (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Safety_edu.htm) that is so important in keeping insurance rates down and other restrictive potential laws in check.
Grants and Loans (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/grants.htm) for facilities we use
Lots of useful reports (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/PubsAndReports.htm) are available to you free
Recent Meeting Agendas (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/bwcmnew1.htm) that directly affect you and the facilities you may take for granted in CA
Long Beach Marina (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/bwc0315pr.htm)
Ever Heard of Lake Ming? (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/bwcpr1-04.htm)
Lake Elsinore, Sacramento & more (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/bwcpr1103.htm)
More Marinas many of you use (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/BWCsept03PR.htm)
Ever hear of Camp Far West or Jack Smith Park in Needles (http://www.dbw.ca.gov/july03BWCPR.htm) Both are on this list of facilities improvements.
I could go on but you get the point. The Dept of Boating and Waterways directly affects YOU. Take the time to write a letter to save it. Without it the funds required to do all these improvements, boating facilities are in serious jeopardy if merged with some other larger department within state government (like Parks and Rec for example).
I'm going to bookmark this thread and post a link next year on the questions I see on this forum regarding facilities going to shit if the Department is abolished and few if any of you wrote a letter expressing your concerns. You have the power right now to sway this thing. DO IT and do it right now.

[RiverToysJas]

What's the Arnold's plan? Just do away with it? Roll it into Parks & Recs? He must have some plan, I doubt he's just letting everything go to shit. Why is he doing away with it? I assume it's financial, but I need more info before writing any letters to anyone. Esp since I'm one of those "less government" people. ;)
Maybe writing the letter is the right thing to do, but I personally am going to seek some information first.
RTJas

[Rexone]

From what I know cutting Departments saves the state money. Many times this is done in a haphazard manner where the least opposition exists, not because its the right thing to do or right for the people that use and rely on facilities and / or services.
The state has made some runs at this department before (for the boater's money). To try and use the money designated for boating facilities in the general fund. Without B&W much of the money you all pay in fees and so on may just go into the general fund to pay off the democratic spending spree we've been enjoying the past few years. Mean time all the services listed above may or may not get handled in the boaters best interest.
do the research. The Dept of B&W has done nothing but good for boating in CA. It is strongly supported by the SCMA and every other boating group I'm aware of.

[MagicMtnDan]

I printed it and faxed it off today and I don't yet have a boat. I hope others will send it off to Arnold.

[Debbolas]

I cut and pasted and e-mailed my letter......;)

[GlastronGuy]

I am going to fax it now. If you use that sample, be sure to spell check it. Somehow the formatting got messed up for me.

[Cas]

Mike,
Can you possibly make this thread a sticky?

[GlastronGuy]

Cas
YHPM

[Debbolas]

my copy and paste e-mail version is fine....;)

[GlastronGuy]

Originally posted by Debbolas
my copy and paste e-mail version is fine....;)
It must have something to do with the board formatting.
:confused:

[Her454]

SENT MINE!!!!:mad:

[My Man's Sportin' Wood]

It's a plan for our boat gas tax and registration $ to go into the general fund, I'm sure. Just like they take our road taxes and school bond money and put those into the "general fund". If they aren't putting it towards roads and schools, where the heck is it going? (Rhetorical question, no need to answer)
http://home.mchsi.com/~angieknoll/soapbox.gif

[Debbolas]

LOVE your soapbox smilie!:D

[Cas]

If anyone else has troubles with the letter or you want to read a little more about it, click the link in my original post.
oh wait, here it is again
http://www.californiadelta.org/politics.htm
As Mike said, let's do something about this NOW!

[eliminatedsprinter]

I wonder if someone could post a link to e mail the gov's office. I'll bet individually worded responses directly there, may have the most impact.

[HCS]

The State is going to drop the hammer on everyone.
Thanks to Gray Davis and his mis handling of State finances.:mad:
A.A.S. is going to have to make alot of unpopular decisions.
The State Parks and Recreation is going to have to make major
cut backs in their programs. Then they'll have to raise the fees
on all services. Camping fees, boat launch fees, etc.
Hold your wallets.

[eliminatedsprinter]

Originally posted by HARDCORE-SKI
The State is going to drop the hammer on everyone.
Thanks to Gray Davis and his mis handling of State finances.:mad:
A.A.S. is going to have to make alot of unpopular decisions.
The State Parks and Recreation is going to have to make major
cut backs in their programs. Then they'll have to raise the fees
on all services. Camping fees, boat launch fees, etc.
Hold your wallets.
I hope the state does drop the hammer on all the new programs that G. Davis started, that we all got along fine without. However, dropping long established and usefull things like the dept of boating and waterways does not much make sense. Frankly I'd rather they dump most of the DMV....

[HCS]

All the bleeding heart liberals will do everything they can to save
thier own programs in their districts. Then they'll say the hell with
everyone else.

[Rexone]

Originally posted by Cas
Mike,
Can you possibly make this thread a sticky?
it is one in HSWest. :)

[Cas]

Originally posted by Rexone
it is one in HSWest. :)
Thanks Mike! There was too little too late on the noise law but not this one. I'm gonna feel real good if we can get this one stopped.