Woman Travels to DC as Amatuer Lobbyist

JOSHUA TREE - A local businessperson traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to meet with congressional representatives about supporting the Desert Protection Act of 2011.

Cheryl Kandel, who has a home-based embroidery business, has never held political office or otherwise engaged in governmental affairs. But Kandel is a self-professed outdoor enthusiast; she and her husband even chose the backdrop of Joshua Tree National Park for her wedding.

"I felt like I needed to step up and represent my community," the plain-speaking artist said of her acceptance of the political challenge. From a social aspect, Kandel said the trip was an excellent opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about the desert and environmental issues.

Kandel was selected by the National Parks Conservation Association and California Wildlife Coalition for the lobbying trip precisely because she was not a politico. Seth Shteir, who works in the local office of the National Parks Conservation Association, said elected officials want to hear from the real stakeholders in the community.

Shteir said a litmus test of a good bill is when local people take the time to share their vision and voice their support to the proposed law.

Kandel explained the sense of pride in country citizens get when they see the monuments and other landmarks in the nation's capitol and are exposed to the democratic process.

In addition to the meetings with Congressman Jerry Lewis and Senator Barbara Boxer, Kandel also met with the wilderness director for the U.S. Forestry Service and the senior council for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Drawing consensus is long-term work.

Proponents of the act are engaged in the complex and nuanced job of providing both enticements and concessions that will appeal to audiences with a broad range of ideas on how to use the desert.

For example, the act proposes five off-highway vehicle recreation areas get congressional recognition, something they have not had
before.

Shteir says it is important for people to understand everything in the act proposed for redesignation is already public land.

Joshua Tree National Park officials like to point out that even during the current economic downturn, visitorship increased from 1.3 million in 2008 to 1.4 million in 2009. Tourism has an obvious and direct impact on the Morongo Basin economy.

Shteir said visitors infused $32 million into JTNP's gateway communities in 2009 and supported more than 300 tourism-related jobs, for example eating in area restaurants and staying in area hotels.

The bill has been introduced into the Senate and is currently awaiting committee mark-up. Officials hope for some action on the bill, S138, this winter or next spring. It is clear it is a multi-year effort, Shteir said, pointing out the Desert Protection Act of 1994 was originally introduced in 1986.