There's some very disturbing news regarding the Santa Cruz City Council and the continuing battle for dogs off-leash access in Santa Cruz today. As you all know, it has been one of my major activist roles in this community and while Buddha and Stella and I will no longer be here to fight for our right for off-leash access, I will be following along. I must admit that I always suspected that something just was not right in this entire mess. It just was not adding up. Particularly since my own proposals for other options were also completely ignored and never even acknowledged.
I am happy to say that those good folks in Utah actually do recognize the importance of off-leash exercise for dogs. And that our new home is just steps away from one of the BEST off-leash dog parks in the city. So we're going where Buddha and Stella will be able to romp and play in the snow...without a leash!
I just hope that their friends here in Santa Cruz will be able to do the same. It saddens me to think that the dogs of this beautiful city can not be allowed to enjoy it freely!
From FOLF:
Important new information was uncovered as a result of the legal case we filed on November 15.
What we were led to believe by the City of Santa Cruz
The City and its staff have repeatedly assured the Friends of
Lighthouse Field board, individual FOLF members and the rest of our
community that the City was committed to support and preserve our
community and maintain off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its
Beach. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the whole story.
In 2005, the Santa Cruz City Attorney made a
behind-closed-doors deal with the State Parks General Counsel to
terminate off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach.
At the November 19 initial hearing on our legal action,
previously undisclosed information came to light. It appears the City
Council duped and deceived the people of Santa Cruz to believe the
Council backed the community desire for continued off-leash access at
Lighthouse Field and Its Beach, when in fact, in 2005, the State's
attorney brokered a deal in which the City agreed to terminate
off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach in exchange for
a contribution to the City’s court costs and a discount on the
exorbitant legal fees the anti-dog group's attorney was demanding from
the City. Further, we have documented evidence that the City and State
specifically arranged to hide this back room deal to give the City
"political cover."
We received a sworn statement from the State Parks General Counsel
Bradly Torgan and copies of letters between City Attorney John Barisone
and Torgan. See www.folf.org/sellout_timeline
What were they thinking? Now we know, and it's clearly not democracy at its best.
We are deeply distressed that Council members and City
officials met repeatedly with members of the public, knowing that they
had sold us out in 2005, and yet somehow never saying a word. They
repeatedly misled us about what we needed to do. We’ve always wondered
why the obvious solution of simply renewing the operating agreement for
20 more years at no added cost was not being considered. Now we know.
This behavior by Council and City officials is unethical and unconscionable, and most likely in violation of law. To put it simply: it's wrong.
The deception continues today.
In this morning's Sentinel, City Attorney John
Barisone said: "The state and the court said we had to stop the
off-leash hours." That is false: The court never said any such thing,
and the supposed State Parks directive was concocted to cover up the
City’s surrender. See www.folf.org/sellout_timeline
Now more than ever, FOLF is committed to prevail.
Now that this previously undisclosed deal has come to light,
FOLF is considering additional legal action to strike down an agreement
to terminate off-leash access at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach.
This has become a much bigger issue than just dogs off leash. No matter what you think about dogs and leashes, you should be alarmed about how the City has conducted its business -- likely in violation of laws enacted to safeguard the public's right to open government. We must hold our City and State to higher ethical standards. They must make major policy decisions in an open and honest fashion, and they must be accountable for their decisions.
If there is some other explanation of these events, we'd be glad to hear it. If the City wants to provide an explanation and/or an apology, we'll make it available to you.
At the bottom line, you are playing a key role in the preservation of Lighthouse Field and Its Beach.
We are at a turning point in our efforts -- it is increasingly clear
that our responsible stewardship and shared community are vital to the
future of Lighthouse Field and Its Beach. Together we will preserve our
community, neighborhood and quality of life -- and protect all our
rights to open government.
This has been and will continue to be a tough and costly battle. More than ever, we need your continued support in the form of donations. If you are as upset as we are, let the City Council know what you think today!
Visit www.folf.org to make a donation or find out where to call or write.
Friends of Lighthouse Field
849 Almar Ave.
Suite C - PMB 414
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
www.folf.org
