FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2014
CONTACT: Bill Bird @ 916-651-4029
Huff Concerned With National Monument Status in the San Gabriel Mountains
Move by President Obama Could Impact Private Property Owners
SACRAMENTO: Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) is expressing his serious concerns with actions that President Obama is expected to take later today, to officially designate nearly 350,000 acres of land in the Angeles National Forest as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Senator Huff stated his concerns to the National Monument effort in a letter sent to the President last month.
“I have personally heard significant concerns raised by local government officials and other stakeholders about this designation,” said Senator Huff. “One of those concerns relates to the uncertain and still questionable boundaries the National Monument will have. From the preliminary maps that I saw, it appeared that residential properties could be located within the boundaries of this Monument. I don’t believe President Obama understands the potential impacts this designation will have on property owners.”
Senator Huff says he understands the need to preserve the mountains in their natural state, the benefits of recreation in these mountains and the great resource the mountains are to the densely populated Los Angeles area. But he questions why the proposal wasn’t fully vetted in Congress.
“I believe a decision of this magnitude deserves a thorough vetting and vote of Congress,” said Senator Huff. “The Framers of the Constitution wisely created a Legislative Branch, where various opinions could be heard and debated amongst the people’s elected representatives prior to a vote being cast. There is absolutely no need to rush and make a decision. This is how mistakes are made.”
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Senator Huff serves as the Senate Republican Leader and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter at @bobhuff99.
Greetings ,
He did what was necessary. It was necessary to skip some pencil pusher 6 figure salary people .behind the desk ..That have no clue because they are to busy drinking wine telling us all it will be fine.((.No .)).
I commend him for this.. GREAT JOB Mr PRESIDENT . .
As a former avid hiker in these mountains I have to say that monument status is nonsense. It means upping the federalization of the mountains – and eventually having to pay to visit and support all the dopey interpretive infrastructure and HQs that are coming.
The Cucamonga Wilderness area in Ice House Canyon is stupid enough. A mile or two up the trail you suddenly need a permit that you can only get by visiting the ranger station in Baldy Village – on a week day!