We'll tackle fees 1st.

The BLM charges for camping on public land. It is such a revenue geenrator
that they built managment shacks in many more popular areas just to handle
it. When they raised their rates many years ago they paid me to install
cameras and recorders in several of them to watch the money and record any
angry land users. Obviously it is helping to supplement thier budget and
pay for enforcement.

As to trash. Well, yes there are pigs that visit public places at al times
of day, but if it gets bad they can close them completely which is what has
happened many places. It takes a lot less man hours to drive by and see if
there is anybody there than it does to pick up trash. That's not even
counting other facilities maintenance and we aren't even touching on
liability costs.

Also, many public areas do get more partying and trash and beer bottles and
garbage left behind by night time visitors.

Don't ask me. Ask the park rangers and resource managers. Its not a
debateable point. Its a fact. I talked to Burea of Reclamation people who
were thrilled by all the new safety measures and off limits restriction
after 9/11. They were glad to not have to do all that clean in a lot of
those areas anymore because there would be no people there leaving there
trash behind.

I am welcome to listening to your points on how to abate these problems, but
simply denying that they exist will not solve them.

--
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Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com


"Texx Smith" wrote in message
...
Those are the only reasons I've heard and I will use your comment to
respond to everyone who feels this way, so please don't feel like you're
be single out or p[icked on because I really appreciate your feed back.


Those are the silliest reasrons I've ever heard. Let me expand:

1-"Truancy, partying, drugs, crime, littering old beer bottles
everywhere... "
A-These things happen during the daytime too.
B-If a park is closed it has be patrolled by police officers to make
sure no one is there, If it's opened it has to be patroled - no difference
there.
C-More of the general public in parks means less of the bad stuff.
D-Truancy happens during the day when the parks are open anyway
E-Besides why should I have to loose my parks becuse of the actions of
a few?.
F-I've been to te park after hours, the people there are just doing the
same things they do during the day
G-A great portion of the public in Florida works in the hospitaitly
industry that means the parks are almost always closed to them because
they are working and sleeping when the parks are open.

2-I think it may also be discovered that charging admission to parks cost
more than it brongs in and it would be a better deal for the tax payer if
the parks were free.






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James "Texx" Smith
google me as "Texx Smith"
http://texxsmith.com
http://FloridaPhotoGallery.com
http://FloridaFishingInformation.com
http://share.FloridaPhotoGgallery.com
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Truancy, partying, drugs, crime, littering old beer bottles everywhere...
These are primary reasons many parks have limited hours, and some public
lands have been closed.

Many agencies are being required to pay for their own budgets through
fees. This does two things. It forces people to pay fees, and it means
those people who use the facilities are the ones paying the fees.

I don't disagree with your intent. I just think you need to consider a
broader perspective,a nd have answeres to these problems when you bring
up other things.


--
--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com