CalMatters has posted our op ed “Once again, San Francisco officials are limiting public access to the majestic Hetch Hetchy Valley”. CalMatters is digital-only, but widely-read and well-respected. Governor Newsom posted his water commentary there last week as well.
Please read the Op Ed at Cal Matters. It speaks for itself, but a few points warrant emphasis:
- Restore Hetch Hetchy is confident that improved access at Hetch Hetchy, whether by eco-friendly boat or other means, will help build support for emptying the reservoir and restoring the valley.
- Until the reservoir is emptied and the valley restored, a quiet, electric, park service-operated tour boat, or rental canoe or kayak, would be a wonderful way to visit the area – even for people who do not normally boat on reservoirs.
- The shenanigans* that took place in December may be all too common and seem minor compared to other issues before Congress. The effort is, however, nonetheless egregious. Without any public review or discussion, the action directly undermines the Raker Act which, whether we like its outcome or not, was substantially debated in 1913.
- As our Op Ed points out, the boating ban comes in a side report to the must-pass bill, not in the bill itself, so its legal standing is ambiguous. We don’t read it as binding. Stay tuned …