http://www.pinelandsalliance.org/blog/2016/12/park-police-need-tools-to-combat-orv-abuse/
Another blog article on the PPA site and, presumably, emailed to supporters. I saw it on Facebook where I commented twice last night - both were non incendiary, respectful posts. One was about how the increased enforcement IS working in the Pines, and the other was in response to someone's question about why the people in the video with their license plates visible aren't being prosecuted. My reply was "how do you know that they're not?"
Both comments were deleted.
I then went back and looked at the blog post and saw that only one video was recent. The three others were from the spring, before the DEP actually stepped up enforcement. I wrote this comment:
and then later whoever handles their social media replied with
They then hid my comment.
For those curious, this is the link to the slide deck showing the enforcement plan that was released on March 22, 2016.
Here's the bullet points for law enforcement:
One of the things that enforcement is going to do, besides hand out tickets, is both make examples out of people who are breaking the law as well as be a visible presence in the woods. You have to give that time to happen. And to the complaint that these incidents happened without consequences remember that murder is illegal yet every now and then someone does it and gets away with it. Doesn't mean that you lock everybody in their house to prevent it from happening. You just hope that enforcement capability gets better in time.
Between the fact that the article implies that these are all new videos and the fact that the PPA is deleting or hiding comments that they don't want their supporters to see it's pretty clear that they're fast becoming the Breitbart News of the Pine Barrens. They've always had an open forum on my site and the Facebook page. I've never deleted or hidden anything that Al or Jason has to say, even if I disagree with it entirely.
Really, guys, you've taken the good name of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and flushed it down the toilet. The fact that anybody donates to this sham organization anymore is a total mystery to me.
Another blog article on the PPA site and, presumably, emailed to supporters. I saw it on Facebook where I commented twice last night - both were non incendiary, respectful posts. One was about how the increased enforcement IS working in the Pines, and the other was in response to someone's question about why the people in the video with their license plates visible aren't being prosecuted. My reply was "how do you know that they're not?"
Both comments were deleted.
I then went back and looked at the blog post and saw that only one video was recent. The three others were from the spring, before the DEP actually stepped up enforcement. I wrote this comment:
Also, of the videos that you linked to in this blog post, only one is recent. The other three are from April/May of 2016, before the DEP enforcement started in force. My take on this is that the PPA, an organization that I once loved and respected, is trying to deceive their supporters on this issue because things in fact are getting better in the Pines, and that does not fit in with the narrative that the PPA is trying to advance.
and then later whoever handles their social media replied with
Hi Ben, all of these videos were posted After the DEP released their titled "Enforcement Plan" for Wharton on March 22nd. The most recent video was a day long(and into the night) tour of destruction during which the offenders were never stopped, questioned, or ticketed.
They then hid my comment.
For those curious, this is the link to the slide deck showing the enforcement plan that was released on March 22, 2016.
Here's the bullet points for law enforcement:
- To stop All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and illegal Off-road vehicles (ORVs) and other illegal vehicles from entering the state forest and to stop off-roading by any vehicle.
- To protect our most sensitive resources, such as threatened or endangered species habitats and/or historical/cultural areas.
- To educate the public on the impacts of illegal motorized vehicle use in Wharton State Forest.
- Enforcement of all NJAC 7:2 administrative code violations pertaining to ORV use and operating motor vehicles off of existing roadways.
- Enforcement of all applicable laws with regard to ORVs
- Enforcement of Title 39 and Title 13 statutes – laws relating to motor vehicle use of public lands
- Officers will be providing enhanced enforcement in the Forest.
One of the things that enforcement is going to do, besides hand out tickets, is both make examples out of people who are breaking the law as well as be a visible presence in the woods. You have to give that time to happen. And to the complaint that these incidents happened without consequences remember that murder is illegal yet every now and then someone does it and gets away with it. Doesn't mean that you lock everybody in their house to prevent it from happening. You just hope that enforcement capability gets better in time.
Between the fact that the article implies that these are all new videos and the fact that the PPA is deleting or hiding comments that they don't want their supporters to see it's pretty clear that they're fast becoming the Breitbart News of the Pine Barrens. They've always had an open forum on my site and the Facebook page. I've never deleted or hidden anything that Al or Jason has to say, even if I disagree with it entirely.
Really, guys, you've taken the good name of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and flushed it down the toilet. The fact that anybody donates to this sham organization anymore is a total mystery to me.