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"The comments that come in are taken very seriously, but we [the NPS] are bound by
laws and changes have to be accompanied by enabling legislation."
- Adrienne Freeman, National Park Service Spokeswoman
(Note: Three people have died in the past year climbing Half Dome
in Yosemite National Park. The above quote is the NPS response to
concerns voiced by the public, and their explanation as to why additional safety
measures or regulations will not be implemented anytime soon.)
San Francisco Chronicle
June 21, 2007
Click here to view the entire article
The Park Service had NO problem violating both the law and the enabling
legislation for the GGNRA when they banned off-leash recreation in the GGNRA in 2001.
In 2004, the Federal Court ordered the GGNRA to reinstate off-leash recreation because
they had violated their own laws. The GGNRA appealed. They lost again. As the ink on
the Court's order was drying, Superintendent O'Neill was planning his next subversion of
the law as established by the Court's ruling. Citing four (4) "incidents" involving the Western
Snowy Plover at Ocean Beach and two (2) "incidents" at Crissy Field in the time period from 2000
through 2005 (none of which resulted in injury or death to the birds) Superintendent O'Neill
declared an "emergency" under the statute such that 2.2 miles of Ocean Beach and a portion
of Crissy Field could be closed immediately, without the bureaucratic morass being claimed
by the NPS over changes at Half Dome.
The death of 3 humans in the last year does not constitute an emergency for the National
Park Service, but 6 incidents of birds being "disturbed" over the course of 6 years is an
"emergency."
Secretary Kempthorne, if the flaming pants fit, you must admit: The DOI/NPS defies
laws, promises, common sense and enabling legislation when it suits your purpose. Need we remind you that you
and your subordinates are public servants? Yours is not to put your own personal interests above the
law and public welfare.
Have you ever wondered just what kind of person the GGNRA chooses to serve on the
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, and chose as part of their now defunct Citizen's Advisory Commission? Below, Paul
Jones gloats as he recounts the elimination of all off-leash recreation in the City of Pacifica - thanks in large part to
his threat of litigation against the City and his collaboration with City Councilmember Jim Vreeland, both of whom work
for the EPA. Both have been instrumental in turning over the majority of open space in Paciica to the GGNRA. And, did you
know that none of the vast GGNRA properties in Pacifica are under consideration for off-leash recreation through NR?
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"There are no places in Pacifica where walking your dog off-leash is legal.
Although the City Council passed a resolution to allow for off-leash use at two beaches,
the City staff did not take steps to change the ordinance.
For this reason, the dog leash law remains in full force and effect,
notwithstanding the lack of enforcement. I caution people about this..."
Pacifica Tribune
June 6, 2007
Click here to view the entire article
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Paul Jones addresses the Pacifica City Council
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Paul Jones
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Member
Former GGNRA Citizen's Advisory Commission Member
Well-known Anti-Dog Activist
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In order to draw or paint the birds, he [John James Audubon] shot them first,
using fine shot to prevent them from being torn to pieces. He then used fixed
wires to prop them up, restoring a natural position. His paintings of birds are
set true-to-life in their natural habitat. This was in stark contrast with the
stiff representations of birds by his contemporaries, such as Alexander Wilson.
Audubon once wrote: "I call birds few when I shoot less than one hundred per day."
One of his biographers, Duff Hart-Davis, reveals: "The rarer the bird, the more
eagerly he pursued it, never apparently worrying that by killing it he might hasten
the extinction of its kind."
"The Biography of John James Audubon"
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Audubon)
June 5, 2007
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The Father of the Audubon Society
(Note his rifle and off-leash dog)
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NPS Centennial Initiative Listening Session
Presidio Officer's Club
San Francisco, Calif.
March 22, 2007
Jon Jarvis
Regional Director
Pacific West Region
National Park Service
This was the final response from Director Jarvis when asked
by OBDOG representatives as to why the GGNRA/NPS has chosen to renege upon the 1979 GGNRA Pet Policy
as well as ignore the enabling legislation of the GGNRA. Unbelievably, Mr. Jarvis followed this rude statement by shoving the questioner!
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"This [the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act] was rushed in rather quickly without a lot of thought and attention. We really have to think, 'Is this something we want to abide by?'"
KTLA 5 CW
Article date: Dec. 18, 2006
Click here to view the entire article
Bruce "Above the Law" Lynn
Superintendent
California State Parks
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Superintendent Lynn is borrowing a page out of GGNRA Superintendent Brian O'Neill's playbook, i.e., when a law does not suit your agenda, refuse to abide by it and make up your own.
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"...the petitioner [Juniper Park Civic Association] has submitted photographs,news articles and affidavits
which, taken in a vacuum, would lead to the inescapable conclusion that any individual daring to enter in or near a
City park would expect to be harassed by marauding hordes of vicious dogs whose owners sit idly by viewing the carnage
much like spectators in the Roman Coliseum."
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The Honorable Peter J. Kelly
Justice, New York Supreme Court - Queens County
JPCA vs. The City of New York et al
November 30,2006
Justice Kelly ruled against petitioner JPCA and for respondent the City of New York et al, with respect to the petitioner
asking the Court to wipe out a 20 year tradition of timed off-leash recreation in NYC parks.
Click here to view Justice Kelly's actual ruling.
(Editor's note: It is clear the judge could appreciate the exaggerated invective that Brent Plater and his disciples
throughout America spew regarding a group of dogs merely playing a harmless game of fetch.)
"We have met the enemy
and he is us."
Overheard by anonymous source
regarding article in S.F. Independent Media Center
November 3, 2006
Click here to view the article
Brian "Pogo" O'Neill
Superintendent
GGNRA
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A GGNRA supervisor was arrested and charged with the commission of sex crimes with minors.
"We're not a dictatorial agency."
San Francisco Chronicle
April 14, 2006
Click here to view the article
Brian O'Neill
Superintendent
GGNRA
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Note: In reality, Supt. O'Neill unilaterally terminated
the GGNRA's 1979 Pet Policy and shut down all off leash recreation areas in the GGNRA. The Federal Court reinstated the 1979
Pet Policy and revoked Supt. O'Neill's decision; precisely because it was dictatorial and failed to meet his legal
obligation for public notice and comment.
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"I don't need public comment. I am the public!"
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Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Meeting
March 6, 2006
Fort Mason
Brent Plater
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Member
Director and Staff Attorney
Center for Biological Diversity
"Ocean Beach without the people is an incredible habitat. But people think of it as a sandbox
or their backyard."
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San Francisco Chronicle
September 7,2005
Click here to view a copy of the article
Daphne Hatch
Chief of Natural Resources Management and Science
GGNRA
Note: This quote pretty much sums up GGNRA's desire to exclude not only dogs from
its parks/recreation areas, but people too!
Please click here to view an in depth analysis of the GGNRA commissioned Hatch Report. This report was used as justification to
both designate the majority of Ocean Beach as a snowy plover habitat, and prohibit off-leash recreation in those areas.
"They're terriers, not terrorists!"
GGNRA and Point Reyes National Seashore
Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting
January 23, 2001
Public
Comment
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The agenda item being discussed was the rescission of the 1979 Pet Policy as being
illegal and unenforceable (per 36 CFR 1.5). The speaker was unidentified.
"A house is a crate."
At the May 31, 2005 Appellate Hearing
Denee DeLuigi
Special Assistant United States Attorney
(Ms. DeLuigi stated the above in response to a question by Judge Alsup regarding
how the GGNRA can justify having their own law enforcement dogs off leash in homes located within GGNRA boundaries.)
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| Click to hear Mr. Plater speak... |
"Ocean Beach D.O.G. espouses the extremist theories of the Pacific Legal Foundation,
to whom sections of Ocean Beach D.O.G.'s website is dedicated."
"The Center for Biological Diversity and several other non-profit organizations intend
to file an amicus brief in the [Crissy Field] matter tomorrow, April 7, 2005. The purpose of the brief will be to inform
the Court that off-leash dog walking at the GGNRA is harming dogs, harming wildlife, and inconsistent with the purpose of
the GGNRA as established by Congress over 30 years ago."
Brent Plater
Staff Attorney
Center for Biological Diversity
Click here to view Mr. Plater's amicus brief (372kb file size)
Click here to view the responses to Mr. Plater's amicus brief
Click here to see a review of the enabling legislation which established the GGNRA -- look for passages highlighted in red
"If dogs aren't allowed in restaurants, why should
they be allowed on beaches? There's food consumption on
the beach."
Article Date: March 30,2005
Ron Schafer
District Superintendent
California State Department of Parks and Recreation
(Note: Mr. Schafer is personally responsible for banning dogs from virtually
every state beach in California)
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