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Black Caucus Introduces Legislation to Protect Allensworth State Historical Park |
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
SACRAMENTO
Assembly Member Carter announced the introduction of AB 576
(Carter et. al.), a measure sponsored by
the Legislative Black Caucus that would make it illegal to operate animal
feeding operations within 5 miles of The Colonel Allensworth State Historical
Park.
Allensworth, a town founded, financed and governed by
African Americans, faces the possibility of being a neighbor to over 12,500
plus Holstein cows. It is the only such town in the State of California, with few
such towns and cities in existence nationwide.
 Assemblymember Wimer Amina Carter
The Colonel
Allensworth State
Park was founded in 1908 by civil war veteran Lt.
Col. Allen Allensworth.
Born into slavery in 1842, Allensworth saw his chance to
escape slavery by fighting in the Union army.
After the war, he became a businessman, a teacher and a minister. He retired from the army with the rank of
lieutenant colonel in 1906-the highest rank of any African American at that
time.
A devotee of the principles of Booker T. Washington, Lt.
Col. Allensworth lectured and promoted his philosophy that African Americans
should succeed through hard work, independence and self-determination. In 1908, he founded the Allensworth colony to
fulfill his vision. In 1976, the State
of California
designated the area as a state park and over the years has invested over 13
million dollars to preserve the city.
Recently, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors tentatively
agreed to approve the special use permit to allow Sam Etchegaray to operate his
mega-dairy across from Allensworth
State Park. He is not the first large farmer to propose
establishing a large animal farm across from the park.
"The Legislative Black Caucus has requested that the Tulare
County Board of Supervisors reject the land use permit at its upcoming March
meeting," said Assembly Member Carter.
"For various reasons in addition to the fact that Allensworth State Park
is a place of cultural, historical and ecological significance, this project is
not good for our state or the community."
Even if the Tulare County Board of Supervisors rejects this
current mega-dairy project, others may come along in the future. AB 576 ensures that the State's investment in
this historic park is protected indefinitely.
"In the end, we must protect our state's treasures,"
concluded Assembly Member Carter.
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