NPS Collaborators
Documents reveal that the National Park Service used external groups as surrogates to push the agency’s own agenda to restrict dog walking access. Documents show GGNRA leaders crafting talking points and PR strategies for National Parks Conservation Association and others. In some instances, the documents show a senior GGNRA official aiding external groups in Congressional advocacy efforts. The Park Service was supposed to be running a fair planning process and considering everyone’s input – not working behind the scenes to advance its own agenda via these external groups.
Collaborators Rally to Help GGNRA Restrict Dog Walking
Oct. 2013: Neal Desai (National Parks Conservation Association) email to Howard Levitt of the GGNRA, Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio), Becky Evans (Sierra Club, SF Bay Chapter), GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean, Brent Plater (Wild Equity Institute) and others about a San Francisco Board of Supervisors hearing on a resolution opposing the GGNRA dog management plan. Desai says the Golden Gate Audubon Society will not attend, nor will other conservation groups. Levitt says the GGNRA will not participate. Meyer writes, “We will have to help the NPS. I would like a few of us to discuss strategy with GGNRA. I hope they will hang tough like the Democrats did over Obamacare.”
Wild Equity Provides GGNRA with Ammunition Against Congresswoman Speier
Oct. 2013: Brent Plater (Wild Equity Institute) email exchange with GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean about Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s 2005 position on off-leash dog walking, saying that it contradicts her current position. Plater is providing NPS with ammunition to use against Congresswoman Speier.
GGNRA Skirts NEPA to Hold Meeting with Enviro Collaborators
Nov. 2013: Howard Levitt email to Mike Lynes (Golden Gate Audubon Society) and GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean. Lynes requests a meeting between local environmental groups and NPS to discuss the dog plan Environmental Impact Study. Levitt responds, “Of course we would welcome a discussion with you and others in the environmental community, but we’ll have to check on how we can stay on the right side of NEPA procedures. Stand by; we’ll get back to you.”
Senior GGNRA Official Aids Golden Gate Audubon in Congressional Advocacy
Dec. 2013: Howard Levitt email to Dan Bernal and Robert Edmondson (district and DC Chiefs of Staff for U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi). Levitt tells them that Golden Gate Audubon Society is activating its members to submit public comments about the dog management plan. He writes, “This just came in from GG Audubon. They are recommending their members engage with the NPS professional staff in the review process – not mount a campaign directed toward elected officials.”
Senior GGNRA Official Passes Intel from Leader Pelosi's Office to Help Anti-Dog Walking Groups with Advocacy Efforts
Dec. 2013: Jan Blum (People for the Parks/Presidio) email exchange with Howard Levitt and Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio). Levitt writes, “FYI, we were told by the staff for Rep Pelosi that they are only hearing from one constituency [dog walking supporters] on the dog mgt issue. So unless they sense there is strong interest from other user groups, they are left with only one point of view being expressed to them.”
GGNRA Rallies its Troops for Public Forum on the Dog Plan
Jan. 2014: Howard Levitt (GGNRA Director of Communications & Partnerships) to Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio) and Neal Desai (National Parks Conservation Association). Levitt asks Desai and Meyer if they’ll be attending a public forum about the GGNRA dog management plan being organized by Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Levitt tells Meyer, “Amy, we will need a full range of park users and stakeholders to attend if possible.”
GGNRA Asks NPS Ally to Submit a Letter to the Editor and Provides Outline
Jan. 2014: Howard Levitt (GGNRA Director of Communications & Partnerships) asks GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean if Neal Desai (National Parks Conservation Association) can submit a letter to the editor about the GGNRA dog management plan to the San Francisco Chronicle. Levitt drafts letter outline and writes, “Frank: Okay if I ask Neal to submit a letter to the editor along these lines: …”
GGNRA Senior Officials Activate Allies to Counter a Critical SF Chronicle Column
Jan. 2014: GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean gives his approval to have Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio) and/or Neal Desai (National Parks Conservation Association) counter a Tom Steinstra San Francisco Chronicle column about the GGNRA dog management plan via a letter to the editor. Levitt writes:
“Okay to set Neal [NPCA] or Amy [People for the Parks/Presidio] in motion? This one merits a response, esp the slam on rangers.” Dean responds, “Sure.”
*Howard Levitt use of personal email account for agency business.
GGNRA Provides Parks for the People and NPCA with Talking Points
Feb. 2014: Howard Levitt provides Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio) and Neal Desai (National Parks Conservation Association) with talking points to use in a response to a Marin Independent Journal article about a proposed resolution against the dog management plan to be voted on by the Marin Board of Supervisors.
Senior GGNRA Official Helps Marin Audubon with Public Comments on the Dog Plan SEIS
Feb. 2014: Senior GGNRA Official Howard Levitt provides Barbara Salzman (Marin Audubon) with dog walking stats to include in Marin Audubon's public comments on the dog plan SEIS.
"Hi Howard,
Thanks for talking with me today. Would you please check my figures. I want to be sure I have your information correct."
GGNRA Teams Up with Partner Groups to Combat GGNRA Co-Founder's Critical Op-Ed
May 2014: Howard Levitt email to Alexandra Picavet (GGNRA Public Affairs Specialist) about a proposed NPS letter to the editor in response to GGNRA Co-Founder Huey Johnson’s op-ed about recreation in the GGNRA. Levitt includes the email discussion he’s had with GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean, Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio), Greg Moore and David Shaw (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy) about the letter.
*Howard Levitt use of personal email account for agency business.
GGNRA Collaborates with Anti-Dog Walking Groups on Letter to the Editor
May 2014: Howard Levitt to GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean, Amy Meyer (People for the Parks/Presidio), Greg Moore (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy) et al asking for last comments on a letter to the editor to be submitted to the Marin Independent Journal. Levitt writes, “Here’s my final edit of the IJ Letter to the Editor. It incorporates most of Amy’s excellent suggestions, which cast all of the points in a positive direction. Last call on comments, esp typos or grammatical errors.”
*Howard Levitt use of personal email account for agency business.
GGNRA Ally Group Gets Special Access to Sensitive Dog Management Files
Oct. 2014: Michael Savidge (GGNRA Chief of Strategic Planning) email to an NPS colleague, asking that a contractor who will be paid by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy sign a non-disclosure agreement. “Do you have this contractor sign a “non-disclosure” agreement? I will need that as part of her contract thru GGNPC given the sensitive nature of my supt files and dog mgt files.”
GGNRA Stakeholder Meetings for Dog Walking Opponents Only
Nov. 2014: Michael Savidge email to Bill Merkle (GGNRA wildlife ecologist), Daphne Hatch (GGNRA Chief of Natural Resources Management & Research) and GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean about the dog management plan and meetings with stakeholder groups. Savidge writes, “Expect public meetings from late March thru late May on draft rule in each county, and possibly with stakeholder groups like Marin and GG Audubon, Wild Equity and Sierra Club in early part of that.”