Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), recently wrote a letter detailing ARC's anti-public lands, pro-corporate control lobbying, and posted it on their website for the whole world to see. Read Crandall's letter HERE.
Warren Meyer, head of the National Forest Recreation Association, used a NFRA press release to try and frame the plan (which NFRA initiated) to cheat seniors and the disabled out of the benefits they were promised with their lifetime passes as somehow being a boon to young families. Read the NFRA statement HERE.
Crooks.
What's most important in these letters: -
1) For the first time ever, Crandall openly refers to the corporate takeover of Public Lands, giving ARC credit for its central role in establishing Fee Demo and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, or R.A.T. (Recreation Access Tax), and states the support of ARC for privatization of public lands along with charging prices for recreation at the same rates as private corporations do.
Even some members of ARC are against increasing fees, especially members of RV groups like the Family Motorcoach Association and the Good Sam Club, many of whom are seniors. They have seen the value of their retirement savings plummet and they rely on their discount to make camping affordable. All citizens need a fair level of access in return for funds supplied by our taxes.
2) The NFRA statement makes clear that the policy changes being proposed by the Forest Service are originating with them for the benefit of the firms they represent, and that the Forest Service is merely acting as their front man. There is no public benefit to the policy changes, only benefits to private interests.
Some pro-fee supporters say that the US Forest Service is short of funds and therefore continually increased fees are essential for its basic operations, which include the expense of fire-fighting. However, their recreation budget is separate from fire and the overall funding for the USFS is not only substantially ahead of inflation but has increased by over 60% since 2000.
So, what can we do?
Here are three suggestions which would be a great help at this important time, when a bill to REPEAL the R.A.T. (S.868) is pending in Congress: -
1) write letters to the editor or Guest Editorials about ending these ever-increasing fees, and keeping Public Land accessible to everyone, especially seniors and the disabled.
2) pass this on to anyone you know who could help in this important effort.
3) if you are an RV owner, tell your organization to let ARC know of your opposition to the fee increases.
Source: Western Slope No Fee Coalition