Post by gipsie on Mar 25, 2011 8:13:38 GMT -5
As I believe a lot of you already know, the group began it's first project as an organization last weekend. The 1/4 mile has been posted as "No motorized Vehicles" and it will be an ongoing effort to maintain thse signs.
It is not really our first project, but it is the first one where we are working with Rob A., the Superintendent of Wharton.
It has been received well by some, but not by all. There has been some questions raised about who we are and what we are trying to prove. I have tried to quell some of the flak we are receiving on one of the forums out there, but I just wanted you all to be prepared for the same type of questions.
Some people think we are anti-access or trying to be the only ones able to drive in the 1/4 mile or on the side of the state for closure of the forest. They think that, by us assisting in placing signage at 1/4 mile, we are on the state's side when it comes down to limiting access to the woods.
As an organization, we need to make it clear what our position is.
Some of the questions raised:
Is the area closed larger than the 1/4 mile? The area closed is the 1/4 Mile and the immediate area surrounding it. It limits all motorized access to the fragile ecosystem, but by no means deals with any other area. And the area is still accessible to foot traffic.
Will the members of NJTLC be allowed to drive back there to maintain the signage and "patrol" the area? NO! There will be NO vehicle traffic back there. And our job is not to "patrol" the area, but to maintain the signage. We are not LEOs, nor do we pretend to be.
Will this cause the people destroying that area to find a new area to abuse? Possibly, but this discussion was had and the placing of signs only may prevent that. If there were blockades, people will create new paths in. If they are only tearing down signs or ignoring them, the signs can be replaced and the park police will have a leg to stand on when trying to enforce and prosecute.
Is this a new closure and who chose the area to close? In no way is this a new closure. That area has been lmited to foot traffic only for years. Rob A. wanted to reinforce this and asked for our help in placing new signs and maintaining them.
Will all Wharton roads be closed eventually? There is no definite answer to this, but my response would be no. There are paved roads and there are legitimate roads that go through the forest. And I firmly believe that if the state tried to close all access we would fight it with the same passion we are using to limit access to the 1/4 mile.
Shouldn't the Park Police be enforcing this and writing tickets etc? The park police are seriously understaffed. On one Sunday, there was ONE officer on duty for all of Wharton and who knows where else. They do not have the manpower or the vehicles to enforce all areas of Wharton.
I understand there are a lot more questions that will be asked....this is just a start. If you have questions or have been asked questions that you can not answer, please post them here...
It is not really our first project, but it is the first one where we are working with Rob A., the Superintendent of Wharton.
It has been received well by some, but not by all. There has been some questions raised about who we are and what we are trying to prove. I have tried to quell some of the flak we are receiving on one of the forums out there, but I just wanted you all to be prepared for the same type of questions.
Some people think we are anti-access or trying to be the only ones able to drive in the 1/4 mile or on the side of the state for closure of the forest. They think that, by us assisting in placing signage at 1/4 mile, we are on the state's side when it comes down to limiting access to the woods.
As an organization, we need to make it clear what our position is.
Some of the questions raised:
Is the area closed larger than the 1/4 mile? The area closed is the 1/4 Mile and the immediate area surrounding it. It limits all motorized access to the fragile ecosystem, but by no means deals with any other area. And the area is still accessible to foot traffic.
Will the members of NJTLC be allowed to drive back there to maintain the signage and "patrol" the area? NO! There will be NO vehicle traffic back there. And our job is not to "patrol" the area, but to maintain the signage. We are not LEOs, nor do we pretend to be.
Will this cause the people destroying that area to find a new area to abuse? Possibly, but this discussion was had and the placing of signs only may prevent that. If there were blockades, people will create new paths in. If they are only tearing down signs or ignoring them, the signs can be replaced and the park police will have a leg to stand on when trying to enforce and prosecute.
Is this a new closure and who chose the area to close? In no way is this a new closure. That area has been lmited to foot traffic only for years. Rob A. wanted to reinforce this and asked for our help in placing new signs and maintaining them.
Will all Wharton roads be closed eventually? There is no definite answer to this, but my response would be no. There are paved roads and there are legitimate roads that go through the forest. And I firmly believe that if the state tried to close all access we would fight it with the same passion we are using to limit access to the 1/4 mile.
Shouldn't the Park Police be enforcing this and writing tickets etc? The park police are seriously understaffed. On one Sunday, there was ONE officer on duty for all of Wharton and who knows where else. They do not have the manpower or the vehicles to enforce all areas of Wharton.
I understand there are a lot more questions that will be asked....this is just a start. If you have questions or have been asked questions that you can not answer, please post them here...
