SCANEWSFLASH
Elimination of State Historical Resources Commission

The recently issued California Performance Review (CPR) report (www.cpr.gov)
prepared for Gov. Schwarzenegger includes a recommendation to eliminate the
State Historical Resources Commission even though the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 as amended in 2000 requires a qualified state commission.  If
this Commission is eliminated, it also basically eliminates the Office of
Historic Preservation, which will eliminate several programs.

It costs the State $17,000 to support the Commission each year, in return OHP
receives federal funding ($1.2 Million last year).

Elimination of the Commission and OHP would most likely also eliminate the
following:

1. Nominations to the California and National Registers, and therefore, any
public participation process.

2. The Information Centers.

3. Section 106 Reviews.

4. Technical support provide to local governments.

5. Preservation-oriented Tax Credit projects.

6. The Certified Local Governments (CLG) program/CLG Grants, and

7. The California Main Street Program (just recently moved into OHP.)

The SCA Board has sent a letter of opposition to the proposal.  We ask you to
consider drafting a letter expressing opposition to the proposed elimination
of the Commission and support of OHP to the Governor, our local
representatives, and candidates for office (since it an election year). Letters should be
mailed to:

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol building
Sacramento, CA   95814