BLM proposing raising fees - your help needed

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:45 pm

Hey all,
I haven't posted in a while. I'm posting this for an org member who is eplaya challenged. Except for that, this is dead serious:

[b]WE NEED YOUR HELP...NOW!
CALL TO ACTION: VOICE YOUR OPINION TO THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ABOUT ARBITRARY AND UNJUSTIFIED BURNING MAN FEE INCREASES[/b]

The BLM has threatened to increase Burning Man's fees again this year without any rational justification. It's the last week of the public comment period before the BLM issues us a 2006 event permit with stipulations requiring Burning Man to pay more money than they are allowed to legally charge under the BLM regulations.

Burning Man needs its community to flood the BLM with letters and emails stating that this increase is unjustified. An emergency Jack Rabbit Speaks will be going out Monday morning and there is a link on the Burning Man homepage to the full story including a sample letter to send to the BLM at http://burningman.com/news/blm_news_06.html Please forward this to your burner friends and ask everyone you know to send in their comments before next Friday, May 5th.

Don't let the BLM raise Burning Man's fees again! Thank you for taking action

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:04 pm

ronjon wrote:.....I'm posting this for an org member who is eplaya challenged.....

Did you know the eplaya had a "Contact the Burning Man Staff" topic area back in 1998?

cite

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:09 pm

Yep. Two years after I showed up on the playa. What's your point?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:23 pm

Well, at least you could have had Spanky create a topic area titled "Lack of planning on your part will not constitute an emergency on our part", in lieu of LLC members actually conversing with the hoi polloi on the eplaya.

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:30 pm

While that might be the case for the LLC, this is for a lower level staffer who's trying to help and has done a lot for the org without the need for taking credit for it.

So deal.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:31 pm

Bob wrote:Well, at least you could have had Spanky create a topic area titled "Lack of planning on your part will not constitute an emergency on our part", in lieu of LLC members actually conversing with the hoi polloi on the eplaya.

Hey, hey, hey, Bob come on, every community has it’s second class citizens the muck-i-mucks couldn’t be seen soiling there reputations talking to.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:39 pm

Sorry ronjon I’m not really snarky about you spreading the word, it’s the old beef about feeling like a rejected stepchild

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:41 pm

Works for me. Assuming Bob is Bob Stahl, we've butted heads before. I'm no supporter of the LLC, but I still like the event and I don't like the ticket price and I'm no fan of the BLM.

You get to choose. That's what makes this country great.

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:43 pm

This is about the fifth time I've registered for the eplaya. I've been posting to it since they rolled it out.

Who was the dude who created 15 personalities on the eplaya and caused all the ruckus?

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:44 pm

Bob:

If you actually spent some time over here as an active participant you might be aware of what Spanky does and more importantly what he doesn't. Here's the link so you can read it for yourself:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ht=#215796

My point being if you want something moved you ask the admin to do it and the person with the most day to day authority on here is Emily. Spanky sticks to the technical side and isn't on here as much as she is. And I made a request to Emily via PM to maybe put the alert up as a sticky, or move it to somewhere more prominent than it is now.

As for your comment on lack of planning....the posted article says they are currently in the midst of negotiations...which means this is likely not something they had months of awareness on. Give them the benefit of the doubt. In any event they need help and it's not that hard to fire off an email. So why not stop the bitching posts and fire off some emails instead.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:47 pm

REQUEST FOR URGENT BURNER RELATIONSHIP

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY BURNERLY AND 'TOP SECRET'. I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE A TRANSACTION OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING TRANSACTION REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE IN THE TEN PRINCIPLES.

WE ARE TOP OFFICIAL OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN IMPORATION OF GOODS INTO NW NEVADA WITH FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN NIGERIA. IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THIS BLM BUSINESS WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE US TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT THE SAID TRAPPED FUNDS.

THE SOURCE OF THIS FUND IS AS FOLLOWS; DURING THE LAST MILITARY REGIME HERE IN NIGERIA, THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SET UP COMPANIES AND AWARDED THEMSELVES CONTRACTS WHICH WERE GROSSLY OVER-INVOICED IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES. THE PRESENT CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT SET UP A CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF INFLATED CONTRACT FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY FLOATING IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA READY FOR PAYMENT.

HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF OUR POSITION AS SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS, WE CANNOT ACQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAMES. I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE PANEL TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEAS PARTNER INTO WHOSE ACCOUNT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$21,320,000.00 (TWENTY ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS). HENCE WE ARE WRITING YOU THIS LETTER. WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY THUS; 1. 20% FOR THE ACCOUNT OWNER 2. 70% FOR US (THE OFFICIALS) 3. 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES. IT IS FROM THE 70% THAT WE WISH TO COMMENCE THE IMPORTATION BUSINESS.

PLEASE,NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND WE HOPE TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER LATEST SEVEN (7) BANKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIOM BY TEL/FAX; 234-1-7740449, YOUR COMPANY'S SIGNED, AND STAMPED LETTERHEAD PAPER THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US WRITE LETTERS OF CLAIM AND JOB DESCRIPTION RESPECTIVELY. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR COMPANY'S NAME TO APPLY FOR PAYMENT AND RE-AWARD THE CONTRACT IN YOUR COMPANY'S NAME.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSATION. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER USING THE ABOVE TEL/FAX NUMBERS. I WILL SEND YOU DETAILED INFORMATION OF THIS PENDING PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR HARRY AL ARVEH

NOTE; PLEASE QUOTE THIS REFERENCE NUMBER (VE/S/09/99) IN ALL YOUR RESPONSES.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:50 pm

And in the time it took you to craft that post you could have sent an e-mail to the BLM. I guess everyone can see where your priorities are.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:52 pm

Actually K4 from what I’ve heard about the relative impact of communications, if you really want officials to hear what you have to say, send snail mail.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:02 pm

Ronjon, you know I love you. I'd even build Media Mecca again if I got over my aversion to ropelights. But the tone of the request and the referenced Burning Man web page is so petulantly juvenile I'm tempted to write the BLM re: jacking the fee up even more.

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:03 pm

Truth be told, a fax is as good as a snail mail. I'll see if I can track down a BLM fax line.

I do community stuff challenging the PUC - http://www.feltonflow.org . And faxes from citizens have had an effect.

I have always respected Bob, though I'm pretty sure we've "howdy'd, but never shook."

Here's the last thing I'll say to establish my burner cred. I helped track down the clown after BM04.

Jim/ronjon

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:08 pm

Bob,
If you did that, I would respect it. Dead serious.

rj

P.S. I was never a fan of rope lights, either. But however you procured that big rope. Damn.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:11 pm

This is the number off the BLM - Winnemucca website and the same one I have programmed into the fax machine: (775) 623-1503. I just tested it and it's working.

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:19 pm

Kinetic...that's the fax number?

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:21 pm

ronjon wrote:Truth be told, a fax is as good as a snail mail. I'll see if I can track down a BLM fax line.

I do community stuff challenging the PUC - http://www.feltonflow.org . And faxes from citizens have had an effect.

I have always respected Bob, though I'm pretty sure we've "howdy'd, but never shook."

Here's the last thing I'll say to establish my burner cred. I helped track down the clown after BM04.

Jim/ronjon

Good job hate clowns to start with but that asshole even gave clowns a bad name!

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:28 pm

I don't hate. I watch out for my friends. A different way to look at it.

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:41 pm

Kinetic IV wrote:This is the number off the BLM - Winnemucca website and the same one I have programmed into the fax machine: (775) 623-1503. I just tested it and it's working.

Good job K4 will spread it around Tribe and such.
My faxes going out now and will follow up with snail mail changed form letter to include questions I want a reply from them about.

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:42 pm

ronjon wrote:I don't hate. I watch out for my friends. A different way to look at it.

It was a attempt at Clown discrimination humor really just do not care for Clowns...Good job any how

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:43 pm

Rockdad,
Thank you. I appreciate it. Mine will be going out tomorrow.

Having eased myself out of the mainstream of BM (except for helping new burners in the Santa Cruz area and mocking noobs on Tribe) I miss the give and take of the eplaya.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:50 pm

You get to choose. That's what makes this country great.

Sounds perilously close to ''..LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.
'

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:56 pm

REQUEST FOR URGENT BURNER RELATIONSHIP
...

I am fucking

HOWLING!!!!!

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:28 pm

From AEZ list wrote:Well, in the oft-chance that the Boogie Man is NOT out to get us, that the
ghosts of Mussolini & Franco & Tito & Saddam are NOT pulling the reins in
Washington DC, and that George W. Bush is NOT doing everything that Jerry
Falwell tells him to do, I myself plan to respond with a email letter.

Methinks this is a greed issue; not a fascist one. And it comes in the form
of BLM feathering their nest/budget and to justify their costs, thinking
they got BM over a barrel. I've been coming to Burning Man since 1998; and
BLM used to first walk or bike around BRC (y'know, like the REST of us).
Then they started using quads, then midsize trucks. But now it's mammoth
SUVS crammed full with every wilderness survival toy inside. And I know
those vehicles don't grow on trees.

Larry & the BM LLC have the 'Paiute card' in their pocket, as the tribe has
been courting Burning Man to move the event to their Pyramid Lake
reservation for several years now. And Larry has threatened..er..notified
the BLM that, if they keep this shit up, he's moving the event. If that
happened, the BLM would then receive $0 from Burning Man and the Paiute
tribe would make similar scale fees instead. Who knows if the Paiutes would,
in turn start to gouge BM. But at least some of their new found revenue
stream would go to improving their situation.

Perhaps if Burners sent emails to BM LLC, encouraging them to revisit the
Paiute offer, even move the event there, then BLM would get the message
about them pimping the Black Rock Desert.

I encourage AEZers to send two such letters.

I think this is a great card to play!

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:12 pm

I think this is a great card to play!

Always save your trump card(s) until last.

ronjon · Post by **ronjon** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:17 pm

Isotopia wrote:
Sounds perilously close to ''..LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.

I meant my response to mean "If you want t be an ass, the Founding Fathers have included language in the Constitution that protects your right to be an ass."

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:11 am

Isotopia wrote:
I think this is a great card to play!
Always save your trump card(s) until last.

Good point... It is a good feeling to know it is there! An Ace in the hole makes bidding so more enjoyable

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:21 am

Looks like the LLC should have known about some of this for some time

LoveLock Review-Miner
Thursday, July 14, 2005

BLM will not continue paying for
law enforcement for Burning ManBy Beth Clifton

Bureau of Land Management special agent Mark Pirtle of Reno, National Conservation Area Manager Dave Cooper of Winnemuca, and Winnemucca Field Manager Gail Givens attended the Pershing County Commissioners’ meeting on July 6 to discuss law enforcement funding at the annual Burning Man event.
According to the Burning Man website, "http://www.burningman.com", the event is designed to encourage people to travel "to the Black Rock Desert for one week out of the year to be part of an experimental community, which challenges its members to express themselves and rely on themselves to a degree that is not normally encountered in one’s day-to-day life."
Historically, the BLM has paid the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement provided for the event under a general law enforcement agreement. This year, however, they say that Pershing County needs to implement its own ordinance, allowing the county to charge Black Rock City, LLC, the agency that hosts Burning Man, certain event fees and use that money to fund law enforcement coverage for the event.
This year, they said they will fund law enforcement for Burning Man, but next year, Pershing County will not receive funding from the BLM. Pirtle said the BLM has asked Pershing County for two years to create an ordinance to allow for collection directly from Black Rock City, LLC for law enforcement costs.
In addition, BLM officials are asking Pershing County to sign a specific law enforcement agreement stating that the BLM will only pay for services provided by uniformed officers. The BLM will not fund any undercover operations, such as drug use and underage drinking stings performed by Pershing County deputies. This is due to policy changes in Washington, DC and applies to all law enforcement agreements entered into by the BLM, Pirtle said.
During the meeting, Pershing County Sheriff, Ron Skinner, said such a specific agreement would leave him no way to cover the inevitable emergency situations that arise during the event, such as riots, rapes and robberies.
Also, since they have to pull officers from their duties within the county, there would not be enough manpower to cover anything out of the ordinary that happened outside of the Burning Man event, Skinner said.
Will Peterson, representative for Black Rock City, LLC, also attended the meeting. He said that it was his understanding that it is the responsibility of the BLM to pay for local law enforcement for the event out of the $4 per head charged to Black Rock City, LLC for the event permitting.
Pirtle said that the BLM was not obligated to pay these costs, but they can if they so choose. The amount the BLM receives each year for the event is about $770,000, Pirtle said. About $550,000 of that money is spent on costs directly related to the event, including local law enforcement and BLM rangers. The remaining funds are used to preserve and protect the Black Rock Desert area throughout the year.
"Most of the problems that occur at Burning Man are going to be local and state problems, so they are leaving us with basically 14 deputies to patrol for the entire 10 days, and yet BLM is funding 45 rangers from all over the country," Skinner said. "What BLM should be doing is cutting back on the number of rangers that are up there and adding to the number of deputies we have in place there." Skinner said that the BLM rangers do not have jurisdiction to handle problems such as underage drinking.
Pirtle said that the county commissioners have received a total of $40,000 in cash and donations to non-profit Pershing County organizations from Black Rock City, LLC this year, and that money could be used to help fund law enforcement efforts.
Commissioner Roger Mancebo said that Black Rock City, LLC has not signed any agreement, nor have they paid any money at all to the county as yet. "Pershing County never gets anything from Burning Man, all we do is pay the bill," Mancebo said. Next year, Pershing County plans to put into effect an ordinance that will allow for the collection of law enforcement costs from Burning Man, he said.
Pirtle said that if Pershing County has an ordinance in place to that effect, then the BLM would write into their agreement that any ordinance in effect from Pershing County must be followed.
Commissioner Darin Bloyed said at the meeting that he would not stand for the taxpayers of Pershing County having to pay one dollar for the Burning Man event. He asked the BLM officials if they would grant permits to Black Rock City, LLC next year if Black Rock City, LLC refused to comply with a Pershing County ordinance; Gail Givens said they absolutely would not give Black Rock City, LLC permits in that case.
Last year, the BLM provided $87,000 to Pershing County for law enforcement. This year, Givens has agreed to give Pershing County $60,000 and provide an additional $10,000 in a separate contingency fund that will be allotted on a case-by-case basis for such unforeseen investigations as homicides or rapes that may occur during the event. Pirtle and Skinner were scheduled to meet last Monday to finalize the details of the agreement, Skinner said.

http://nevadarancher.com/rminer/rm2005/rmjul14c.htm

BLM proposing raising fees - your help needed

BLM proposing raising fees - your help needed

Re: BLM proposing raising fees - your help needed

And another thing