ACTION ALERT: TAKE ACTION TODAY TO SAVE THE BRIDGEPORT COVERED BRIDGE

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UPDATE: Last month, the State Senate Budget Sub-Committee voted to support full funding for the Bridgeport Covered Bridge in large part due to your letters, calls and emails that flooded the Capitol!  Now we need YOUR help to make sure that the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee takes the same action at the Senate when they meet on April 23rd. To ensure that, Committee Chairman Richard Bloom and the other Assembly Members need to hear from YOU!

THE PROBLEM: THE BRIDGEPORT COVERED BRIDGE IS CLOSED AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE

An important California Gold Rush era icon is threatened and needs your help. In 2011, State Parks closed the Bridgeport Covered Bridge to pedestrian traffic after engineers found severe and unsafe structural problems. The engineers estimated it will cost over $1 million to restore this treasured State and National Landmark, which is the longest single span wooden covered bridge in the world.

THE SOLUTION: The “Save Our Bridge” Campaign Committee has been working diligently to restore and reopen the historic wood covered bridge spanning the South Yuba River at Bridgeport. The Good News is that there has been a breakthrough: Governor Brown has in his proposed budget funds needed to complete the restoration and reopen the Bridge! Also, the Senate Budget Sub-committee has done the same.

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW:  Now we need YOU to contact the State Legislators on the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee right away and let them know how important saving the Bridgeport Covered Bridge is to you and our Golden State.

Please call the BUDGET COMMITTEE TODAY!

Please find Contact Information and “Talking Points” for phone call below.

PHONE for Assembly Sub-Committee Members:

Richard Bloom (Chair) – (916) 319-2050              FAX (916) 319-2199

Nora Campos – (916) 319-2027                           FAX (916) 319-2127

Richard Gordon – (916) 319-2024                         FAX (916) 319-2124

Dan Logue – (916) 319-2003                                FAX (916) 319-2103

Jim Patterson – (916) 319-2023                            FAX (916) 319-2123

TALKING POINTS FOR CALLS:

  • Support complete funding for the Bridgeport Covered Bridge Restoration Project.
  • Time is of the essence in this particular case: the Covered Bridge has been closed since 2011 and is at risk of collapse. It’s a state and national landmark that must be saved.
  • Please take similar actions to those of the Senate Budget Sub-committee and approve $1 million from Proposition 84 funds to fund restoration of the bridge in 2014-2015.  This action will ensure that as the project moves through the various stages of stabilization, permitting and full restoration, the necessary funding will be available.
  • The South Yuba River State Park attracts up to 890,000 annual visitors many of whom come to see the Bridgeport Covered Bridge.
  • We have unanimous support from our local elected officials including the City Councils of Grass Valley, Nevada City and Truckee along with Nevada County Supervisors, who have all written resolutions in favor of the bridge restoration project.

Bridgeport Covered Bridge

Sample Letter:  

(Note: Please feel free to modify this letter in your own words. Share your love for the Bridgeport Covered Bridge. Most important: Ask them to support funding for the Bridgeport Covered Bridge Restoration Project in the 2014-15 Budget.)

April, 2014

The Honorable Richard Bloom                   The Honorable Richard S. Gordon

State Capitol, Room 2179                         State Capitol, Room 3013

Sacramento, CA 95814                            Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Nora Campos                     The Honorable Dan Logue

State Capitol, Room 3160                         State Capitol, Room 4158

Sacramento, CA 95814                            Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Jim Patterson

State Capitol, Room 4102

Sacramento, CA 95814

RE:       Support for full funding for the Bridgeport Covered Bridge Restoration Project in the 2014-15 Budget

Dear Chairman Bloom and Budget Committee Members,

An important California Gold Rush era icon is threatened and needs your help. Our community has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funding needed to restore and reopen the historic Bridgeport Covered Bridge at the South Yuba River State Park. In 2011 the Department of Parks and Recreation closed the bridge to pedestrian traffic after an engineering survey found severe and unsafe structural problems. Engineers estimate it will cost over $1 million to restore this State Park landmark, which is the longest single span wooden covered bridge in the world.

I am writing you today to request your support to complete the Bridgeport Covered Bridge Restoration Project.  As articulated in the Governor’s Budget proposal, and modified at the State Senate Budget Sub-committee hearing on March 20, 2014, $1 million from Proposition 84 funds are allocated to complete the Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project.

We are grateful for the Governor’s and Senate Budget Sub-committee’s commitment to fund restoration of the bridge.  We urge the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee on Resources to adopt conforming language to mirror the actions of the Senate Sub-Committee and fully fund the restoration in 2014-15.  This project is urgently needed so the Park can resume contributing substantial funds to the region’s economy. Tourism is vital to the Nevada County area, and we can’t afford to wait any longer while this project languishes.  Should the State emerge from the drought with any significant rainfall, the river that this bridge crosses could rise and damage or even wash away this venerable and historic structure.  Time is of the essence in this particular case.

We would ask you to take similar actions to those of the Senate Budget Sub-committee and approve $1 million from Proposition 84 funds to fund restoration of the bridge in 2014-2015.  This action will ensure that as the project moves through the various stages of stabilization, permitting and full restoration, the necessary funding will be available.

The fate of Bridgeport, a symbol of California’s historic legacy, and a significant engineering accomplishment to the world, is now in your hands. According to DPR, this park attracts up to 890,000 visitors supporting the local economy. We have unanimous support from our local elected officials. The City Councils of Grass Valley, Nevada City and Truckee along with Nevada County Supervisors have all written resolutions in favor of the bridge restoration project urging lawmakers to support this critical work.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and address]

The “Save Our Bridge” Campaign Committee would like to thank the following organizations for their support:

South Yuba River Park Association (SYRPA)

South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)

California State Park Foundation

Nevada County Historical Society

Penn Valley Area Chamber of Commerce

Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce

Nevada City Chamber of Commerce

Economic Resource Council

Nevada County Board of Supervisors

Nevada City Council

Grass Valley City Council

Truckee Town Council

BearYubaLand Trust

Grass Valley Downtown Association

Penn Valley Rodeo Association

Sierra Cinemas Theaters

For more information about the campaign, visit: www.yubariver.org/save-our-bridge-campaign/ or  https://www.southyubariverstatepark.org/

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