Sierra Club

Activists launch effort to defeat ballot proposition on right to hunt and fish

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[Source: Arizona Capitol Times]

Wayne Pacelle, president/CEO, Humane Society of the US. (Photo by Lauren Saria/Cronkite News Service)

A ballot proposition promoted as a way to safeguard the right to fish and hunt in Arizona would politicize decisions about wildlife by giving the Legislature sole authority, leaders of a new campaign against the measure said Friday.

“It’s just one more bad idea from one of the most dysfunctional legislatures we’ve seen,” Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, said at a news conference announcing the effort against Proposition 109.

Authored by Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale, and referred to voters by the Legislature, Proposition 109 would establish the “right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife lawfully.” It would prohibit any law or rule that unreasonably restricts hunting or fishing.

It also would give the Legislature exclusive authority to enact laws regulating the manner, methods and seasons for hunting and fishing. Lawmakers could still delegate rule-making authority to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, which currently establishes policy for hunting and fishing.

Calling their effort Arizonans Against the Power Grab, the state Sierra Club, The Humane Society of the United States and the Animal Defense League of Arizona filed paperwork Friday establishing a committee to oppose Proposition 109.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, said that giving lawmakers exclusive authority to make laws involving hunting and fishing would hinder the ability of citizens to put forward their own ballot initiatives, and not just on hunting and fishing.

“Today it’s wildlife,” Pacelle said. “But it could be any other cause in the future.”

Weiers didn’t respond Friday to a message left with the House Republican spokesman. Cronkite News Service was unable to reach representatives of hunting and outdoors groups that registered support for the measure.

Twelve other states include the right to hunt and fish in their constitutions, while Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas are voting on similar propositions this year, according to Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

Bahr called the ballot measure a “proposition in search of a problem” that would undermine a system that now uses science rather than politics to regulate hunting and fishing.

“The people of Arizona support animal welfare,” she said.

Some provisions of Proposition 109:

  • Declares hunting and fishing a constitutional right of Arizona citizens.
  • Specifies that wildlife belongs to the state and its citizens.
  • Gives the Legislature exclusive authority to enact laws to regulate hunting and fishing.
  • Allows the legislature to delegate rule-making authority to the state Game and Fish Commission.
  • Prohibits any law or rule that unreasonably restricts hunting or fishing using traditional means.
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Over 200 Arizonans rally for parks and conservation at Environmental Day at the Capitol

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[Source: Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club 2-1-2010] — Today at the Arizona State Capitol, more than 25 groups and over 200 people rallied for Arizona State Parks.  Speakers at the rally included House Minority Whip, Representative Chad Campbell; State Parks Board Chair, Reese Woodling; Richard Dozer, Chairman, Governor’s Sustainable State Parks Task Force; Bill Meek, Chairman, Arizona State Parks Foundation; and Elizabeth Woodin, President, Arizona Heritage Alliance.  They all focused on the challenges to the parks, but importantly, on what everyone can do to help save the State Parks and the State Parks system.

Arizona State Parks’ system consists of 27 parks and three natural areas and includes places such as Homolovi Ruins, the Tubac Presidio, Lost Dutchman State Park, Kartchner Caverns, among many others.  Recently, the State Parks Board voted to close 13 of these parks due to the lack of operational funding.  Four additional parks had previously closed: Jerome State Historic Park, McFarland State Historic Park, Oracle State Park, and the San Rafael Natural Area.  By mid-year 2010, more than half of our State Park system will be closed and, without additional funding, nine more parks will likely close later this year.

The parks are closing because the Arizona Legislature has left them with almost no operational dollars.  Arizona State Parks has had no increase in operating funds since 2002, a limited capital budget since 2003, and unmet capital needs of $150 million.  The agency currently stands at a 40 percent personnel vacancy rate.  The latest cuts by the Legislature will mean the loss of 70 more positions.  At parks where law enforcement, public safety, and water safety must be provided, reductions in staff means those parks must close.  State Parks was prepared to limp along with a seasonal park system on $19 million of revenue composed mainly of the enhancement fund (park entrance fees), state lake improvement fund (gas and usage tax), and lottery revenues (Heritage Fund).  However, the Arizona Legislature diverted and swept away about half of that, leaving State Parks with almost no source of operating funds.

“These 30 exceptional places have been conserved over the past half century for the recreational, environmental, and cultural enjoyment of all Arizonans,” said Sandy Bahr with the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter.  “They represent our history and our future.  We must do better as stewards of these amazing resources.”

Sierra Club: Tell lawmakers to save Arizona State Parks

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[Source: Tucson Weekly, Jim Nintzel, 1-29-2010] — The latest bulletin from Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr:  Hi everyone!  Don’t forget Environmental Day — Rally for Parks at the Capitol on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  We will have a brief program on the House Lawn.  Speakers will focus on parks and environmental programs and let us know how we can help turn the tide.

Please contact your legislators and tell them you support State Parks!  Ask them to:

  • Discontinue the transfer of monies from the Heritage Fund to the State Forester.
  • Eliminate all of the Fund Reductions and Transfers and Excess Balance Transfers from December 2009 — totaling about $8.6 million.
  • Allow Parks to keep all enhancement dollars (park fees) for operations, including those being collected currently.
  • Reject proposals for Fiscal Year 2011 that would divert all of the Heritage Fund dollars to the General Fund or any proposals to permanently divert all of the lottery revenues to the General Fund. This affects Game and Fish habitat and endangered species programs too.
  • Support a program that would allow Arizona residents with an Arizona license plate to visit all Arizona parks without paying an entrance fee. This can be accommodated by implementation of a $9 fee on Arizona vehicle licenses that will generate about $39 million, which will allow parks to maintain and operate the system.
  • Stop all Fund Reductions and Transfers and Excess Balance Transfers — keep fee funds for their intended purposes.
  • Expand partnerships with local governments and volunteer entities to keep parks operating and maintained.
  • Recognize parks and open space as integral to our quality of life, our economy, and to the future of our state and generations yet to come.

To email your legislators or find their direct phone numbers, click on Legislators or paste http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp into your browser.  If you’re outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404.  In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House) and ask them to connect you with your legislators.

Citizens speak out on behalf of Arizona State Parks, Jan. 15, at packed Phoenix Zoo meeting

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Clip #1: Ken Travous, former Director, Arizona State Parks; Cindy Sherman, Volunteer at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park; and Susan Culp.

Clip #2: Cristie Statler, Arizona State Parks Foundation Director; Claudine Mahoney, Benefactors of Red Rock State Park; and Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter Executive Director.

Clip #3: Bill Roe, former Arizona State Parks Board Member; Charles Adams, University of Arizona; and Charles Eatherly, former Arizona State Parks Deputy Director.

Clip #4: Joni Bosh, former Arizona State Parks Board Member; Cindy Krupika, Friends of Oracle State Park President; Bob Burnside, Camp Verde Mayor; and Chris Strohm, Volunteer Sonoita Creek State Natural Area.