Here's one more example of how members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors let their pettiness get in the way of helping people. The supervisors' rejection of funding for Camp El-O-Win, a former Girl Scouts camp, is just plain mean.
This is from our editorial today on the issue: "To start with, the county wasn't putting up the money so they can't claim it's a budget issue. The $250,000 came from a fund that the gambling tribes pay into, and the county's Indian Gaming Committee designated the money for the Friends of Camp El-O-Win. The group is trying to keep the former Girl Scouts camp from closing. But the testy supervisors concocted reasons to block the volunteer group from receiving the funding."
Here's the complete editorial.
Word around the county Hall of Records is that this is an offshoot of the feud between Supervisor Susan Anderson and Supervisor Henry Perea. Perea supports the money going to the Friends of Camp El-O-Win, so Anderson doesn't. The kids get caught in the middle.
This community likes to say this is a great place to raise kids. Maybe, but we like to use them as pawns.
Your comments are well taken and deserved.
This Friday, the City of Fresno will step up to the plate and will sponsor the Friends of Camp El-O-Win. Anticipating no problems at the Indian Gaming Committee meeting on Friday, the Fresno City Council will act on this matter at its first meeting in June. Kids win !
I appreciate the Bee's support for Camp El-O-Win and the effort to sustain its use as a youth camp. I have faith that reason will prevail and the Friends of Camp El-O-Win will secure the necessary funds. However, the camp's greatest threat remains catastrophic wildfire. The recent lawsuit against the USFS Kings River Project by the "Sierra Forest Legacy", et al seeks to stop science-based forest management practices surrounding Camp El-O-Win and perpetuate the hazardous fuel loading of the over-grown forest. The proposed thinning of the surrounding forest is required to promote a healthy forest setting and protect not only Camp El-O-Win, but also Camp Fresno, the Dinkey Creek Campgrounds, and all surrounding forest lands.
Yes, I thought what the mayor said was right on the mark. I agree with him. thanks penny goodman
A big thank you to the Fresno Bee for their support of the efforts of the Friends of Camp El-O-Win and a special thank you to Supervisor Perea. Without his support I am not certain this would have gone so favorably today. We are in need of help from everyone who attended camp or sent their kids. This is too great a resource to loose. SJR
Did anyone address the concerns Susan Anderson raised in her response (published in The Bee a few days ago)? Are her concerns legitimate or overblown?