It was a beautiful place in the middle of everything. Always remote and peaceful during a time of blended insanity – riots at the universities, the ever present VietNam War, Hippies and Longhairs, Black Panthers, “I Found It” evangelicals, sex flowing so free many got sick, Nixon land slide celebration to dirty tricks – deep throat and destruction, first man on the moon and first space shuttle, first Earth Day (Morons), and some of the coolest women I ever met. From the rooftop, I would watch the shuttles piggybacked on the 747 launch and land at Moffett Field.

I loved the quite. The noisy train – three in day and four at night was always a rush! Because my house was 12 feet from the rails it would shake like crazy as the 50-70 mph freight trains rushed by. Liquifaction of the mud was awesome to witness without the stress of an earthquake. Flashing the passenger train was terrible in hind sight but streaking was a big deal for about 3-4 months in 1973.

One could sit out on the back porch over one of the tributary sloughs into Mud Creek and listen to the water gurgle with the tide flowing through the pickle weed. The Plover were very cool to watch during spring mating and nesting. The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse was the greatest enemy to sleep – they were busy all the time, also requiring all food to be kept in sealed metal containers. It was always fun to bring a date there an have her freak when one of the many mice and often visiting rats would sprint across the floor.

4th of July was spectacular. We would stand on my roof and see as many as 6 cities setting fireworks ablaze. On a clear 4th – forget it when the fog was in low and tight.

In the better days fresh well water was plumbed to the houses, and electricity for lights and water heaters ran along the tracks. The well went brackish in about 1968-69 ending heated water, except what came from wood burning stoves. All residents trucked water and supplies on track-carts made from wheels found at many of the closing foundries in the Bay Area. Yep, it took a lot of effort to live there. The payoff was big.

I had moved off to other main stream adventures – school, and work. Hadn’t been there for several years. It was vandalized very badly the last time I visited. Window covers (substantial protective shudders) were ripped away – some kicked out from inside. Cabinet doors torn from the hinges – If I wasn’t so angry and of another gender I would have cried. That was 1979. Then in the Early 80′s, my Dad called to let me know a fire burned it down and that was that.

Always wanted to return but just wanted to keep my great memories and few photos of the Good Times – 1968 to 1979.

Oh Alexander Hamilton (imposture) if you check back – once upon a time the White House was totally accessible to the citizens of the US now – it takes planning – check…… http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events/

If the Judge was just, he would allow folks to walk the rail – but fine only when down in the houses or when exhibiting vandalism.

Best Fortunes for all.
LD

In a republican form of government, although power ultimately derives from the people, it is their elected representatives, and, by extension, any agencies they establish, who make policy, such as which non-public forums should have some degree of public access. It’s important to remember that those so empowered have an ethical and legal obligation to balance the various competing interests and opinions within any large group of people to achieve the intended goals of their constituents.

As a matter of practical action, if the goal is to somehow increase public access to Drawbridge, the place to start would be a process of building support within the surrounding community. If substantial, then the leadership of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would be the next stop for the petitioners. The Director of the Service is appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, so that would be the last stop for any petition efforts.

Any judge who knows and respects the Constitution would have no choice but to uphold the legality of any citations in the interim, although of course judges typically have some discretion based on the circumstances of individual cases. A judge who regularly throws out citations on the basis of a flawed theory of automatic universal public access to public lands would very likely quickly find themselves impeached and removed from the bench, and rightfully so.

There is NO valid reason to restrict public access. Any Judge worth a damn would throw out all citations.

The buildings are clearly falling over and you may as well allow people to enjoy them while they last instead of prolonging their collapse but hiding them from the public (who pay for not only the reserve but also your salary).

We have Refuge Law Enforcement Officers working every day of the week. If you think it is safe to trespass on the weekdays or the weekends, you can expect a Federal citiation with a visit to the Federal Court in San Francisco. If you want a safe way to learn about Drawbridge, visit the Refuge Visitor Center in Fremont, the Environmental Education Center in Alviso or watch the regular programs shown on the local TV channels.