Dear Friends,
The veto of AB 1086 – Alameda Tesla Expansion Area by Governor Newsom’s was extremely disappointing on many levels. The Governor’s apparent support for the plan to expand Carnegie SVRA and open Tesla to damaging Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation betrays the environmental protection principals he ran on. One only needs to look at Carnegie SVRA, which the OHMVR Division states is well managed, to know the devastating fate that awaits Tesla, a rare biologically diverse ecologically intact native landscape in the urbanized East Bay.
The Governor turned his back on a simple, wise and fair solution to a 20-year local controversy which was vetted through 2 years of legislative review, with overwhelming local public agency and community support and approved by over two-thirds of both houses in the Legislature. AB 1086 was wise because it could lead to protection of Tesla’s irreplaceable biodiversity. In a time of climate change Tesla’s location at the intersection of biotic zones provides critical species protection and resiliency. AB 1086 was fair because it did not require sale, but if it was determined that sale for conservation purposes to a local agency or non-profit was in the public interest proceeds would be returned to the OHMVR Division for use in area appropriate for OHV recreation.
We obviously have more education to do with Governor Newsom and his Administration about the extensive scientific facts supporting Tesla preservation and how permanent protection is central to the Governor’s stated environmental objectives.
I joined the fight to Save Tesla Park nearly 10 years ago. Many others have worked for decades longer. Because Tesla is too important a part of our region’s natural history to sacrifice to OHV recreation use, we remain committed to establishing Tesla Park as a non-motorized nature and cultural preserve. We are very thankful to Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Senator Steve Glazer for their vision and leadership. I am confident that together – working with local officials, public agencies, community organizations and citizens – we will permanently preserve the beauty and wonder of Tesla as a legacy for future generations.
Nancy Rodrigue
Friends of Tesla Park
We are sorry to report that Governor Newsom vetoed AB 1086 (Bauer-Kahan) – Alameda Tesla Expansion Area. Here is the link to the Governor’s press release and veto message. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2019/10/11/governor-newsom-issues-legislative-update-10-11-19/.
From the message, we have more work to raise awareness of decision makers that the OHMVR Division Plan supported by State Parks leadership to open Tesla to damaging OHV recreation undercuts the very preservation objectives of Parks, the Natural Resources Agency and Administration. OHV recreation can be located elsewhere where its damaging impacts don’t matter. Tesla’s exceptional and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources cannot be moved.
This is a disappointment for sure, but the we remain committed to permanently preserve Tesla with no OHV recreation use. We thank our state representatives and are pleased that Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Senator Glazer with the local community will keep fighting with us for Tesla and the conservation values that make our East Bay community so great.
We also continue to fight the plan to convert Tesla’s sensitive landscape to destructive OHV use in the courts. Please help us with legal expenses. Donations may be made on here via Paypal.
Thank you for all you do for Tesla. Our collective commitment to the natural legacy that we leave for future generations drives us forward to Save Tesla Park.
Please help Tesla! Ask Governor Newsom to sign AB 1086 into law.
Please contact Governor Newsom as soon as possible and ask him to sign AB 1086 into law (Pro 1086) at his official web site https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/ .
Sample message:
“Dear Governor Newsom – I urge you to sign AB 1086 into law because the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area’s extraordinary biologic and cultural resources and the ecological integrity of its native landscape will be irreparably damaged by OHV recreation. OHV recreation can be located somewhere else on land that is appropriate for such use. Tesla cannot be moved. AB 1086 provides a wise and fair pathway to resolve this long-standing controversy by allowing Tesla to be sold to a local agency for conservation purposes and by returning proceeds from any sale to the OHMVR Division. Please help preserve the treasure of California’s natural and cultural history that is the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area as a legacy for future generations by signing AB 1086 into law. “
Go online at https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/ as soon as possible to register your support for AB 1086. Thank you.
AB 1086 (Bauer-Kahan)-Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area bill was PASSED by the Legislature on September 13, 2019.
The Tesla Preservation bill language from SB 767 was amended into AB 1086 and passed by both houses of the Legislature. AB 1086 now goes to the Governor’s desk. AB 1086 allows State Parks to determine that it is in the public interest to sell Tesla to a local agency or non-profit for conservation purposes.
Thanks to Senator Glazer for starting the effort to pass the Tesla preservation bill in 2017 and for Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan for leading this most current legislative process to secure passage.
Next, we need to ensure Governor Newsom signs AB 1086 into law in the next month. Please contact Governor Newsom and ask that he sign AB 1086 at https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/ .
Thank you for helping to move us closer to permanent preservation of Tesla Park.