Yeti GOBOX Collection

Federal Land Sales for Affordable Housing?

@Big Fin I am glad to hear that Daines and Zinke are against this. Any word about where Sheehy and Downing stand? I would love to see Montana make a united front against this.
 
Big Fin said:
Mid-day break here. Asked two very senior staffers what actions people can take that will help your Senators/Reps hear you on public lands.

Answer - Continue to be involved in the discussions, no matter where it takes place; online, in town hall meetings, Letters to Editor, public land rallies, via the groups you are a member of, or via email or phone call to the links below.

They tell me how few people actually call, email, or otherwise engage, which increases the impact of those who do actually reach out.

Reach them via email here - https://www.congress.gov/contact-us

The Capitol switchboard is - (202) 224-3121

Now is a great time to reach out, as the proposal details are currently being kept quiet. If enough members of Congress were to get 25 comments against using budget reconciliation for disposal of public lands, word would get out to stop this stupidity. For many members of Congress, it's a low priority, so they don't want to piss off any voters on an issue that is low priority for them.

Everything I mentioned in post#114 was confirmed by the meetings this morning. Those two have been here for 20 years and know a ton of what is happening on public lands, the public land agencies, and the behind-the-scenes realities.

Senator Heinrich of New Mexico asked me to stop by his office for a podcast after lunch. As a public land elk hunter, he is always a reliable advocate for the cause. He also is a great source of information as to where the key points of contact/pressure/support exist.
Click to expand...
We have a lot of lurkers who likely want to help.

Does anyone have any input or an outline for what someone could write in to the email address?
That way people sitting here reading it who WANT to do something, but aren't sure where to start have a general idea what can be said?

Might help increase the numbers of people.
 
Lostinthewoods said:
We have a lot of lurkers who likely want to help.

Does anyone have any input or an outline for what someone could write in to the email address?
That way people sitting here reading it who WANT to do something, but aren't sure where to start have a general idea what can be said?

Might help increase the numbers of people.
Click to expand...

AI to the rescue.

Dear Senator [Senator's Last Name],


I hope this message finds you well. As an avid outdoorsman and a passionate advocate for our natural spaces, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the sale of public lands for any purposes.


Public lands are a vital resource for millions of Americans who seek solace, adventure, and recreation in the great outdoors. Every year, more people are discovering the joys of hiking, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities on these lands. This growing interest underscores the importance of preserving and expanding our public lands, rather than reducing them.


From my personal experience, public lands offer unparalleled opportunities for recreation and connection with nature. They are a sanctuary for wildlife and a haven for those of us who cherish the outdoors. Selling these lands would not only diminish these opportunities but also threaten the ecological balance and natural beauty that make them so special.


I urge you to consider the long-term benefits of retaining and protecting our public lands. By doing so, we ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate these invaluable resources. Please stand with us in opposing any efforts to sell or reduce public lands.


Thank you for your time and consideration.


Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

For those legislators that support hunting you could mention something about acquiring high quality food for your families.
 
seeth07 said:
I think you both are right and they are related.

We certainly have a population issue. We can't keep growing and expect the landscape to remain the same. We may not be at Wall-E level quite yet but it isn't too far fetched based on growth that we don't look anywhere near the same in the next 50 years.

The affordability part is quite mind boggling to me and it's a direct result of more people but the space hasn't changed.

Check out this video, does a much better job than I can pointing this out.

Click to expand...
Multiple times in my career I've seen developers pitch a new development through the lens of affordable housing. None have them have been what I would consider "affordable" once approved. The last one I worked on the developer got a super shady screaming deal on some property he had previously sold to the city under the pretense of building affordable housing. Two years later its nothing but homes starting at $500K.
 
Laszlo Cravensworth said:
AI to the rescue.

Dear Senator [Senator's Last Name],


I hope this message finds you well. As an avid outdoorsman and a passionate advocate for our natural spaces, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the sale of public lands for any purposes.


Public lands are a vital resource for millions of Americans who seek solace, adventure, and recreation in the great outdoors. Every year, more people are discovering the joys of hiking, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities on these lands. This growing interest underscores the importance of preserving and expanding our public lands, rather than reducing them.


From my personal experience, public lands offer unparalleled opportunities for recreation and connection with nature. They are a sanctuary for wildlife and a haven for those of us who cherish the outdoors. Selling these lands would not only diminish these opportunities but also threaten the ecological balance and natural beauty that make them so special.


I urge you to consider the long-term benefits of retaining and protecting our public lands. By doing so, we ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate these invaluable resources. Please stand with us in opposing any efforts to sell or reduce public lands.


Thank you for your time and consideration.


Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

For those legislators that support hunting you could mention something about acquiring high quality food for your families.
Click to expand...
And this is the type of reply you will get back...

Dear wyoelkfan15,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out and express your views on public lands. Your input on this matter is greatly appreciated as it assists me in understanding what is on the minds of my constituents.

Federal ownership of land has an outsized impact on the western United States, including Wyoming. The federal government now owns and controls over 640 million acres of public lands across the U.S. Nearly half of Wyoming’s surface estate and over 60% of our minerals are controlled by the federal government.

In Congress, I have the honor of serving on the House Natural Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over our public lands, forest reserves, national parks, mineral land laws, mineral resources of public lands, and more. I am also honored to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Four different bureaucratic agencies oversee most of our public lands: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Park Service (NPS). Since the 1960s, Democrats in Congress have passed legislation stockpiling more and more power in these agencies who have then in turn implemented extensive rules, regulations, and guidance documents designed to expand their authority, control and footprint. Meanwhile, Democrat administrations have consistently worked with radical environmental groups to weaponize land use and permitting restrictions to enforce policies that cause severe harm to our country.

My work on the Natural Resources Committee provides a forum in which I actively work to restore domestic energy production to pre-Biden levels and to reform the laws that have been weaponized against our state, such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Former President Biden’s policies created energy poverty for our citizens, which I consider to be a serious crime against our nation, our sovereignty, our security, and our freedom.

Prior to serving as your representative in Congress, I spent over 30 years as a natural resources, water, and constitutional attorney fighting back against the abuses of a variety of federal agencies, including the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the USFS, the FWS, and the EPA, just to name a few. These agencies seek to enforce their environmental idealism, which is not grounded in reality, making them poor stewards of our land, water, and other resources. As a result, the management mistakes of these agencies over recent decades have led to a wide array of disasters including catastrophic fires, horrific insect outbreaks, the damage to our watersheds, exacerbated drought conditions, and devastating losses to our local communities.

I have witnessed the federal government’s ever-growing control of our lands and water resources and am working as your representative to reverse this trend by re-empowering Wyoming communities to secure their own destiny. With this in mind, I am encouraged to see the work being done by President Trump to restore our public lands to their full potential and reduce the threat of wildfires. Federal law mandates multiple use on our public lands, so the needs of energy, grazing, timber, conservation, and more are sustained for productive benefit to our entire society. From the Conservation and Landscape Health rule to the Buffalo and Rock Springs Resource Management Plans, the previous administration pursued policies intentionally created to increase the cost and reduce the supply of food, housing, and energy. President Trump is working to undo these terrible policies, and Congress is prioritizing the restoration of the mission of these laws and agencies to serve our citizens, both the current population and generations to come.

To that end, I support the EXPLORE Act which seeks to improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, federal public lands. I also cosponsored the Fix Our Forests Act, which uses comprehensive data to identify particularly vulnerable communities in fire-prone areas and provides agencies with critical tools to implement the most vital forest management projects immediately. I am also one of the House leaders introducing legislation to reform the ESA and NEPA to correct their current abuses and end Washington, D.C.’s mismanagement of our Wyoming lands to the detriment of our citizens.

I sincerely appreciate you for taking the time to write to me regarding issues that are important to both you and your family. Please continue to keep me updated on your views, concerns, and questions as it helps me better serve my constituents. To stay up to date with my work both in Washington D.C. and here in Wyoming, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter where I outline important votes, committee hearings, town halls, and more. For the latest developments, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It is my highest honor to serve as your lone Congressional Representative for the great state of Wyoming.






Sincerely,
Signature Image

Rep. Harriet Hageman
Member of Congress
 
wyoelkfan15 said:
And this is the type of reply you will get back...

Dear wyoelkfan15,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out and express your views on public lands. Your input on this matter is greatly appreciated as it assists me in understanding what is on the minds of my constituents.

Federal ownership of land has an outsized impact on the western United States, including Wyoming. The federal government now owns and controls over 640 million acres of public lands across the U.S. Nearly half of Wyoming’s surface estate and over 60% of our minerals are controlled by the federal government.

In Congress, I have the honor of serving on the House Natural Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over our public lands, forest reserves, national parks, mineral land laws, mineral resources of public lands, and more. I am also honored to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Four different bureaucratic agencies oversee most of our public lands: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Park Service (NPS). Since the 1960s, Democrats in Congress have passed legislation stockpiling more and more power in these agencies who have then in turn implemented extensive rules, regulations, and guidance documents designed to expand their authority, control and footprint. Meanwhile, Democrat administrations have consistently worked with radical environmental groups to weaponize land use and permitting restrictions to enforce policies that cause severe harm to our country.

My work on the Natural Resources Committee provides a forum in which I actively work to restore domestic energy production to pre-Biden levels and to reform the laws that have been weaponized against our state, such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Former President Biden’s policies created energy poverty for our citizens, which I consider to be a serious crime against our nation, our sovereignty, our security, and our freedom.

Prior to serving as your representative in Congress, I spent over 30 years as a natural resources, water, and constitutional attorney fighting back against the abuses of a variety of federal agencies, including the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the USFS, the FWS, and the EPA, just to name a few. These agencies seek to enforce their environmental idealism, which is not grounded in reality, making them poor stewards of our land, water, and other resources. As a result, the management mistakes of these agencies over recent decades have led to a wide array of disasters including catastrophic fires, horrific insect outbreaks, the damage to our watersheds, exacerbated drought conditions, and devastating losses to our local communities.

I have witnessed the federal government’s ever-growing control of our lands and water resources and am working as your representative to reverse this trend by re-empowering Wyoming communities to secure their own destiny. With this in mind, I am encouraged to see the work being done by President Trump to restore our public lands to their full potential and reduce the threat of wildfires. Federal law mandates multiple use on our public lands, so the needs of energy, grazing, timber, conservation, and more are sustained for productive benefit to our entire society. From the Conservation and Landscape Health rule to the Buffalo and Rock Springs Resource Management Plans, the previous administration pursued policies intentionally created to increase the cost and reduce the supply of food, housing, and energy. President Trump is working to undo these terrible policies, and Congress is prioritizing the restoration of the mission of these laws and agencies to serve our citizens, both the current population and generations to come.

To that end, I support the EXPLORE Act which seeks to improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, federal public lands. I also cosponsored the Fix Our Forests Act, which uses comprehensive data to identify particularly vulnerable communities in fire-prone areas and provides agencies with critical tools to implement the most vital forest management projects immediately. I am also one of the House leaders introducing legislation to reform the ESA and NEPA to correct their current abuses and end Washington, D.C.’s mismanagement of our Wyoming lands to the detriment of our citizens.

I sincerely appreciate you for taking the time to write to me regarding issues that are important to both you and your family. Please continue to keep me updated on your views, concerns, and questions as it helps me better serve my constituents. To stay up to date with my work both in Washington D.C. and here in Wyoming, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter where I outline important votes, committee hearings, town halls, and more. For the latest developments, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It is my highest honor to serve as your lone Congressional Representative for the great state of Wyoming.






Sincerely,
Signature Image

Rep. Harriet Hageman
Member of Congress
Click to expand...

Maybe from Bentz, but my senators wont respond with that kind of drivel.

It's not the representatives with strongly held beliefs on either side that will have an impact anyway. It's the dozen or couple dozen in the middle that matter, and maybe they haven' heard from the hunting constituency from their little suburban district.
 
rtraverdavis said:
I'm going to a town hall meeting with Senator Jeff Merkley this Saturday and hope to be able to ask him about this specifically. I want to know what he and other public land supporters in Congress are doing to stop this. Any suggestions on how succinctly (and politely) word my question, if I'm given the opportunity to ask? I can be a little rambly...
Click to expand...

I think you live in a place that's easy to make a strong case to Merkley. People have moved to that area in large part because of the recreational opportunities provided by the public lands. We want him to fight to preserve the outdoor lifestyle that generations of Oregonians have cherished, and in the case of Central Oregon, a multitude of migrants moved here for.

Never once has somebody said "Man I wish the local trailheads were farther away from my house."
 
I think they're missing the boat with their definition of affordable. A lot of people could afford something in the 3 to 5000 square-foot range on 160 acre ranchetts............ If you build it they come.
 
eshunt said:
I live in NW nevada. One of these land use bills is proposed for around the Reno area. The problem is, these are not designated as "affordable housing". There is only a small percentage of the land designated to be used as "affordable" with the remainder being sold to developers to build housing/commercial in general. I have a few issues with the bills as proposed.

First, a lot of the land that is proposed for transfer is critical mule deer winter range and antelope range. There are not any provisions in the sale/transfer of public to private that would require maintaining any of the areas for deer, antelope, etc. that I could see. Instead, they will just sell off, develop and then let all the feral horses destry any remaining habitat.

Second, there is already a lot of private land that is located just to the south of I-80 that could be developed instead of transferring public lands that are north of I-80. Any and all private land should be advocated for development before any public land is transferred in my opinion. The senators are saying that they need the public land transferred in order to accomodate growth because there isn't enough private land available for development. This is total BS! There are thousands of acres of private land that could be developed. I guess it is more lucrative to sell the private land to large scale data centers that are receiving cheap/subisidized power instead of using it for housing that the senators are saying is so critical.

Third, many of these allocations use transfer to local tribes and government for parks, etc. as ways to grease the wheels. I do no appreciate this at all. Keep public lands public!!
Click to expand...
Gotta dig a little deeper. Follow the money. Reid's kid (lawyer) made piles from this corruption. The money generated did not go to enhance any other public land than in Nevada. These are NATIONAL public lands, not Nevada lands. The scam politicians at it again. Guaranteed that the public will lose and big $$$ boys will win with any so-called program to "enhance" opportunity for housing. If the Hi Rollers at Jackson or Reno want better housing for their housekeepers and gardeners, tell 'em to dig in their own pockets to buy, build, and rent. Come election time in the west, we need to find public land candidates and set up a write in campaign. Stir the pot!
 
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