California State Parks
and Budget Fiasco Update
Over the last couple of weeks, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has organized supporters around the state to speak out against our Governator's plans to terminate the State Parks as we know them. Over 36,000 people have sent more than 100,000 letters to their legislators and the Governor. And on Tuesday, June 2, after waiting 4 hours, over 100 park advocates packed the Budget Conference Committee in Sacramento to lobby to keep state parks open!
We share in the outrage at Schwarzenegger's proposal and urge you to speak your mind if you haven't already.
An article appeared in today's Chronicle that describes the devastation to California's wildlife due to illegal poaching and our relatively low level of funding for game wardens compared to other large states such as Florida and Texas. The article quoted Elizabeth Goldstein of CSPF, who indicated that closing the State Parks will make them vulnerable to this destructive profiteering. Ms. Goldstein was also featured on KALW's City Visions program, "Closing Nature: How the State Budget Cuts Will Affect State Parks."
We are dumbfounded at the lack of leadership in Sacramento in dealing with our magnificent state's budget crisis. Following are some ideas that we gleaned from the last week of Chronicle letters to the editor in response to articles about the State Parks closures:
"ask drivers to pay vehicle license fees on automobiles that are killing our environment"
"restoring income and corporate taxes to levels they were at under Pete Wilson and Ronald Reagan"
"provide leadership to eliminate the two-thirds requirement for adoption of the state budget and for approval of new taxes by the Legislature."
"no more movie star governors"
"a trivial tax on California's billionaires would be more than ample to keep every one of our parks open, not to mention maintaining the state's many essential services."
"I have a fair and simple plan to keep our state parks open and cared for. Since Chevron extracts our resources of oil and gas for free, it should return the favor by tending to our other resources, our state parks. "
"it might help were motorists to pay the requested [entrance] fees. A friend and I regularly enjoy picnicking in historic, beautiful China Camp, a great escape north of the Golden Gate. Usually, we are the only visitors who pay that small fee. We feel pleased to pay for the privilege, yet the public resists. The only alternative to their closure is to contribute."
"California is the only major oil-producing state that does not have one [oil severance tax]. Given the fact that about 20 states consider this tax to be a legitimate revenue measure, what's stopping our governor and Legislature? Are they more concerned about the oil companies' profits than about serving the people of California?"
If you check out the California tax reform website, you'll find a comprehensive proposal for closing loopholes and gaps in the state's budget.
CSPF has compiled a list of ways you can help:
1. Sign the petition and they will get them to legislative leadership and the Governor.
2. Having formal support and letters from Chambers, Business Associations, Convention & Visitors Bureaus would be helpful. Here is a sample resolution to be asking your local organizations and associations to pass. Once they do pass a resolution, it should be sent to their local elected officials, with a copy to CSPF so they can compile a statewide list of business groups that oppose the closures.
3. Most papers, online media outlets, and blogs are still writing about budget issues, if not about the park closures specifically. Please continue sending Letters to the Editor to those publications in response to articles that have some state budget tie-in.
4. Through the auspices of the Save Our State Parks (SOS) campaign, CSPF would like to organize a simultaneous, statewide event on June 21, the official start to summer, where people will gather in parks throughout the state and express support for keeping parks open. More info will come soon!
Parks Aren't the Only Thing on the Chopping Block
Governor Schwarzenegger's recent budget proposal also threatens to eliminate the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the agency that regulates Bay landfill and ensures public access to the shoreline.
Tell your legislator to reject this proposal and restore BCDC's budget!