California State Parks On The Budget Hit List

[marmar]

from the SF Chronicle:



25 Bay Area parks may close from budget crisis
Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, May 28, 2009


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As many as 25 state parks within an hour of San Francisco, including redwood forests, beaches, coastal woodlands and historical sites, could be closed in a desperate attempt to reduce the state's giant budget deficit.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest proposal to tackle the state's $24.3 billion shortfall includes the elimination of all general fund contributions to California's 279 parks within two years.

It is a nightmare scenario that would mean the public could be barred from visiting 223 parks - that's 80 percent of the state-owned parks, according to park officials.

"That's just horrendous," said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation. "It could impact these environmental and cultural resources for decades and decades."

The proposal, which will no doubt be subject to intense lobbying in the Legislature between now and July 1, when the fiscal year starts, is to cut $70 million of the $150 million the park system receives from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2009-10. The remainder would be cut out in the 2010-11 budget. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/28/MNLE17S12M.DTL&tsp=1

[LiberalFighter]

1. What percentage of visitors to CA state parks are tourists from out of state?

[MurrayDelph]

3. More than you would think

I know someone who is a docent at the Elephant Seal rookery in San Simeon, and she talks to a couple hundred visitors a day, most of whom are tourists from overseas.

Arnold has been wanting to close and sell off the parkland since he got into office; the budget crisis is just the handy excuse.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Then that should really help Arnold balance the budget without the tourists.

[Johonny]

2. It's really become Howard Jarvis dream

the complete destruction of the government spending programs in California. The resulting joblessness, high crime rate and decay of our infrastructure can't be far off.