LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: FEB 14, 2025
Stand up to the wrecking ball
Dear Editor,
Whether or not you voted for Donald Trump, the predictable and negative consequences of his presidency are quickly manifesting themselves internationally, nationally, and also locally, right here at home in our Eastern Sierra communities.
In less than three weeks, the indiscriminate wrecking ball of the Trump (or should we say Trump/Musk) administration has demonstrated no limits or boundaries, now smashing its way into the National Park system, including Yosemite National Park. Typical for this Administration, these actions have been taken in haste, precipitously, without any forethought or concern for the consequences. Numerous news outlets reported that online reservations for Yosemite, Summer 2025, are no longer available. Yes, indeed, looking at Yosemite’s website, it ominously states: “We will announce details on plans for managing visitor access in summer 2025 soon.” Can this Administration effectively manage anything in a thoughtful, meaningful, constructive manner?
The Los Angeles Times also reports that this Administration has sent a termination notice to the “seasonal” employees of the National Park system, largely eliminating the workforce. According to the Times, the “seasonal workers who staff the 433 national parks and historical sites, including Yosemite, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree, began receiving emails saying their job offers for the 2025 season had been ‘rescinded,’ with little further explanation.” The Times details all of the chaos, problems and negative ramifications of this careless, ill-conceived and shortsighted policy decision, including the negative impact on local economies.
Is anyone paying attention to these developments? We should be. These latest Trump/Musk administrative actions will affect millions of tourists who travel to the Park and visit the Eastern Sierra, as well as our local economy that very much depends on this visitation during the spring, summer and fall. Our regional economy is a non-partisan issue. Everyone should be concerned, regardless of party affiliation.
Planning for next summer’s business begins now, not only for the National Park service, but also for the people and families who will be traveling on vacations, and for local businesses and municipal services too. If these sudden, chaos-causing policies continue in effect for much longer, we could possibly see some National Park closures as a worst case scenario, but certainly limited access and services, complete dysfunction within the parks, or some combination thereof. The Times reported that “seasonal workers” in the Parks are essential to operations. If something doesn’t happen quickly, those Park operations will be negatively impacted.
This threat to our economy is urgent. Other than breaking things quickly and chaotically, can the Trump/Musk Administration reverse course and create a new but effective plan to “manage visitor access” in Yosemite for summer 2025, in a timely manner for everyone else to make their own plans? I don’t think so. What we have seen thus far though, when enough public outrage has been expressed, is that he and his minions have hurriedly walked back some of their atrocious, outrageous statements and decisions.
Regardless of whether you voted for this Administration, every business owner, employee, and resident of Mono and Inyo Counties needs to contact our Republican Congressman for the 3rd District, Kevin Kiley, and vehemently object to these inane and destructive policies. Contact anyone and everyone. This threat to our economy is real and requires urgent attention. Make your voice heard.
Daniel J. O’Connell
Mammoth Lakes
Who does Kiley represent?
To the Editor:
A subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee recently met to discuss whether the recent tragic fires in California were the result of the State’s forest and land management practices or other policies that could have contained the fires or prevented them entirely. This came amidst discussion about whether federal disaster aid should come with conditions, as advocated by President Trump and some members of Congress, including our own Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA3).
As might be expected, the hearing was highly partisan with GOP members critical of policies in place in California. Our Congressman Kiley spoke of “titanic policy blunders” by California’s political leaders, stating: “Today’s hearing can be a moment when we can turn the tide and restore some sanity to California fire and water policies while issuing a warning to the rest of the country about the devastating consequences of these failed policies.”
Is Representative Kiley aware of the fact that his district encompasses an area that is itself fire-prone? Does he not think that those of us who live in areas bordering national forest, as I do, are not doing all we can to mitigate fire danger around us? But perhaps of greatest concern, were a major fire to break out here, which has happened in the past, would he want his constituents to be bound by “conditions” imposed by people in Washington who know little about what they are speaking of?
Representative Kiley: Who do you represent, and who would you advocate for if/when we need you?
Joyce Kaufman
June LakeMammoth
