Calif.: BCDC to be Audited

[JPA Cate]

There is a group called Friends of Westpoint Marina who have petitioned for an audit of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, those, who among other actions, limit live aboard slips. You guys out there in Calif, this may be an opportunity for you to do something really good for the other yachties! More information here: https://www.change.org/p/westpoint-harbor/u/23153594

[GordMay]

Thanks Ann.

FWIW:
BCDC’s Executive Director Will Travis’ 2001 response to questions about liveaborards, anchor-outs and houseboats:
➥ Bay Crossings

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

You guys out there in Calif, this may be an opportunity for you to do something really good for the other yachties!

Just what is it that you expect us to do that you couldn't?

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Fstbttms,

I am no longer a resident of the Bay Area. The link shown offers some ideas for actions. Everyone who is interested can take a look and see what he or she would like to do. Thanks for asking.

Ann

[RaymondR]

It's an amazing place the United States, the citizenry can get a government entity audited??

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

It's an amazing place the United States, the citizenry can get a government entity audited??

At least in California, citizens can start an "initiative." For that process to work, they much have x number of registered voters sign it. I just don't remember the number. All those signatures have then to be "verified", and determined to be registered voters in Calif. And of course, the State of California government's politicians, have some interest in responding to the wishes of the voters. I also don't know if the other States have a way for initiatives, and referendums. Probably online, if one cares that much. It all seems far away, enjoying a lovely, warm Brisbane area day.

This event was of interest to me, because the BCDC has empire built themselves into a real tyrannical sort of Commision, and this action against their harassment may cause the government to limit their actions.

Ann

[AA757]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

It's an amazing place the United States, the citizenry can get a government entity audited??

The relationship between citizens and government in the US is very different from the rest of the world. Its based on the political philosophy that citizens are master, and government the servent. Although, tbh, government power has grown considerably in the last 15 years and it can be hard to say what I just said with a strait face.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by AA757

The relationship between citizens and government in the US is very different from the rest of the world. Its based on the political philosophy that citizens are master, and government the servent. Although, tbh, government power has grown considerably in the last 15 years and it can be hard to say what I just said with a strait face.

I'm not too certain that the relationship between citizens and government in the U.S. is that different from say Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Britain in that they were all Anglo Saxon dominated polities which evolved from the British model of representative parliamentary government.

However the relationships are certainly far more formalized in the U.S. via the Constitution of the United States with it's explicit separation of powers and Bill of Rights.

There appears to be a much greater diversity in the manner in which the individual States in the U.S. implement representative government than in the other subject countries.

Anyway it also appears to work well in all of them and imperfect as it is our governments are certainly very responsive to the will of the people.