Dear Staff at Kern Valley Sun,

I'm Mike Graves, a resident of Burbank, CA. I come up to the Kern Valley as often as possible, because I love it up there. The natural beauty is unsurpassed and the recreation diverse. And I like to do a lot of different things. I saw Archie Logsdon's article regarding the Roadless Rule and shook my head.

Mr. Logsdon says he has studied the issue for the last 1 1/2 years, but then fails to put any of the last 18 months to good use by offering the reading public a real foundation with facts about these roadless areas. He merely states that the revisiting of the Roadless Rules and the logging that can result from it are right wing ideology.

I should ask if your staff placed a limit on the length of his letter. Did you truncate it? Did he explain how this revisitation has nothing to do with providing wood people need? Did he demonstrate that excess fuel on the ground does not make for fire danger?

Mr. Logsdon then says his “inheritance" is roadless acres; yet the rule was adopted just a few years ago, and with vociferous opposition. Not only that, the rule was adopted without the consent of Congress: the rule was decreed by one branch of the government; a clear violation of the spirit of checks and balances. And I might add, a clear misuse of the word inheiritance.

The roadless rule centralized roadmaking decisions to Washington D.C. Many of us called this centralized planning, and an unnecessary concentration of power. As many of us pointed out in 1999 and 2000 during the hearings, current local rules did not allow for someone to simply start making roads.

Mr. Logsdon then contends that "we have not been discovered and despoiled-yet". There are paved roads and dirt roads all over the place. People have carved a life out of the Kern River Valley and surrounding areas for well over a 130 years. John Keyes and the miners of Keyesville come to mind. In the 1870's, 3500 people lived in the Piutes. No doubt, folks from the Kern could list far more settlements and entertain me with stories for many an hour. The pioneering heritage of the Kern is still with us. As to undiscovered, has Mr. Logsdon noticed the price of real estate lately?

Mr. Logsdon says that "people make economic sacrifices to live here because we like doing real things", and I'm sure that is true for the folks who move out his way, but what about the kids growing up in the area? Do they have to make an economic sacrifice to stay? Should your young have to move to L.A. in order to make a middleclass living? Is that what Mr. Logsdon would consign them to? Is this an acknowledgement on Mr. Logsdon’s part that logging makes economic sense? Do trees have to be moved in order to camp, fish, kayak, cattle ranch, mountain bike, or have a porch to sit on? Do roads and trails serve as a means to inventory botanical life? Are they useful for nature watching? Do roads and trails enable people to hike, bird watch, backpack, and mule-pack? I think the answer is obvious.

Unfortunately, I think it is transparent that Mr. Logsdon is dedicated to none of those things. I think its transparent Mr. Logsdon wants his "inheritance" undiscovered and unenjoyed.

Have a good day on your porch Mr. Logsdon

Best regards,

Mike Graves
934 N. Catalina St.
Burbank, CA 91505-2605

Link to article in Kern Sun that prompted the above response

Link to Hate Mail from Archie Logsdon, writer of letter in above link

Link to article Roadless Rule is Illegal