What have we done lately?
Have a look at FOLF activities since late 2005! FOLF Milestones
Save off-leash access and recreation!
Get informed here, then make your views known. Don't wait. Your voice counts. WRITE TODAY! Click here for Contact Info
REMINDER: TRADITIONAL OFF-LEASH HOURS
We're asking people to stick to the traditional compromise hours: sunrise to 10am; 4pm to sunset
Updated 9/16/10
We Endorse Hilary Bryant, Lynn Robinson and
David Terrazas for Santa Cruz City Council
Friends of Lighthouse Field
endorses three candidates for Santa Cruz City Council --
Hilary Bryant,
Lynn Robinson and
David Terrazas. FOLF supports
these candidates because of their willingness to actively support and champion
the return of traditional off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field State Beach
as a low-cost, community-driven solution to restore a safe and secure
environment in Lighthouse Field.
We urge you to vote for Bryant, Robinson and Terrazas as candidates who have
expressed their willingness to take active steps to investigate and pursue
alternatives that would be most effective in restoring a vibrant community of
people with dogs to improve safety and discourage drinking, drugs and vagrancy
in the park.
FOLF was pleased that all of the eight candidates
expressed support for people with dogs at Lighthouse Field State Beach and
acknowledged that illegal usage of Lighthouse Field for drinking parties, drug
dealing and abuse and vagrant camping has increased dramatically since off-leash
recreation was prohibited in 2007. FOLF made its endorsement decisions based on
the candidates who best understand the complex issues surrounding the
community's use and enjoyment of Lighthouse Field and Its Beach.
To facilitate our endorsement decision,
we developed a detailed
candidate questionnaire. FOLF board members spoke with candidates and asked
follow-on questions to further clarify their stands. Each of the eight
candidates for the three open council seats participated, giving extensive
and thoughtful answers to all questions including their own personal experience
at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach. Please read the
detailed candidate responses. We look forward to continuing our work with the City
Council and with the new council members!
FOLF Teams with Save Our Shores in 2010
FOLF has renewed its commitment with Save Our Shores for 2010 to adopt Its Beach and Lighthouse Field. As part of FOLF's commitment to SOS' Adopt A Beach Program, we will do a thorough cleaning of the beach and surrounding areas as well as document what we pick up. We will send you reminders and further details as we get closer to
each clean-up date. Please join our mailing
list.
Sandy Claws is Top Dog at HoliDog Celebration
Annie's Blankets Warms To FOLF Donations
At Friends of Lighthouse Field's second annual HoliDog Celebration, dozens of dogs got into the holiday spirit while lovingly lapping up Sandy Claws' holiday treats. FOLF community members donated more than a barrel of towels and blankets to support Annie's Blankets, a non-profit organization giving new life to old blankets and towels by recycling them to pet shelters and veterinary hospitals. We thank you all for your generous donation towards Annie's Blankets and a special thank you goes out Penny from Annie's who drove out from Salinas to support the event.
Pets and their pals posed for photos with Sandy Claws, while FOLF members enjoyed coffee and hot apple cider, shared holiday good cheer, and generally agreed that a sunny December morning with their pets off leash was a welcome harbinger of good things to come for Lighthouse Field and Its Beach in 2010. There were many dogs and people dressed in there finest holiday-wear, including two French Bull-dogs in holiday sweaters, a golden retriever in a holiday surf shirt and "Pooh" the rottweiler in a big red bow.
To see pictures, click a photo, then use the arrows to browse forward and back!
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Thank you to everyone for coming out and enjoying the holiday and community spirit! And a special HO HO HO to Andy Firebaugh.
FOLF Community Petitions State Parks to Reinstate Off-Leash Recreation for Pets on Voice Control At Lighthouse Field and Its Beach
As the latest milestone in the ongoing campaign to reinstate off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach, the community members of Friends of Lighthouse Field (FOLF - www.folf.org) have sent State Parks Director Ruth Coleman a petition signed by over 400 supporters requesting that State Parks reinstate voice-control policies at Lighthouse Field State Beach in Santa Cruz County. download the letter (.pdf). The petition calls for the reinstatement of off-leash hours for pets under voice control before 10am and after 4pm daily. FOLF supporters also have indicated their willingness to defray maintenance costs with annual donations pledged to State Parks, with a survey indicating the community members' willingness to donate more then $30,000 per year.
The State Parks Director could grant this under a Special Use Policy to Establish Amended Regulations for Dog Owner Recreation Purpose (State Code Title 14, Section 4312). FOLF's petition advocates that this Special Use should be established for Lighthouse Field State Beach based on its very specific and unique characteristics, including: 1) its unique urban location, 2) its 50+ year tradition of off-leash recreation for pets under voice control, 3) the desire of the local government and 4) an engaged local community's stewardship and volunteer efforts.
"Since off-leash recreation has been made illegal, the park sits virtually unused through most of the day, while illegal camping, drinking parties, and gang presence have risen significantly," said Zee Zaballos, FOLF Board Member. "We are asking State Parks to develop a solution that brings the community back to the park and serves the community as a whole."
State parks in Colorado and National Parks, including Golden Gate National Recreation Area, support voice control recreation in areas with community support and a long history of off-leash recreation. Since off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field State Beach was banned in late 2007, California State Parks have been not recognized the unique aspects of Lighthouse Field and Its Beach and the community's widespread support for off-leash recreation.
"Given the State and the State Parks financial woes, the FOLF community has indicated its willingness to help," said Carl Alsing, FOLF Board Member. "We have presented several revenue generating ideas and options to help the State Parks, including pledges of annual support and collaboration on public grants and fundraising."
Thank you for your continued support!!
Friends of Lighthouse Field is committed to continuing to work with elected and appointed officials to ensure voice-control recreation is reinstated to LFSB. In addition, we are committed to continuing our park stewardship activities include frequent cleanup days, sponsorship of family-oriented social events at the park, fundraising for park amenities, such as benches, a drinking fountain, trail repair, and park-user education.
We need your help
In addition to writing and calling officials, going to the park and signing petitions, we need donations.
We make every effort to keep our operating costs as low as possible, however your donations can help pay for dog and donut events, web-site, email system, mailings, bumper stickers and save-our-shores clean-up events. Please consider making a donation to help us continue to operate during 2010. Donations can be made through this web-site using credit card or PayPal or mail a donation to: Friends of Lighthouse Field, 849 Almar Avenue , Suite C-PMB414, Santa Cruz , CA 95060 .
Petition To State Parks: Reinstate Off-leash Recreation
To: Ruth Coleman, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation
Subject: Special Use Policy for Its Beach and Lighthouse Field to Establish Amended Regulations for Dog Owner Recreation
Purpose: We, the undersigned, wish to have reinstated off-leash dog recreation policies at Its Beach and Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz County, to include off-leash hours before 10 am and after 4pm daily. If you cannot reinstate off-leash recreation, then we petition to have the Department release the management of Lighthouse Field to the City of
Santa Cruz.
Authority: State Code Title 14, Section 4312 provides that you, as Department Director, have the authority to amend the dog use policy regarding Lighthouse Field State Beach .
*indicates required information
Background: Friends of Lighthouse Field (FOLF) is an active community in Santa Cruz that has worked tirelessly to assure off-leash dog recreation at Its Beach and Lighthouse Field. For over 50 years, the neighborhood residents of Santa Cruz have enjoyed off-leash recreation at Its Beach and Lighthouse Field. Now, however, since off-leash recreation has been made illegal at Its Beach and Lighthouse Field, the park sits virtually unused through most of the day, while illegal camping, drinking parties, and gang presence have risen significantly. We are asking State Parks to develop a solution that brings this responsible community of park stewards back to the park and serves the community as a whole.
FOLF encourages you to continue to use Lighthouse Field State Beach (LFSB) for off-leash recreation during the traditional compromise hours (before 10am and after 4pm) regardless of
the State's misguided new policy.
Let's preserve an important part of the Santa Cruz social fabric. Off-leash recreation in LFSB is critical for our health, well-being, culture, safety and quality of life. Our presence provides a net benefit to the park and surrounding neighborhood, even for people who do not have dogs. The consequences of abandoning LFSB are so negative we cannot in good conscience accept such an outcome. We advise you to:
Bring a leash with you at all times and if you see a ranger put your dog on leash.
If you see a ranger -- call out and let others know.
Stay calm and obey ranger directives. Do not be confrontational.
Continue to be a good park steward. Always pick up and always promote good behavior.
Keep us informed of all ranger interactions via email to info@folf.org.
We are looking for continued community presence, not for conflict. Avoid tickets, don't try to get them. Avoid rangers, don't try to confront them. Rangers drive around in jeeps and trucks -- learn to identify the white ranger trucks (marked "Ranger") from the white maintenance trucks (marked "Maintenance") which typically have large drawers and gardening supplies. State Park maintenance workers do not give tickets -- neither do City workers or City police.
Negotiations continue between the City and the State. While they continue we are hopeful that State Parks will avoid disturbing the community. We'll keep you posted if things really do start to change.
If a Park Ranger Stops You:
Be polite -- chances are the ranger will just ask you to put your dog on a leash. A park ranger may give you a warning and record your name. It is important that we remain polite with the rangers as they are in the tough position of having to enforce a bad policy at the State level. And a polite exchange is much more likely to reduce the chances of you getting a ticket.
Remember you are not committing a crime. A citation is like a traffic ticket or a jaywalking ticket. However, unlike jaywalking or speeding which create safety hazards, our community presence creates a public safety benefit.
If You Get a Citation: First, you should use common sense to avoid citations. Always carry a leash and leash-up if you see a ranger. Be polite, not confrontational. If rangers are in the park, save your off-leash time for later or another day. Rangers are usually few and far between.
(The information contained herein is in no way intended to represent legal advice. If legal advice is needed, please seek the advice of a qualified attorney. Friends of Lighthouse Field assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein.)
If by chance you do get a ticket, we encourage you to take it to court rather than simply pay it. If there is an error in how the ticket was issued, it might be dismissed. The additional court effort makes it clear to State Parks that people are committed to preserving our community presence.
Points you might want to bring forward while contesting a citation are:
a. Any error or omission in the issued citation: Is the date or time wrong? If you had your dog ON a leash by the time you received the citation, did the ranger have a clear unobstructed view of the alleged infraction? Were signs unclear or missing?
b. Unclear delineation of Its Beach: FOLF has been told by the Director of Parks and Recreation for Santa Cruz and the State Parks District Superintendent that a percentage of Its Beach is owned by the City. If you get a ticket on Its Beach, you could argue that as far as you know you were on the City side of the beach. If this is contested by the State Parks, you could request evidence of any specific State Park signs designating the State Parks side of the beach from the City-owned beach. Did the ranger know exactly where the boundary is?
c. Ask for a reduced fine and/or community service: If this is a first offence and you were polite and cooperative, you may get a reduced fine. If you have difficulty paying you may be able to ask for community service hours instead. You can do these at many nonprofit organizations in town. FOLF will sign hours for you if you want to spend your time cleaning up the Field. You'll need to tell the judge you want to work at Lighthouse Field and that FOLF will sign off hours. If you are assigned community service hours through FOLF, contact us immediately at info@folf.org.
Report all ranger interactions and any citations to FOLF (info@folf.org) including ranger's name, date, time and location. We need to track what is happening. And if we have more information that could help you contest a citation, we'll send it to you.
Again, we urge that you carry a leash so you can demonstrate the ability to put your dog under your direct control. We also ask that you:
Continue picking up after your dog and encouraging others to do the same.
Report any public safety problems in the park (drug use, camping, prostitution, etc.) We have been advised by SCPD to call 9-1-1 to make any such report.
Be aware that ONLY the State Park rangers and officials have responsibility to enforce on-leash usage. State Parks maintenance workers, City Police, City Fire and City Parks staff do not have off-leash enforcement responsibilities.
Please also report any improper communications by anyone, either State or City staff or anyone you suspect is impersonating State or City staff, to FOLF (info@folf.org). State Parks has clearly communicated that they do not educate people with a bull-horn or by yelling.
Contact City and State officials today
City/State negotiations are still underway but moving too slowly. Let them know why this is important to your daily quality of life and why this is important to the broader community (including people without dogs.) Ask them to conclude a deal to permanently protect off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach, and to get this deal done quickly.
or send a check to: Friends of Lighthouse Field
849 Almar Avenue, Suite C-PMB414
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Stay Informed...
Local animal control expert talks about off-leash recreation at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach
Hear the views of Officer Todd Stosuy, Santa Cruz County Animal Services Field Supervisor. [Watch the video]
FOLF Forum Opening Presentation
Be sure to watch this opening presentation from FOLF's May Forum with John Laird, Emily Reilly and representatives from State Parks. Watch the Forum Presentation
Author Maria Goodavage wrote a compelling letter to Santa Cruz City and California State officials in support of off-leash access at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach. She also points out the positive economics for dog-friendly communities. Maria is the author of The Dog Lover's Companion to California.
We urge you to vote for Bryant, Robinson and Terrazas as candidates who have
expressed their willingness to take active steps to investigate and pursue
alternatives that would be most effective in restoring a vibrant community of
people with dogs to improve safety and discourage drinking, drugs and vagrancy
in the park.