Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation vetoed by Gov. Brown

SACRAMENTO — A proposal to develop a new governmental office to promote kayaking, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities was squashed by California’s governor on Sept. 17, as Assembly Bill 1918 was sent back to the legislature despite broad support from Assembly members and State Senators. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the creation of the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation; Brown’s veto message stated the creation of such an entity would add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. “The activities identified in this bill are important, but a new bureaucracy is not needed to accomplish the goal,” Brown stated in his veto message. “Over the last few years the Department of Parks and Recreation has worked toward enhancing recreational opportunities throughout the state. In fact, Parks California, a support organization to the Department of Parks and Recreation, was recently created to promote outdoor recreation and is engaging in similar activities to those called for in this bill.” Assembly member Eduardo Garcia, who authored AB 1918, did not immediately release a statement about the bill’s veto; a request for comment was not replied to as of press time. Garcia introduced the bill more than eight months ago, hoping to create a new agency dedicated to supporting the...