NY City detectorists needs everyones help.

Pleae take action on this. It could be coming to a park near you next!


A CALL TO ARMS Phone & Email Campaign Commencing Monday November 30th, 2009
If you own a metal detector or know anyone who does, your voice needs to be heard.
 
 
TO: Fellow Enthusiasts who enjoy the lawful hobby of recreational metal detecting,

As many of you know, what has been happening around the country is also happening in New York City.   We have been in a battle with NYC Parks for over a year and half regarding their discriminatory decision to either deny or limit access to NYC Parks for those of us who enjoy the lawful hobby of recreational metal detecting.
 
Earlier this month we held a demonstration in NYC on 5th Avenue in front of the Parks Department located in Central Park.   The event was covered by local media; please click on this link to view some of the demonstration http://bit.ly/dnadetectors  We know it is difficult for many of you to attend such demonstrations but now is your chance to help fight discrimination against our hobby by taking a few minutes a day next week and voice your concern.  Your voice does make a huge difference!

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

Starting Monday November 30th, 2009 and continuing ALL WEEK through Friday December 4th, 2009, Call / email each of the people listed below and let them know:
- You are not happy with being discriminated against as a group. 
- You want to enjoy your hobby the same as any other group and that metal detecting is a lawful hobby that should not be restricted.
- Demand that NYC Department of Parks and Recreation repeal rule #1-04b5 prohibiting the use of metal detectors.

We must all band together to ensure our right to enjoy the lawful hobby of recreational metal detecting on public use land.

Thank you,
 
The Task Force for Metal Detecting Rights
 
Call (212) 639 9675 to file a complaint with Mayor Bloomberg’s office against the NYC Parks Department. Calling this number will ensure you receive a response because it is a designated non-emergency complaint line.   Let Bloomberg know his Parks Department policies will influence your decision on whether or not you will be visiting NY.    You can also email the Mayor’s office directly at mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov
 
Call (212) 360 1381 or (212) 360-8111 to voice your concerns to NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe.  You can also email him directly at Adrian.Benepe@parks.nyc.gov
 
Call (718) 965-8954 to voice your concern to the Prospect Park Alliance spokesperson Eugene Patron or email him directly at epatron@prospectpark.org
 
Call (718) 965-8951 to voice your concern directly to Tupper Thomas, the Prospect Park Administrator and President of the privately funded Prospect Park Administration.  You can also email her directly at tupper.thomas@parks.nyc.gov

Go to the FMDAC.org website (Federation of Metal Detector and  Archaeological Clubs) and send an email to the President, CC the Chapter Officer for your area as well, stating what is happening and ask if they can be of any assistance. They have helped in other cases, they helped here in Florida on the ban in Clay county Florida.........


http://www.fmdac.org/website/index.html

I feel bad for you guys, having to go through this.  But the other part of me asks "how did this happen to begin with?"   I mean, what put this on the bureaucrat city-hall people there's radar to begin with?   The knee-jerk answer to that will always be "someone left holes", etc..... right?

While on the one hand there will always be stories of gardeners who get mad at sloppy holes, or even to get irked merely SEEING a guy with a detector, because they just THINK he might probe or dig.   So that is the reason for the knee-jerk answer to off-limits parks.   But I am tempted to believe that that's not the reason for actual city-wide ordinances.   The real reason is, that there will be isolated bootings, or a single park that's off-limits, with no actual real rule (just some single gardener or city worker who shoos someone away, and that person, in turn, goes and tells all their buddies that "such & such park is off-limits").  So what is the reflex reaction of hunters in that city thereafter?  To waltz in to city hall's park's department, and ask "can I metal detect?"   Now think of it:  if there is no specific rule regarding metal detecting (aside from a case by case basis if someone was being a nuisance), what do you THINK the city park's department is going to do with questions like that??   They're going to MAKE a rule to address your "pressing issue".  So in that case, detectorists who are going around "asking"... "just to be safe" end up getting rules written!  Doh!  

Seems like we can be our own worst enemy at times     In my city, if you were to go in to the parks department, and ask enough questions, I'm sure you would get a "no", if the question got passed up the chain of command high enough.  Someone there, sensing that the mere asking the question pre-assumes that something must, therefore, be inherently wrong with it, since you had to ask, to begin with.   So if enough people asked, petitioned, and complained enough, I'm sure that those higher-up desk-bound bureaucrats, would make it an official rule, in writing in the books.  So why would I ever ask?  Why would I ever complain?  I just use common sense, don't go to certain parks if I see the workers out there on a given day.  I go at low-traffic off-work hours, and don't draw attention to myself.   I mean, unfortunately our hobby is kind of like picking your nose:  If you are just discreet, no one bothers you or objects.  But if you ask enough people "can I pick my nose", you will certainly get someone to say "no".