Bill -
Thanks for all the work you've done regarding these issues. I am inclined to agree with you and "... let the entire machine break down.." Maybe we should start playing politics, too and just let the County see what it would be like for them the next time there is an emergency test, or maybe a real emergency, and show up and sit on our thumbs. When asked why we are not doing anything simply say we are waiting to save enough money for Conditional Use Permits in order to get approval to erect antennas!
The $2000 is bad enough, but all that money gets you is a "REVIEW" of your intentions to put up an antenna. If they deny your request, you get none of that money back! It is a royal scam! Like the saying goes, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission! Just put the damn antenna up then fight them later.
Dennis H. Morales, AD6EZ<>< Goleta, CA 93117
-----Original Message----- From: sbarc-list-bounces@lists.netlojix.com [mailto:sbarc-list-bounces@lists.netlojix.com] On Behalf Of Bill Talanian Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 9:54 AM To: sbarc list Subject: [Sbarc-list] SB Planning Commission
July 14, 2005
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Hearing
AMATEUR RADIO IN SANTA BARBARA LOSES A BIG ONE
Notice went out to all hands that the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission was having a Hearing on the Amendments to the Telecommunications Ordinance on July 13, 2005. In typical beaurocratic fashion the members of the Planning Commission sided with the California Coastal Commission without objection.
What does this mean ? If the Planning Commission decisions are endorsed by the County Supervisors it means we lose the $2000 exemption the Supervisors originally favored with their vote. Something that we worked so hard to get. A host of other amendments would then place even simple wire antennas under the umbrella of having to obtain a Conditional Use Permit.
As the process moves forward the Amendments will come before the SB County Board of Supervisors for a vote within the next 3 months. If endorsed by the Supervisors it will be the end of experimental Amateur Radio as we know it.
My Opinion: Angry ? You bet I am. It is doubtful that the Supervisors will make exceptions for us. The Supervisors will probably just roll over and accept what was put upon them by the Coastal Commission and Planning Commission. To make an exception for Amateur Radio means the Supervisors would have to reject the findings of 2 Commissions then send staff back to the drawing board to carve out exemptions for Amateur Radio. Not likely.
Amateur Radio simply does not represent a large enough voting constituency to make government take notice. Everyone was silent except Royce Stauffer, KO6PM, who was the only one to appear and speak before the Commissioners. Noticeably vacant and silent in this entire process is our local ARRL representatives who have long ignored any involvement with helping guide us through the legal process. I believe Amateur Radio is only capable of one loud roar and that is about it. The long hard pull over years of hearings and trying to get representative favor simply has not worked. We just don't have the staying power to fight this year after year at every turn. The Club initially spent $5000 on legal fees to help which did not do much good.
The volunteer service of Amateur Radio, constituting thousands of man-hours of community service, through ARES and supporting a host of public events, has not done us a single bit of good where it counts, in the legislative arena. It is often times said, the government should be made aware and recognize the emergency services role we play. But frankly we have presented this argument over and over and it all falls upon deaf ears. Government tolerates us like little children as though they, as lords, know what is good for us.
Local government has created a morass of complex telecommunications rules that make any attempt at modification by our group nearly impossible. It is legal language that only a lawyer could love. Commercial telecommunication companies also find themselves tied up in the never ending process of hiring consultants and lawyers in defending their position. Incessant arguments and controversy over cell-phone antennas by opponents of radio frequency energy has stymied telecommunication growth and denied the public essential telecommunications services in this county. We in Amateur Radio have unwittingly become a victim in this process.
This recent quote by a Goleta City Council member: "The feds lay down certain rules, but they don't leave us many guidelines for how to follow them," she said. "It's pretty confusing."
Well if it is confusing for leadership then how do they think we feel ???
Simply put, it is one big mess. For the last 20 years our County leadership never got their arms around a fair and equitable solution with a set of simple rules and guidelines for Amateur Radio. We have tried to cooperate with the process but in so doing we are being constantly being strangled out of existence. Another tactic may be to simply let the entire machine break down. Make every ARO hurt and feel the pain and agony brought to us by our local representatives. The machine is broke. Until the Supervisors hear from us in a firm way then nothing is going to change.
As the saying goes; we deserve the government we get.
Bill Talanian, w1uuq@cox.net
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