Thanks to your help, SB 767 has passed out of all Senate Committees, including Senate Natural Resources and Water (NRW), Senate Governmental Organization (GO), and yesterday, Senate Appropriations. Now the bill will go for a floor vote to hopefully pass out of the Senate before the end of May.
If SB 767 passes out of the Senate, next steps will be in the Assembly. We will provide more information in early June.
Thank you for all of your continued help to Save Tesla Park!
SB 767 passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 9, 2019. Thank you to all who attended to speak in support of Tesla and SB 767.
The next hearing is with the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 9:30 am, Room 4203.
Please attend the 4/23/19 hearing. If you can’t attend the hearing, you can still help by calling or lodging support for SB 767 on the web site of Committee Members https://sgov.senate.ca.gov/
Here is link to track the progress of the bill. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB767.
SB 767 (Glazer) will change state law to allow the State Parks Department to dispose of the 3,100 acre Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area (also known locally as “Tesla Park”) in order to permanently preserve the land if it is determined by the Department to be in the public interest. Proceeds from any such sale would be returned to the OHMVR Division.
SB 767 is similar to the last year’s bill that did not pass. It allows the Department make a determination that it is in the public interest to dispose of the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area.
SB 767 provides a path forward to resolve this long standing local controversy in a way that is wise and fair – by recognizing the preference for local control to preserve an irreplaceable natural and cultural native landscape in Alameda County as a legacy for future generations, by using local open space mitigation funds to purchase the land to ensure preservation, and by returning proceeds from any sale to the OHMVR Division for use in another area that wants OHV recreation.
Please support SB 767. Go to your State Senator’s and Assembly Member’s legislative web site and enter your support for SB 767 on line.
As we approach 2019, we wanted to update you on the continued work to permanently protect Tesla Park.
Litigation
We have filed all briefs for our Ultra Vires claim challenging the authority of the OHMVR Commission to certify EIRs and approve General Plans. This is the first of three causes of action in our law suit against State Parks and their plans to open Tesla to OHV recreation use. The hearing is set for March 15, 2019 in Sacramento Superior Court, after which the Court will rule.
Legislation
We continue to work along all avenues to permanently preserve Tesla’s irreplaceable natural and cultural native landscape. Senator Glazer remains committed and we are working on plans for 2019, including legislation and building support with the new Administration and AD16 rep, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.
Remember Tesla for your year-end donations
Please keep Tesla in mind for your year-end donations. You know your donation is going to a good cause. For information on how to donate, please go to www.teslapark.org .
We are so Thankful for your support to Save Tesla Park and wish you all the best for the coming Holiday Season.
SB 1316 (Glazer) – Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area passed the Senate and made it through the Assembly to the Appropriations Committee, but was not released from suspense and is, therefore, considered dead for this session. In the final stages California State Parks communicated their opposition to the bill.
Although SB 1316 did not make it through the Legislature this session, we remain committed to permanently protecting Tesla. We will continue to advocate for a change in state policy and work to open new opportunities in the new year. In the meantime, the litigation challenging the OHMVR plan to expand Carnegie SVRA and open Tesla to damaging OHV recreation continues, so we move forward on all fronts.
Thank you for all of your help and support to Save Tesla Park. We knew it would take time – with your help we will press forward and ultimately succeed.
At Tesla, Fall is coming.