Wild Olympics Campaign Speech at Chamber of Commerce
Wild Olympics spokesman Jon Owen and Jim Gift, chairman of the Olympic Audobon Society, were the guest speakers at the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday. They spoke in favor of the Wild Olympics campaign to add 37,000 acres to Olympic National Park.
Next month the Chamber will hear a counter speech by landowners who are less amenable to expanding the park.
Next month the Chamber will hear a counter speech by landowners who are less amenable to expanding the park.
posted by Tom Harper at 8:55 AM
23 Comments:
Thank goodness for people with the foresight to try to protect wild places.
Will the owners of the affected properties be offered fair market compensation for this land? It seems to me this would be the easiest solution, but historically, one that ONP has never pursued. Will cash cows like Log Cabin and Lake Crescent Lodge be removed in the pursuit of the wilderness ideal? How does the 14 foot wide, paved ‘trail” across the backside of the lake figure in to this “wilderness” concept? Considering that “fair market’ for waterfront at Lake Crescent is at least $10,000/ft., will we see a return to the threats and intimidation used to acquire the land on the 101 side in the 1970’s? Or will this “wilderness” initiative simply be used by the park to undervalue these private holdings, disallowing any development or improvement, and force in holders off the lake?
WTF sez: "Will the owners of the affected properties be offered fair market compensation for this land? It seems to me this would be the easiest solution, but historically, one that ONP has never pursued."
Yes, this will be interesting to watch in the coming months. What WILL be established as "fair market value", and how.
Having been involved in a government attempt to take many dozens of acres of my land via "eminent domain", I have a bit of experience with this. It is not as arbitrary as some would like to make it seem.
Buyers and sellers often have different views of what something is worth. In eminent domain proceedings, the courts are brought in, and valuations established with industry experts. If the owners don't agree, they litigate.
Will also be interesting to watch, as the US economy continues to collapse. So many seem to trudge along as if it is all "business as usual". It isn't. We hit our debt ceiling a day or so ago. The economic issues are incredibly serious. But, what are we spending our time talking about?
Right.
I didn't attend this presentation. It isn't like the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce has done much of anything I can think of, in the last 10 years or more.
I do watch the news a bit, and it seems like our country is really headed for big troubles.
Why can't we get together like the old days? Like the beginnings of WWII? The government enacted emergency laws, and we all pulled together to solve the problems. Rag collectors were in the streets. Victory gardens. We recycled EVERYTHING to support our troops with metals, fabrics and anything else we could. Gasoline was rationed, and we found ways to still function.
Now, our way of living is threatened. Our children's futures are clouded with doubt.
And, what do we do about it all? It looks like nothing, and our childrens' future looks worse and worse everyday.
Why did it matter back during WWII? Why don't our children matter today?
Wild Olympics? I don't know the details, but I do know all life on earth is interconnected. Most of us know we are killing our own children and their future with our chemicals and policies. Science studies proves this over and over. Our fertility rates are plummeting because of the chemicals we accept into our lives. We are sterilizing ourselves, chemically.
So, the important issue is how property owners will be compensated, while trying to preserve parts of a fractured ecosystem we all rely upon? Really? That is as good as it gets?
Okay. Look in your kids eyes, as you kiss them goodnight. You'll be dead soon enough, it won't be your problem.
No they wont be compensated fairly, my family owns property past sekiu that the park has been trying to get for five years now, all they have offered is half of market value. we were also offered a trade for some land but it was uninhabitable.
With all the budget problems the federal, state and local governments have... why the hell are they doing this now??
Well, I don't know, but it sure would give the real estate agents less land to get their greedy hands on.
And discourage more population coming here stomping over us country folk.
So I'm sitting in Granny's Cafe yesterday talking to a retired state cop and we agreed that we need to stop helping those fools in Louisiana that live in such stupid places instead of relocating to higher land (there's plenty of higher land in that state).
He said, "What if they start moving here?" "That's why we have guns, don't want anymore terrorists here."
How does the 14 foot wide, paved ‘trail” across the backside of the lake figure in to this “wilderness” concept?
It's not motorized and a great alternate way to get from point to point in case things get dangerous on the highway.
And a lot of it isn't 14 feet wide and paved. I fully support the trail, you don't see trash hiking it outside of the towns.
Will the owners of the affected properties be offered fair market compensation for this land?
Greed is what drives what is perceived to be a fair market value. Pay them what they paid for it.
Or just take it away from them, like we took it away from the natives, and give it back to them, and I'll go hook up with an injun chick, I like them better than needy white chicks anyway. :-)
to 10:18PM 5-17-11
70 years ago, we still had a viable US government, not a facist state, and leaders who had the courage to ask us to sacrifice. The last president that asked us to sacrifice was Jimmy Carter and look what that started. I don't know what it's going to take this time, probably another two years and a few more million people living on the streets.
Will the owners of the affected properties be offered fair market compensation for this land?
WTF, if you are not a real estate agent why should you give a shit?
Ya know, Billy if you weren’t talking out your ass, you wouldn’t be able to talk at all… that trail IS going to be 14 feet wide (plus 4 more for horses) and its going to be paved all the way… I guess you could give up your place at the whim of the govt. –right? Truth is you’d be bitchin, and whining, and fighting, it the minute they made a move on ya and you know it.
Ya know, Billy if you weren’t talking out your ass, you wouldn’t be able to talk at all… that trail IS going to be 14 feet wide
No, you are talking out your ass, the funding won't be there to make it all 14 feet wide and pave all of it.
The only reason the trail exists in the first place is because so much of it has been built with donations and volunteer work.
I guess you could give up your place at the whim of the govt. –right?
If the government wants my dump we'll cut a deal and I'll move out in the boondocks, spend all the time I can out there anyway, away from you silly monkeys. :-)
WTF? said: "...that trail IS going to be 14 feet wide (plus 4 more for horses)..."
Just because WTF? says it with so much vigor, doesn't make it correct.
The portion of the existing trail that is within ONP boundaries has only 8 feet paved (+/- 3 inches) plus 3 feet unpaved (for horses). Planning to close the "gap" and reopening the tunnels is currently stalled over the Park's requirement that the rest of "their" trail only be 3 feet wide (instead of 8), which would prohibit the County's use of the transportation grant it has received to have it built (which requires a minimum of 8 feet). The paved portion of the trail that is outside of ONP boundaries is 12 feet paved, plus 4 feet for horses.
Good! I hope the Lake Crescent trail is paved, and wide enough to allow safe access for all who wish to enjoy it, including disabled folks who have fewer opportunities to enjoy the park and trail because they are not wheelchair accessible.
Such selfish attitudes are expressed here sometimes. Property rights - property rights - property rights - greed - greed - greed. Public parks belong to all of us, and should be accessible to all of us - young, old, fit, infirm. All of us.
Most of the paved sections of the trail is 8 to 10 feet, most of it has been built with volunteer labor, plus the contributions of local contractors and businesses. Even the paving company gives them a special price.
A lot of grant money has gone into it but the government doesn't see things like Mr. WTF, to the government it's a great alternate route in case of war or other turmoil and for what it's cost to build it it's a bargain, we should get our highways so cheap.
BTW, the old trestle over Morse
Creek is just seven feet wide, I know, I helped build it.
The only thing that matters is ME. Now. I'm not infirmed, I own property, and I don't have to care about anyone eles, or anything else.
Of course many of you would like your war served in comfort, catered by the Red Lyon, hehehehe
"...we still had a viable US government, not a facist state ..."
See what National Socialism gets you?
"See what National Socialism gets you?"
Oh! Oh! I know this one!
A RED under every bed! Right??
... not a facist state ...
F-A-S-C-I-S-T.
Personally, I hate states that have faces. Down with faces!
Viva Il Duce!
"Personally, I hate states that have faces. Down with faces!"
What has South Dakota ever done to you?
sorry my s key sticks sometime s
south dakota, crazy horse forever!
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