Compromise on Desert Bill

We in San Bernardino County are again embarrassed by Lewis’ misstatement that 20,000 mining jobs will be lost if the Mojave National Park is established. Apparently, Lewis doesn’t know that there are less than 1,000 existing mining jobs in all of San Bernardino County, and that there are only two active commercial mines within the proposed park that together employ less than 200 miners. None of these jobs will be lost by the legislation.

The 1.5-million-acre Mojave National Park will be a huge windfall economically to our depressed area. The park itself will create 75 full-time jobs. We expect over 1 million visitors a year with easy access off of I-5 and I-40. By keeping the park primitive we expect the tourism business in adjacent desert towns to boom.

PETER BURK, President

Citizens for Mojave National Park

Barstow