Thursday, February 23, 2017

Letter to New BLM State Director, Roberson

Dear State Director, Roberson, 

 Welcome to Utah, and all the sticky issues you'll be dealing with.  You must be a man of grit to accept this State position, but I hope you are also a man of wisdom.
I am not a true “local” of San Juan County, having only lived here 45 years. But I have a great passion and love for all things historical, cultural, and environmental in our county. 

I taught English and Journalism at San Juan High school 1984-1999, and on Utah's Electronic High school for seven additional years.  During that time, I and two others started a regional historical magazine in 1984.  Blue Mountain Shadows has published two issues a year since then, plus sponsored, cultural events, folk festivals, and historical forums. We have published 54 issues.  Several of those issues have been cooperative efforts between the BLM and San Juan County Historical Commission.  If you are interested in receiving copies, please let me know and I will send you some related to the issues you fell heir to.  I think they would give you a broader perspective of the people: Ute, Anglo, Navajo, and Hispanics, as well as what comprises their culture and the land we all love.  

The divisive issue of Bears Ears has given many outside of our county a false perception of what San Juan County is like. We love our public lands, but find further restrictions brought on by a National Monument excessive, and even detrimental to keeping this pristine land healthy; based upon Grand Staircase Escalante, do we not see any economic benefits either.  I do agree that we need additional BLM rangers on the Cedar Mesa area, and had the Federal Gov. not been $20 Trillion in debt, maybe that would have happened before now!  Had we not been the target of militant Dan Love-type BLM militia raids, and falsehoods told to our county commissioners by the BLM, we would still be on somewhat good terms with this agency.  We also resent the excessive money spent by wealthy environmental groups and foundations who lobby against SJC, the poorest county in the state. Those are some of my concerns.

​Thank you for your time, and let me know about the magazines.  The State BLM office may have the three Cottonwood Reclamation magazines already. ​But there are others that would be central to the controversies you have inherited. 

My blog: http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/ contains what has happened since July, when I got involved in this political issue. 

Sincerely,
Janet Wilcox


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