StraitsdiverGeo
Registered
We have trouble and I need your help. Last month a state senator from the Traverse City area introduced or had introduced a package of 6 bills. This were submitted, at least in part, through the influence of G MacMaster and a consultant named K Vrana. I do not know Vrana but I hear that he makes his living by "consulting" on government projects, among others.
This package of bills will turn all of Michigan's Great Lakes territory into a giant State Park. Vrana and MacMaster are selling it as an opportunity to bring "scuba" tourism to Michigan. They offer no numbers but claim they can bring divers to Michigan like they do in Florida. It is completely wrong, but the legislators hear only "tourism" and "money". They have no idea what is involved in diving, have no interest in infrastructure like buoys and have no way to pay for any of this.
The bills are on a "fast track" to adoption.
The original plan, now under review, was to have divers make a "voluntary" donation of $15 thinking this will raise enough money to run this giant "scuba park". We have shown them that, at best, it is likely to raise $4000 - 8000 each year, if they are lucky. In fact some of us in the MUPC are thinking about organizing a boycott of it if this goes through.
While they deny it (don't they always?), we see this as the first step toward imposing mandatory fees to scuba dive and even regulation (licensing) scuba diving. These people have no idea what they are doing and that makes them vulnerable to anyone coming up with a hair brain scheme.
I testified at house and senate hearings on this legislation last week. The reception was chilly if not hostile. McManus and company (MacMaster and Vrana among others) have persuaded a bunch of legislators to get on board.
The DNR is against this - it has no money or people.
We need to press home the point that this is something Michigan cannot afford to do and should stay away from anyway.
My extended testimony is on the house committee website (be sure to drop down the list, there is both a 3 page summary and a much longer remarks with charts):
http://house.michigan.gov/committee...or+recreation+and+natural+resources&submit=Go
It explains some of the main problems. You can also read more, including MacMaster's rantings at Brendon Baillod's discussion board:
http://www.ship-wreck.com/wreckboard/
I am attaching lists of the legislators representing preserves and the relevant committee members. If you can, can you send both an email and a written letter to the representatives on the list? I know it is a lot of trouble but it means a lot. We are having a very hard time stopping this and it needs to be stopped. A written letter means more than an email. They get hundreds of those. When you write, also send a copy to the committee clerks in each house. That way it is part of the committee record.
I am also enclosing a list of Michigan newspapers. Could you please also take the time to send a brief letter to the editor? All you have to say is that Sen McManus, with other support wants to create this giant state park at a time when the DNR has no money to pay for it. It is already carrying the state park system on the backs of campers. The state is broke so how can the state even afford to "study" this right now? It is just a bad but well intended (I do not mean that) idea that is not well thought out.
This package of bills will turn all of Michigan's Great Lakes territory into a giant State Park. Vrana and MacMaster are selling it as an opportunity to bring "scuba" tourism to Michigan. They offer no numbers but claim they can bring divers to Michigan like they do in Florida. It is completely wrong, but the legislators hear only "tourism" and "money". They have no idea what is involved in diving, have no interest in infrastructure like buoys and have no way to pay for any of this.
The bills are on a "fast track" to adoption.
The original plan, now under review, was to have divers make a "voluntary" donation of $15 thinking this will raise enough money to run this giant "scuba park". We have shown them that, at best, it is likely to raise $4000 - 8000 each year, if they are lucky. In fact some of us in the MUPC are thinking about organizing a boycott of it if this goes through.
While they deny it (don't they always?), we see this as the first step toward imposing mandatory fees to scuba dive and even regulation (licensing) scuba diving. These people have no idea what they are doing and that makes them vulnerable to anyone coming up with a hair brain scheme.
I testified at house and senate hearings on this legislation last week. The reception was chilly if not hostile. McManus and company (MacMaster and Vrana among others) have persuaded a bunch of legislators to get on board.
The DNR is against this - it has no money or people.
We need to press home the point that this is something Michigan cannot afford to do and should stay away from anyway.
My extended testimony is on the house committee website (be sure to drop down the list, there is both a 3 page summary and a much longer remarks with charts):
http://house.michigan.gov/committee...or+recreation+and+natural+resources&submit=Go
It explains some of the main problems. You can also read more, including MacMaster's rantings at Brendon Baillod's discussion board:
http://www.ship-wreck.com/wreckboard/
I am attaching lists of the legislators representing preserves and the relevant committee members. If you can, can you send both an email and a written letter to the representatives on the list? I know it is a lot of trouble but it means a lot. We are having a very hard time stopping this and it needs to be stopped. A written letter means more than an email. They get hundreds of those. When you write, also send a copy to the committee clerks in each house. That way it is part of the committee record.
I am also enclosing a list of Michigan newspapers. Could you please also take the time to send a brief letter to the editor? All you have to say is that Sen McManus, with other support wants to create this giant state park at a time when the DNR has no money to pay for it. It is already carrying the state park system on the backs of campers. The state is broke so how can the state even afford to "study" this right now? It is just a bad but well intended (I do not mean that) idea that is not well thought out.
