Correspondence: suggestions for the Commission (2 of 2), 1977-1991, p. 16 |
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The problems with the National Park Service are not limited to hypocrisy.
In the 1930's the State of California granted to the U.S. Federal Government
all rights to govern the National Parks in California, including the private
lands surrounded by them. The Federal Government appointed the Department of the
Interior, National Park Service to administer these lands, both public and private.
For the people living on private lands in these areas, the Park Ranger was the
law maker and the law enforcer. The Park Superintendent could and did make any
law he wished. The right to a local representative law making body was denied.
In 1969 when given the authority to purchase the surrounded private lands
or "inholding areas" on a willing seller willing buyer basis, the National Park
Service purposely harassed the property owners. The National Park Service felt
they could force people to sell by restricting the property rights of the owners,
threatening condemnation, closing the only snowmobile trail out of the community,
taking away the horse corral, trash dump, and telling people to drive only from
their home to the parking lot. In essence they denied people freedom of movement
within their own private community. They revoked residents rights to improve or
repair their homes, and they ticketed and fined any who disobeyed.
When confronted with these unlawful practices, the residents fought back.
Neither the county nor the state could help. The residents had to appeal to
Washington D.C. Some Senators and Congressmen intervened. In the summer of 1974,
a property owners meeting was held. Park officials from the San Francisco office
and the local park office attended. The results of that meeting were interesting.
When confronted with a qualified naturalist about the "environmental damage" on
the only snowmobile trail out of the area "a snow covered asphalt car road", the
Park Superintendent acknowledged that there was no damage. In the winter of 1974,
that same man told the then Congressman Bob Mathias that the road was closed to
prevent environmental damage. Residents who were prevented from completing their
building projects were allowed to continue. Residents were again allowed to drive
freely throughout the community, and the other problems were glossed over with smiles
The head Ranger of Grant Grove Section was transferred to another area, and the Park
Superintendent of Kings Canyon-Sequoia "retired". A new superintendent was brought
in and the problems were supposed to disappear.
As of January 1, 1978 the snowmobile trail out of the park was still closed,
the horse corral was gone, and the residents just received another letter telling
them that they will not be allowed to build a bathroom or extra bedroom or otherwise improve their home. The reason they were given was that the government hoped
to someday purchase their home on a willing seller-willing buyer basis, and didn't
want to have to pay more for it.
: Citizens from Wawona, California, surrounded by Yosemite National Park, filed
a lawsuit in Fresno, California in 1977. The Judge, in January, 1978, found the
citizens cause justified and made a preliminary ruling in their favor.' Every count
filed by the citizens group was upheld, and the National Park Service was to face
charges of violating a number of laws including failure to file an environmental
impact study before purchasing and bulldozing our homes. The wery people who cry
environmental damage whenever it suits their purposes blatantly disregard the
mvironmental safeguarding laws.
Object Description
Description
| Title | Correspondence: suggestions for the Commission (2 of 2), 1977-1991, p. 16 |
| Format (imt) | image/tiff |
| Physical access | Contact: Special Collections, Doheny Memorial Library, Libraries, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189; specol@dots.usc.edu |
| Full text | The problems with the National Park Service are not limited to hypocrisy. In the 1930's the State of California granted to the U.S. Federal Government all rights to govern the National Parks in California, including the private lands surrounded by them. The Federal Government appointed the Department of the Interior, National Park Service to administer these lands, both public and private. For the people living on private lands in these areas, the Park Ranger was the law maker and the law enforcer. The Park Superintendent could and did make any law he wished. The right to a local representative law making body was denied. In 1969 when given the authority to purchase the surrounded private lands or "inholding areas" on a willing seller willing buyer basis, the National Park Service purposely harassed the property owners. The National Park Service felt they could force people to sell by restricting the property rights of the owners, threatening condemnation, closing the only snowmobile trail out of the community, taking away the horse corral, trash dump, and telling people to drive only from their home to the parking lot. In essence they denied people freedom of movement within their own private community. They revoked residents rights to improve or repair their homes, and they ticketed and fined any who disobeyed. When confronted with these unlawful practices, the residents fought back. Neither the county nor the state could help. The residents had to appeal to Washington D.C. Some Senators and Congressmen intervened. In the summer of 1974, a property owners meeting was held. Park officials from the San Francisco office and the local park office attended. The results of that meeting were interesting. When confronted with a qualified naturalist about the "environmental damage" on the only snowmobile trail out of the area "a snow covered asphalt car road", the Park Superintendent acknowledged that there was no damage. In the winter of 1974, that same man told the then Congressman Bob Mathias that the road was closed to prevent environmental damage. Residents who were prevented from completing their building projects were allowed to continue. Residents were again allowed to drive freely throughout the community, and the other problems were glossed over with smiles The head Ranger of Grant Grove Section was transferred to another area, and the Park Superintendent of Kings Canyon-Sequoia "retired". A new superintendent was brought in and the problems were supposed to disappear. As of January 1, 1978 the snowmobile trail out of the park was still closed, the horse corral was gone, and the residents just received another letter telling them that they will not be allowed to build a bathroom or extra bedroom or otherwise improve their home. The reason they were given was that the government hoped to someday purchase their home on a willing seller-willing buyer basis, and didn't want to have to pay more for it. : Citizens from Wawona, California, surrounded by Yosemite National Park, filed a lawsuit in Fresno, California in 1977. The Judge, in January, 1978, found the citizens cause justified and made a preliminary ruling in their favor.' Every count filed by the citizens group was upheld, and the National Park Service was to face charges of violating a number of laws including failure to file an environmental impact study before purchasing and bulldozing our homes. The wery people who cry environmental damage whenever it suits their purposes blatantly disregard the mvironmental safeguarding laws. |
| Filename | indep-box23-14-03~014.tif |
| Archival file | Volume78/indep-box23-14-03~014.tif |
