Letter to the Editor: Chu’s proposal ignores history, Monrovia resident says

Dear Editor

In the late 1800’s the land we know as the Angeles National Forest was originally dedicated as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. In the early 1900’s it was put under the name Angeles National Forest. Memory serves me that it was the 7th National Forest. The original intent, which is still being protected were the water resources generated by this wild land. Around 1912 the Forest Service realized forest users became forest protectors. They allowed citizens to lease forest land and build summer cabins. Where these cabins still exist you will find some of the best protected and preserved wild lands. Also during this period hundreds of miles of trails, campgrounds and ranger stations were built to serve the public. In the last 20 years budgets have been slashed and the public service programs have suffered drastically. My problem with the Chu proposal is that it ignores history in trying to reinvent the wheel. If all the time and trouble that has been spent on this proposal was instead directed at changing the conditions existing in the current forest service management we would achieve the same desired results. I am so tired of reading letters from people who think there is going to be some magical transformation of the forest under Chu’s proposal. Instead what is really needed is the voice of forest users to be represented in a meaningful way by government representatives dedicated in an un political manner to serve the public needs. In closing, things in the forest could be better but the public should not be so critical of the Forest Service when they (the forest service) are controlled by Congress.

Glen Owens
Monrovia

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