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=2E. Struggle in Sedona ..

Below is an editorial from Fred Johnson published
last week in Sedona Red Rock News ...

Fred is good man and has done an admirable job of
defining the issues involved with our Struggle in
Sedona.

Let=92s carry Fred=92s concept of  community approval
for USFS land trades one step further, send me
email and register =93your two cents worth=94 so that we
may provide your opinion (support of no more land
trades) to the USFS at the next meeting.  Let=92s face
it, when the USFS trades land, these trades affect
not just Sedona -- they affect the entire world.

Let's not loose one more trail or tree.

Let's not loose one more bit of scenery.

Let's not loose one more bit of open space.

Our forests are Public land and should remain public
-- not condos, not minimarts, not resorts, not
wastewater treatment facilities (the USFS gave the
city a couple hundred acres for one of these a few
months ago) ...

We have one more week before we submit our
local/national/global opinion to the USFS. Send us
your letter today.  Thank you for your email, your
support and your time. Tell a freind ...

Fred=92s editorial follows ...

Forest Service Land Trades
Fly in the Face of the Public
				by Fred Johnson

The Forest Service Ideas for the Future statement
addresses some concerns about land trades with
sympathetic and soothing words and limited
accommodation to past issues.

However, the Forest Service still persists in desiring
land acquisition by exchanges, regardless if such
exchanges results in commercial and residential
development, environmental denudation of the area
transferred and unhappy public reaction.

The Forest Service statement misses three strong
expressions of public concern:

The Sedona Community Plan, which in effect aims
for the end of land exchanges that result in
commercial development;

The Sedona Forum, which identified major conflicts
centered around the rate of growth, management of
that growth and the primary issue being land trades
for private development; and

The many vocal written testaments against land
trades, made and given at meeting in preparation for
this management plan and at public hearings
involving past land trades.

The Forest Service position for maintaining land
trade decision authority flies in the face of all the
above.  It is also out of step with the General Goals
(pg 29 Ideas for the Future): =93We strive to make
decisions that reflect the connection of the
community with the forest - recognizing the
importance of the forest to citizens for .... open
space and scenery ...=94

And later, reference to land patterns of private and
public ownership that meets the needs of the
community and the forest.

And item 7 on page 32 involving =93maintaining lands
as public lands where important for community
natural opens space values.

=93Where important community values exist, forest
lands will not be considered for trade.=94

These latter statements strongly indicate the need
and justification for a local =93say=94 in matters.

These all indicate that not only is local voice in order,
but local acceptance should be required when the
local public and community are affected by the loss
of nearby national forest lands, its denudation and
development for commercial and private purposes.

It must be realized that land trades can mean a loss
of open space in communities. Also, the increase in
the land development base is unpopular in a
community that wishes to keep a =93small town=94
atmosphere.

Our voices count.  We are part of the ecosystem,
too.

Accordingly, I inject my request for local, public
approval of all land trades that result in National
Forest land being made eligible for commercial and
residential development.

In such instances, scoping, public hearing,
discussion and agreement by formal or informal
referrendums hould be required prior to processing
the trade.

Do others share my opinion?
__________________________________________

If you could like, copy and email the letter of support
below and I will forward your email to the USFS at
the next meeting.  Thank you for your support.

HELP US SAVE THE FORESTS!

HELP US SAVE SEDONA

If you support Hiking Opportunities,
If you support Biking Opportunities,
If you support Camping Opportunities,
If you support Climbing Opportunites,
If you support Fishing Opportunities,
If you support Equestrian Opportunities,
If you support any Outdoor Opportunity,
If you like Sedona,
If you like Arizona
If you like the Forest,
If you like Nature ...

Write your own letter or copy and mail the passage
below  ...

Thanks for your help. Rama

------------------------------

Dear Forest Service Folks,

I am opposed to ALL land trades in and around the
Sedona area.  Please register my opinion and take it
into consideration as you construct your =93Ideas for
the Future=94 ...

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