Gut check--Are we quitters??? Do we defend our turfs or are we sheep?

[zenspearo]

Guys and gals,

We are done with two rounds and the last and most important round is coming up. Round 3.

Everything is off the table and discussed anew. But we have set a good tone going into it.

I know people are feeling tired of hearing about MLPA but we can't let up now. We are near the finish line and we can easily let ourselves get trampled if we don't keep up. It's a marathon--and sitting out near the finish line doesn't cut it.

Two measly meetings.

A BRTF meeting on July 28/29 in Santa Monica and a RSG meeting in Carlsbad on August 3/4.

The tireless work of our RSG reps and other pro-access RSG reps as well as scores of spearos/fishermen have set the tone going into this round 3. The enviro side are aghast at their miscalculations and couldn't comprehend that most of SoCal do not support the drastic closures proposed by External C. But they have powerful friends and deep pocket support, and they are crying wolf. And like a wounded beast, they are at their most dangerous.

You can bet that the following will happen at the next BRTF meeting on July 28 and 29.

1) The SAT will, unsurprisingly, declare that most/all of the current maps do not satisfy the science guidelines. What they don't say is that the SoCal environment is 20% reef/kelp, 80% sand that their guidelines are draconian and would result in closing nearly ALL fishing areas. Hmmm, wonder if the scent of money has anything to do with their "best-available-science" findings.

2) The anti-fishing RSG will cry that they are somehow oppressed. As if they were children and need protection. Even in groups that achieved concensus in round 2 (Topaz, Opal, etc.) you will hear some anti-fishing RSG reps now claiming after the fact that they didn't really have a chance to be heard . Victimhood will be played to the max, despite the fact that their side finance the whole deal, and many of their reps are paid full-time professionals of enviro organizations, unlike our band of volunteer fishermen/spearo reps.

3) Efforts will be made to push the BRTF to give guidance for round 3 maps based strictly on the draconian SAT guidelines (which, as we know, are based on incomplete science and oh-so-nonbiased).

4) Efforts will also be made to push the BRTF "address" the imaginary "intimidation" felt by the enviro RSG reps to give them preferential guidance (another victimhood play). The enviro side will angle for favorable treatment based on imaginary injustices of round 2.

5) There will be an effort to discount the socio-economic impact to community, to continue the refrain of "temporary economic impact" that in their mind should be ignored in view of the need to close, close, close and close as much as possible right now.

6) One BRTF member will go all out in pushing the anti-access agenda. The abandonment of any pretense of neutrality or fairness happened at the last BRTF meeting over External C. The gloves are off and fishermen/spearos should expect that the all-out push will be on, and niceties such as fairness and appearance of neutrality will disappear at least with one BRTF member. It's going to be ugly.

The only viable counter-balance to all this is YOU. That's right. You are the only group that biased money hasn't been able to buy or influence. You form the "stakeholder-driven" component of this process, something they would rather have buried and let them decide for you. Your presence will serve to restrain the overt selling of our spearing/fishing spots to closure interests.

Two more meetings. I'm asking all kayakfishermen, spearos and fishermen to do a gut-check. Are we quitters????

Show up in force and provide the ONLY counterbalance to the relentless anti-access push. If we take our foot off the pedal now, we will be run over.

Two more meetings. Let's do it kayakfishermen, spearos and fishermen. Let's make these the most well-attended meetings the anti-access people, in their worst nightmares, couldn't imagine. They would rather you shut up, be left out, and let them decide for you in backroom deals.

Hundreds of kayakfishermen, spearos and fishermen need to be there to finish this out. Let them know you are representing SoCal and expect them to do the right thing for SoCal.

Two more meetings. Don't let your future be decided by the anti-access forces. Be there.

Blue Ribbon Task Force meeting (the super-important guidance forming one)
July 28-29, 2009
July 28: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
July 29: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT TIME: At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 and at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica
530 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

RSG meeting (the really ugly one):
August 3-4, 2009
August 3: Meeting
9:30 a.m.
Holiday Inn
850 Palomar Airport Road
Carlsbad, CA 92008
August 4: Work Session
8:00 a.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
6450 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92011

Let's ROLL CALL!!!!