This is not where the misrepresentation about Freedom's Frontier ends.
On August 29th, 2007 the Lawrence Journal-World conducted a live , online "chat" for its readership with Judy Billings director of the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau who has been very instrumental in promoting the "concept" of Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area.
In this "chat" we learn that even more additional money has been requested for Freedom's Frontier, and like the other two "requests" the money for this project, the money is coming straight out of Lawrence.
The moderator asks, "You're also requesting $25,000 in city funding for a management plan. Would this just be one-time funding, and how would it be used?"
To which Billings answers, "Yes, this is a one-time request. It will come from the Visit 2020 Fund which is also generated by the bed tax collections and does not come from the city's general fund"
The misrepresentation about Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area by its Kansas handlers is unfortunately not limited to financial issues. During the previously cited August 29th, live "chat" the moderator asks, "Describe what the National Heritage Area is and how it's different from anything else we have in this region?"
To which Billings replies, "I don't think anyone believes that the federal government will create a new national park. What they are doing is creating a very select number of heritage areas in the country to promote, preserve and conserve landscapes and stories that are important to the national story. This takes Congressional action and a bill signed by the President of the United States. Our bill was signed into law on October 12, 2006. We join 36 other such areas currently with the designation."
While it might not be considered a national park, information found on the National Park Service website is very clear about who is in control of the "area" effected:
"(National Heritage Areas) have been created by Congress to promote the conservation of natural, historic, scenic and cultural resources. In 2006, Congress authorized an additional 10 heritage areas, bringing the total number of heritage areas to 37. These areas are the management responsibility of Federal commissions, nonprofit groups or State agencies or authorities. The work of each National Heritage Area is guided by a management plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior"
Additional information found on the NPS website states that, "In FY 2008, the Area will initiate the management planning process"
Judy Billings statement in the August 29th, 2007 "chat" that Freedom's Frontier is part of a "very select" number of heritage areas is very misleading, for instance, according to the NPS the entire State of Tennessee is a "National Heritage Area"
In March, 2004 Carol LaGrasse, President of the Property Rights Foundation of America testified before a U.S. Senate Committee and stated:
"My criticism has been and remains that the National Heritage Area program is meant to gradually accomplish federal land use control. It is focused across especially the East and Midwest. The Heritage Area program also involves transferring private land to government. The state and federal governments already own over 42 percent of the land in the United States."(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
