Unbelievable

[buckmeyer]

I was in OBX a couple weeks ago and took the kids into a local Kite shop....the one that has shops in every town....and I got on the subject of the possible beach closures with the clerk. He was a middle aged guy...not some young kid with no clue. I wanted to see what the non-fisherman locals thought about the whole thing. He said "It's all because of a couple bad apples who get a kick out of running over bird nests" He mentioned the picture with the chick in the tire tread. I told him the true story on that picture and that I've never heard of a nest being run over. I've never even talked to anyone who has seen a nest. So this guy changes the subject and asks what I do for a living. When I told him my wife and I run a Veterinary hospital, he replies "I love cats...I feed about 50 wild cats in my neighborhood...." I quickly replied that those cats kill many more shorebirds than fishermen do. He replied "Well I've never found any feathers"

I can't make stuff like this up!! How can we hope to win this in the face of such ignorance!! I was (and am) fuming about this!

[Hammy]

I agree wit this post. Is there any way that someone could take this story to the judges/council members who are making the decision to close or not close??? I think it would be more powerful if it were told in person, especially from someone with the credibility of a veternarian.

Everything has an effect whether positive or negative. Even feeding birds at your house (i.e. bird feeders/suet) is dangerous to birds. Sure, it gives birds food. But it teaches the birds that they don't have to hunt/scavenge on their own because people will just keep feeding them. It also introduces birds to predators that do not normally hunt them in the wild (i.e. cats, dogs). Also birds in that close proximity can transmit avian viruses.

[DE Beachguy]

I agree that this is unbelievable. I have heard of a couple other cases in which it was found in normal conversation that some locals in the OBX had no idea about the possible beach closures. These are local business owners! I thought the local chambers of commerce were among the very vocal opponents of the beach closures. How can such a drastic alteration to the traditional way of life and an economically devastating change be possibly right around the corner without every business person on those islands being informed about it? Ignorance will bury you! The enviro groups are counting on it, believe me.

I heard a story about a business owner that said to someone something to the effect that they couldn't be bothered with the hassle of driving all the way up to Nags Head for the rulemaking sessions, especially with the cost of gas, etc. What??? That just blows my mind! Ever heard of a carpool??? Take 40 people in a school bus if you have to!!!!!!! You can't tell me no one has had that idea before. OMG!!! Being laid-back and carefree in the OBX lifestyle is great, but what if it costs you your business...and that very lifestyle???? Wake up and get informed, please!!!

Jay

[John M]

were in this mess really for one simple reason.....the NPS didnt do its job. they have had 34 years to develop an ORV plan.....they never did.

If they had a plan we would be fighitng to maintain/change acess now, not for the simple right of any acess period.

[jerkjigger]

i think its a shame we have to suffer because the NPS didnt come up with a ORV plan.

[John M]

Originally Posted by jerkjigger

i think its a shame we have to suffer because the NPS didnt come up with a ORV plan.

thats government at work for ya.........this is what happens when you are at the mercy of government employees.......

[DE Beachguy]

The NPS is a government agency, meaning they work for US, the people. It's a travesty and a failure of the whole bureaucratic system that the NPS was allowed to go so long without fulfilling their mandate from the Executive Order all this time. Where was the oversight and accountability? To be honest, I'm sure many people, especially many of us that don't live in or near the OBX area and have just been visitors, may not have been aware of this backstory before this issue came about. I know I wasn't aware of the lack of a plan and the 30+ year-old E.O. mandate until this crisis came about. Now, the activists violate one of the rules in the rulemaking framework they agreed to and proceed straight to court? It's totally outrageous! I certainly hope that's part of the opposition's legal argument.

Ok, forgive me, but I tend to look at the big picture frequently and see how situations like this fit into it. I ask you, what ever happened to government of the people, for the people, by the people? Oh, does that sounds naive and idealistic in this day and age? Well, we better not lose sight of that principle, EVER, in ANY dealings with the government. The PEOPLE have to take their runaway, autopilot government back and restore some sensibility and accountability to it! Only then will the activists and those with radical agendas have no quarter. Until then, you can expect more and more of this incremental kind of thing at every turn.

Everyone knows that when radical do-gooders don't have any chance of getting their hopelessly unpopular and narrow-minded agendas passed through a legislative body, the courts are their best weapon. People are thus taken advantage of by organized, arrogant and condescending groups that think they know better than you how to manage your affairs - your beaches in this case. You'll be left with nothing but memories. Freedom? Rights? Government accountable to the people? Power of the people? (Even historical NPS pledges and agreements with the local people?) What the heck are those things? Just funny slogans? I don't think so!

Forgive the longwinded , but this is way too important to let go. Please heed what Bobby Outten and others have said about maintaining respectful decorum in the appropriate settings. Be smart about this, fight smart, and do NOT lose sight of the bigger picture!

[surffishn]

Originally Posted by John M

were in this mess really for one simple reason.....the NPS didnt do its job. they have had 34 years to develop an ORV plan.....they never did.

If they had a plan we would be fighitng to maintain/change acess now, not for the simple right of any acess period.

John M what you say is correct about NPS.And the DOW is using this in there favor.This Org.has a long history of being antitrapping,antihunting,and yes antifishing.I have seen some of there dirty work back as far as 1980.As I was involved with the National Trappers Assoc.They are after acess now real goal "to stop fishing".If the NPS had the big plan in place they would of came from another angle.They had a seat at the early Neg.Reg.only to get enough information.To cause havoc.Time to give them a .

[hatrasfevr]

Beware folks............The OBX 'sleeping giant has been awakened'.......

[derf]

Originally Posted by hatrasfevr

Beware folks............The OBX 'sleeping giant has been awakened'.......

well i hope he woke up feeling nasty,hungry , hungover and ready to go out and kick some butt !!
personally and just MHO ; maybe it is time we , the orv fisherpeople need to file a lawsuite !!
we have played by the rules , given up this , comprised that ...
time for another approach !!
the only thing we didn't get was kissed before we got screwed !!

[newsjeff]

I rather liked the NPS beach access regulations over the last 34 years.

[deke]

For the "tourists" calling the locals ignorant-perhaps on your next trip you could ask the "clerks" and business owners where they are from and how long they've been here. You're likely to find they're from your very own "informed,intelligent" states-they(and their clientele) don't drive their BMWs and Volvos on the beach and due to their "regional ignorance" don't care if anyone else can either.
deke

[DE Beachguy]

Originally Posted by deke

For the "tourists" calling the locals ignorant-perhaps on your next trip you could ask the "clerks" and business owners where they are from and how long they've been here. You're likely to find they're from your very own "informed,intelligent" states-they(and their clientele) don't drive their BMWs and Volvos on the beach and due to their "regional ignorance" don't care if anyone else can either.
deke

I'll respond to this simply by saying that it was quite clear in my post, at least, that I was referring to the occasional local resident that I had heard might have been unaware of the NPS/beach closure/lawsuit issues and the implications. This is not a "tourists calling locals ignorant" thing or "regional" thing whatsoever, especially since so many people from outside the OBX also support OBX beach access as much as the locals do and belong to the various groups that support OBX beach access. It would just seem that in a relatively small area like that, the chambers of commerce, newspapers, community groups, etc would have the community pretty well informed about something that will significantly (and adversely) affect the local economy.

As far as the BMW/Volvo-related comment , hopefully those people are also aware that the ripple effect on the local economy will affect almost everyone. So, "not caring" whether they or their clients have beach access may not be in their best interests, either. Just a thought.

The key is that we're all on the same side here...I hope...preserving public access to the beach.

Jay
DMS
NCBBA
OBPA

[deke]

I ,too, hope we are all on the same page. Its important to understand that there are really two communities on the obx. The true locals who live,work and raise their families here have always been deeply involved in the fight for beach access. But thats only a segment of the population. You also have the move-heres, the out of state/area seasonal workforce, the summer-homers,etc.etc. Most of these come from areas without beach driving,or are here only for the season/job, or don't want anyone driving on "their" beach behind their mansion. Its just not important to them. When you lump these people in with true locals who have been fighting (and losing) this issue for decades you're going to offend us. Having said that I certainly recognize and appreciate the efforts and contributions of non-locals to the cause. Your support is crucial if we are to be successful-the locals are not numerous nor pwerful enough to do it alone.
Its also important (IMHO) to understand the NPS is NOT on our side. They would much prefer you take a shuttle bus to the park then pay to ride a tram tour with occaisional stops to gather shells.
The antis and the park service pulled some dirty tricks on this one. The antis had formally agreed not to sue until the NPS came out with their ORV plan. They broke their agreement and sued anyway. The NPS,in their response, AGREED with the antis. All done very quietly.
So,yes, we were caught with our pants down by some backroom dealing but, I can assure you, the true locals are neither ignorant nor apathetic concerning this issue. Thanks for the support of the orgs-again it is crucial.
deke

[fishdaddy]

Deke,
First let me say welcome aboard.
Second, I want you to know there alot of out-of-staters who are working very hard for the people in OBX. So there is a 3rd party involved here. I too am out of state, but I have family and friends in OBX.

There are orgs locally fighting as hard as they can to keep the beaches open. I am in constant contact with the OBX clubs and people to inform everyone here of what is being done or what needs to be done. You are not alone and we are doing all we can for you guys. KEEP THE FAITH BROTHER