Jim Conkle of the fledgling Route 66 Alliance sent me some photos of him making a pitch to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), her staff and other officials near Amboy Crater, just off Route 66 near Amboy, Calif., to designate a Route 66 National Monument along 70 miles of Southern California’s Mojave Desert.
Conkle also wrote this in an e-mail:
I can tell you that they all left knowing more about and a better appreciation of Route 66. The senator’s husband, Richard C. Blum, a very well-off investment banker, among other business ventures, and I hit it off.
Senator Feinstein asked me if I would be willing to come to DC to help lobby for this project, I of course said YES.
Now the hard work of getting all the stake holders as well as all the politicians to agree.
Having known Conkle for a long time, it’s easy to be swayed by his enthusiasm for the Mother Road. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better pitchman for a Route 66 project.
Route 66 in that area is caught between two interests: a Marine base that wants to expand its acreage and alternative-power companies that want to use the area, mainly for solar electricity. Conkle (a Marine, I might add) said in an earlier message that he aims to find a compromise with those parties.
Ron,
Each of us plays a role in the present and future success of the road. I am honored to be a part of that TEAM.
The Senator’s chief of staff took me aside and shared with me that the Senator and the staff are pleased to be involved in Route 66. She has a lot of infulunce and clout in DC. In fact a month ago I shared with two of her staff members that our Route 66 Corridor bill was in trouble, they said they would make some calls on our behalf. As we all know the bill was signed into law. We never know the full story but I would like to think that the helped.
Keep up the GREAT work old friend.
Jim
$650,000 for a survey of California’s portion of Route 66!? Outrageous! That must include the purchase of a $600,000 motorhome in which to take the trip. Please tell Jim Conkle that I will happily do it for $6500, with photos of every meaningful structure along the way, plus their histories. I have done a number of travel articles on the remnants of old 66 in California, and would be happy to do the definitive survey for one percent of what Conkle says he needs.
Although I do not think I know Clement, I do like his name.
You have this some what mixed up. The bill that was introduced has no connection with the survey.
The cost is NOT what I need as I am only indirectly involved with the survey. It is not just the photos and history of each site but its historic value to the history of the road.
We have done a few ‘windshield’ surveys as well as some on foot. These were not done to the specifications that is required.
I do want to ask you in what publications did you write about Route 66?
Also I do not know how much the survey is going to cost. Nor am I the person making the decesions on this project. You need to contact the California Presevation Foundation and the NPS.