Posted on 07/14/2006 6:51:02 PM PDT by calcowgirl
DAVENPORT, Calif. - The state acquired five miles of beaches and rugged coastline in Santa Cruz County on Friday, bringing public ownership to one of the longest stretches of private beachfront property in Northern California.
The state Public Works Board voted to accept 407 beachfront acres of Coast Dairies Ranch, which consists of 6,845 acres of redwood forests, artichoke fields and rolling hills northwest of Santa Cruz.
The beaches, including Panther Beach, Bonny Doon Beach and Davenport Bluffs, will become part of a new state park that will be opened to the public and patrolled by rangers over the next year, said Roy Stearns, a spokesman for the state Department of Parks and Recreation.
Two years ago, the Trust for Public Land-California, the San Francisco nonprofit group that owns Coast Dairies, tried to donate the beaches to the state parks department.
But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to accept them because the state didn't have enough money to hire the rangers needed to open the beaches to the public.
California's improving economy has helped the state's budget, and the governor recently approved funding to hire nine rangers and maintenance workers for the new park.
About 5,700 acres of Coast Dairies Ranch will be transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management later this year, said Reed Holderman, who heads the Trust for Public Land-California. The remaining farmland will be donated to Agri-Culture, a Watsonville group that will manage the leases.
Longer article with photos and video at:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/15037038.htm
Only true watermelons may trespass upon these sands. All others must stand away and be jealous of Greenwienie Power.
Cool
Cool
My tax dollars at work.
“The establishment of an American Soviet government will involve the confiscation of large landed estates in town and country, and also, the whole body of forests, mineral deposits, lakes, rivers and so on.”
- William Z. Foster, National Chairman of the Communist Party,
restating point one of the Communist Manifesto in 1932,
“The abolition of private property.”
How wonderful. The Dyke Brigade in the State Park Rangers has more positions opening up for all their galpals.
Coast Dairies ping.
"Two years ago, the Trust for Public Land-California, the San Francisco nonprofit group that owns Coast Dairies, tried to donate the beaches to the state parks department.
But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to accept them because the state didn't have enough money to hire the rangers needed to open the beaches to the public.
California's improving economy has helped the state's budget, and the governor recently approved funding to hire nine rangers and maintenance workers for the new park.
About 5,700 acres of Coast Dairies Ranch will be transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management later this year, said Reed Holderman, who heads the Trust for Public Land-California. The remaining farmland will be donated to Agri-Culture, a Watsonville group that will manage the leases."
This seems like great news, is there something to the story I need to know?
They did such dirty deal to the owners of Coast Dairies. They were very long time owners of that land.
One county supervisor decided she wanted a greenbelt adjacent to her property so she put the dairy owners out of business.
The state doesn't need to own any more land, nor does Santa Cruz county. They don't take care of what they have, and they have waaaaaaay to much.
If you are a follower of Lenin and favor socialism and State control of property and production, there's nothing wrong with it.
If on the other hand, you believe in the Constitution, freedom, and private property rights, you might not like this deal at all.
They?
Here's some history.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/724437/posts
Water rights fight--farmer regrets selling to an open space trust
Half Moon Bay Review ^ | July 24, 002 | Nicole A. Freeling
Posted on 07/29/2002 10:16:23 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1103185/posts
Private lands spur a public fight
San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | March 21, 2004 | Jim Wasserman
Posted on 03/22/2004 1:40:39 PM PST by farmfriend
"If you are a follower of Lenin and favor socialism and State control of property and production, there's nothing wrong with it.
If on the other hand, you believe in the Constitution, freedom, and private property rights, you might not like this deal at all. "
Gee, thanks for the clarification.
Thanks for rememberin'!
I am sure it isn't going to help Big Creek. The owners have tried very hard to work with the powers that be. But they deck is loaded for the wrong side.
Yeah, a lot. What was once productive land that pays taxes and maintained open space without budget money is now off the rolls forever. The State got that land with the expressed condition that it would remain in production as a dairy farm. They immediately violated those promises and got rid of the cows.
Read the article. They've got NINE people to manage 5,700 acres. NINE people mostly pushing paper and dealing with lawbreakers, not maintaining the land or managing habitat. How are they going to weed it with that little manpower? What you had with a private farm was food and habitat protection. What you got under State control was a weed infested hell hole begging for more tax money. Click here to feast your eyes on the results of State mismanagement.
Environmental protection by the DMV; it's not what you think it is.
I shoulda known.
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