Hey, that's my park!

[Trek420]

Oh wow, This is big. This proposal will close ALL of our parks & beaches. It's being voted on THIS WEEK?!

We ride, run, walk, train, picnic, swim in and just simply enjoy knowing that these protected places exist for their own purposes as homes to their unique plants, animals and habitats. I think everyone should be aware that this is happening, and this is happening now, and only we can stop it and keep these places existing.

So please, please read the short letter below from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and then pass it on quickly. Please encourage everyone you can think of to do the same. We already know we can pull together when we want to. So let's do this, Let's make it big, and if you can take all of the steps below, thank you so much more. If we can do that, we will keep these places safe as they a


Dear Friends,

The governor has proposed closing 220 of 279 State Parks and Beaches in California, including each and every one in Santa Cruz County!

Big Basin Redwoods State Park (SP), Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park (SHP), Coast Dairies State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Lighthouse Field State Beach (SB), Manresa SB, Manresa Uplands SP, Natural Bridges SB, New Brighton SB, Palm SB, Rio Del Mar SB, Santa Cruz Mission SHP, Seabright SB, Seacliff SB, Sunset SB,The Forest of Nisene Marks, Twin Lakes SB, Wilder Ranch SP

This is not a drill. All the intelligence out of Sacramento says this is a serious proposal. We must unleash a tsunami of opposition to defeat this proposal within the next week!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. COME TO THE RALLY - Monday, June 1, 5:30 PM, at Natural Bridges State Beach, in the parking lot before the entrance station. Rally participants will be able to use a mobile computing station, supported by a beach-area wi-fi hotspot, to send messages to Governor Schwarzenegger and legislators. We hope for good media coverage, so please come and bring your friends and family. Express your love for the parks by bringing signs, wearing your favorite park t-shirt or docent-wear.

2. SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR & LEGISLATURE - Visit www.ThatsMyPark.org, click on "Take Action" and follow the steps to automatically fax the Governor and your Legislators.

3. COME WITH US TO SACRAMENTO - Let your voice be heard at the ONLY PUBLIC HEARING on this proposal before the Legislative Budget Conference Committee. Tuesday, June 2, 9:30 AM, in the State Capitol, Room 4203. We have hired a bus, so please save your spot by calling 429-1840, ext 103, or Peg@ThatsMyPark.org if you'd like to join us.

4. GET INVOLVED & GET THE WORD OUT - Go to www.ThatsMyPark.org to stay involved in the campaign, contribute and become a Fan of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks on Facebook. And please help get the word out to your networks about this campaign to Save Our State Parks & Beaches.

We are deeply alarmed and distressed with his draconian proposal to shut down every state park and beach in Santa Cruz County. This plan is the greatest threat to California park system in its history and amounts to a direct dismantling of a system that has taken more than 150 years to build. Santa Cruz County’s parks and beaches are top destinations not only for locals, but also for visitors from across the nation and around the world. In fact, Big Basin was the first state park in California. And Natural Bridges, home of the monarch butterflies, was recently named by AOL Travel as one of the top ten beaches in America. In the depths of the Great Depression, voters approved the bonds that were used for the purchase of Natural Bridges, as well as New Brighton and Sunset State Beaches. As we suffer through the worst economy since the 1930s, now is the time to come together in defense of our state parks!

The entire statewide closure list is pasted in below for your information.

Thanks for your help. Together we can defeat this draconian, short-sighted plan!

Bonny

Bonny Hawley, Executive Director
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
144 School Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(Located in the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park)
Phone: (831) 429-1840
Fax: (831) 429-6748
Email: bonny@thatsmypark.org
Website: www.thatsmypark.org

[Zen]

Sweetjeebus!
That's INSANE!

[Tuckervill]

Nothing sadder than a closed park! Surely there is something ELSE they can cut back on instead of closing all the parks Maybe volunteers could do the upkeep or something? I hope it works out.

Karen

[laura*]

What does closed mean?

Does it mean stopping any development projects, laying off the staff, locking the restrooms, and shutting off the drinking fountains?

Or does it mean blocking any entrance roads with concrete K-rails?

Or does it mean hiring extra sheriff's deputies to patrol the parks and arrest anyone setting foot on state park land?

Or does it mean selling off all the land to Walmart, Pacific Lumber, and KBHomes?

[Veronica]

People we are in debt. We do not have the money to pay our bills. Cutbacks have to be made somewhere or taxes have to be raised.

Where's the letter about the state releasing non violent criminals early because we can't afford to keep them in jail?

Tighten your belts, 'cause times are tough. All those "free" government programs, actually do cost money.

Veronica

[snapdragen]

People we are in debt. We do not have the money to pay our bills. Cutbacks have to be made somewhere or taxes have to be raised.

Where's the letter about the state releasing non violent criminals early because we can't afford to keep them in jail?

Tighten your belts, 'cause times are tough. All those "free" government programs, actually do cost money.

Veronica

+ 1 million.

[bmccasland]

I used to work for a County Parks department, and changed jobs just before a massive lay off due to a slight budget deficit ($9M). The bean counter that made the mistake was fired. The parks director decided that all the county parks would be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays - the front gates would be closed and locked. As Veronica pointed out *free* isn't actually free. Parks have employees - park rangers patrol the roads to keep visitors safe, or come save your sorry butt, or firefight; maintenance folks take care of things; some may have educational staff as well.

Are there enough "Friends of the Parks" to really WORK at the park? Are you willing to clean the toilets? I found people were willing to pick up litter, or help with landscaping, paint picnic tables; but when it comes down to it - they don't want to clean the toilets or mop the floors, every single week.

Facing massive government budget shortfalls is really crappy. Shall you not fight the wildland fires? Or let prisoners out of jail? Glad I'm not working in Sacramento right now.

[Tuckervill]

I clean public toilets every single week at my ballpark (city park, managed by an all-volunteer board), because no one else does. And that's why I keep them locked up when we're not playing baseball.

Karen

[Trek420]

P Where's the letter about the state releasing non violent criminals early because we can't afford to keep them in jail?

.... and the letter about what this mess is doing to our schools :(

Just wanted to vent that we went to Coyote Hills park last weekend and saw a parking lot full of cyclists OUTSIDE the park presumably to avoid the $5.00 fee. Folks, it's $5.00. C'mon in, help your park if you want it to be there for a ride.

[Thorn]

Just wanted to vent that we went to Coyote Hills park last weekend and saw a parking lot full of cyclists OUTSIDE the park presumably to avoid the $5.00 fee. Folks, it's $5.00. C'mon in, help your park if you want it to be there for a ride.


One of my biggest pet peeves....if you use the park, pay the fee. If you can afford that $1500+ bike, you can afford to pay for the trail pass.

Our local club used to start at a State Park. Very convenient with good facilities. Some complained about paying the $5 day pass (yet they'll drive 40 miles from home in their gas guzzling vehicle). The start has been moved, but they still ride into the park to use the facilities. Arrrggggh...and then they wonder why the parks get closed or the facilities are locked....

[Biciclista]

The state of California is a trainwreck in slow motion! it is really scary and i can't take my eyes off it.

What's ironic is the amount of money California spends on keeping non-violent prisoners locked up. People are denied parole routinely, even if they are model citizens. How much does that cost?

In California, they build prisons and tear down libraries.

I'm afraid for all of you and I hope my state does not go in that direction.

[Veronica]

Drug dealers and burglers are considered non-violent. I want them to stay in jail.

Veronica

[snapdragen]

I'm afraid for all of you and I hope my state does not go in that direction.

A friend in Virginia is watching what happens here very closely. He feels that what happens in California is a predictor for the rest of the nation.

[Biciclista]

Drug dealers and burglers are considered non-violent. I want them to stay in jail.

Veronica

people who do crimes deserve to stay in jail, but after they've done their time, they deserve to be able to get out.
That isn't happening in California.

[Veronica]

people who do crimes deserve to stay in jail, but after they've done their time, they deserve to be able to get out.
That isn't happening in California.

Really? Do you have evidence of this? Besides anecdotal?

They have done their full time and they are still being held?

[Biciclista]

yes. How about an 85 year old woman who was turned down for parole because she didn't have enough job prospects? Being related to people who have screwed up and become incarcerated in California prisons gives me an inside look on what goes on there. there are prisoner's advocacy groups, and I have been acquainted with the obstacles they face in California.

[ttaylor508]

What does closed mean?

Does it mean stopping any development projects, laying off the staff, locking the restrooms, and shutting off the drinking fountains?

Or does it mean blocking any entrance roads with concrete K-rails?

Or does it mean hiring extra sheriff's deputies to patrol the parks and arrest anyone setting foot on state park land?

Or does it mean selling off all the land to Walmart, Pacific Lumber, and KBHomes?

Washington State has proposed "mothballing" 33 of our State parks, but it is my understanding that these parks would still be accessible by foot, meaning that the parking lots would be locked and so would the public restrooms, but the parks could still be used by the public. Not sure if this is the case with the California parks as well. I don't know how they would enforce keeping people out since all the staff that work the parks would be either reassigned or let go.

[Veronica]

So you are saying she had not served her full time yet. Isn't parole an early release?

What happens to people who have already committed a crime if the have no job? What is the recidivism rate for jobless former criminals?

Veronica

[Biciclista]

you're right. parole means early release. but when you're 85 and a first time offender and you get turned down twice for parole, you die.

[Veronica]

Mimi I agree that what happened with your family is tragic. But as times get tight I would rather see our police, firefighters, child healthcare, etc. get funded than my state parks.

Tough choices are going to be made about government services in the future. If we don't like the choices, maybe we need to up our taxes. You cannot always have all the desserts on the tray.

Veronica

[Biciclista]

Well, of course. but in your state a lot of important stuff, like Child healthcare is also going to get cut.

And hopefully most states do not have such a powerful referendum system that enables a majority to be wooed by special interest groups (like the Mormon church) to nullify something they just voted in a couple of years before.
The majority of voters in CA clearly do not vote rationally, at least that's what it looks to outsiders like me (for example the governor debacle)

[jobob]

Um, thanks.

- Jo, California resident.

[Biciclista]

PS even if I was so inclined, and I'm not a crook, there's no way I would ever run for public office. I've seen how quickly the honeymoons turn into a lynching. Jobob, this is not an affront to California voters, it's the process that the state is using. I know that here in Washington we'd have the exact same problem... and are tending to...:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[shootingstar]

Wow, closing most state parks in CA? How long would the closures be? A year?

during a time of economic recession when people tend to vacation closer to home, I dunno that's just not great.

I know we have 1-2 firefighters here on TE so hopefully they won't take great umbrage to my next comment:

You know among fire department management, particularily in big cities, for the fullt-time paid firefighters (not volunteer firefighters), there is discussion how a firefighter's time is used when they aren't responding to a fire alarm.

And they aren't all doing inhouse training, physical fitness, work related reading either. And not all of them are out there doing fire prevention education to kids, teens, etc. during non-emergency response times either.

Presumably funds would be more for brush/forest fire control/suppression work that is necessary when incidents happen in California.

[Grog]

Here in British "California" government campsites (in provincial parks) are expected to do very well this year because of the number of people who will be taking their vacation time locally instead of going away.

I am quite concerned by what's going on south of the border in general. And I'm very happy to be paying the level of taxes that I do. In fact, now living in one of the provinces with the lowest taxation rate in the country (while I used to live in a province with one of the highest tax rate), I see how I'm also getting much less services and value from the provincial government, and have to pay more at the end of the day. I will admit that I'd rather take a tax hike......

(For those who don't know, British California is actually British Columbia, Canada!)

[crazycanuck]

Someone please explain to me how they close access to a park? Are you referring to a nature reserve or soemthing like that? I'm trying to think of similar places in Western Australia and am coming up with blanks..

I have no clue how it works in California but how do they close a beach? All the beaches in WA aren't locked at night. The toilets are though!

I'm confused...

[Tuckervill]

We have state parks here that are entirely fenced. You have to walk through the woods to see the fence, but they're fenced. It would just be easier to climb over the gate across the access road.

I imagine--I can only imagine because I've never been to Australia--that we're not talking about parks that take up an entire ecosystem, like some of the national parks you must have in Australia. (We have Yellowstone and Yosemite which aren't fenced.)

Back to climbing over the gate. Many of our state parks (Arkansas) are pretty big and remote, and if you drove your car to the gate, you'd still have a pretty good hike to get down to the river or lake or whatever the park is centered near. I have to say that Arkansas does a pretty good job with state parks. None of them charge admission, but some of them have been mothballed during times of economic downturn, to be reopened later.

Karen

[Trek420]

You know among fire department management, particularily in big cities, for the fullt-time paid firefighters (not volunteer firefighters), there is discussion how a firefighter's time is used when they aren't responding to a fire alarm.

And they aren't all doing inhouse training, physical fitness, work related reading either. And not all of them are out there doing fire prevention education to kids, teens, etc. during non-emergency response times either.

Personally I have no problem with what firefighters do on their downtime: train, play checkers, collect toys for tots, cook chili .... I just want them HERE when there's a fire.

And in many urban areas firefighters are the available healthcare. :(

Meanwhile since the saying here is California, earthquakes, floods, fires ... here's information about volunteering:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=886

[sgtiger]

That's really sad. Having spent my childhood years in the San Jose/ Santa Clara area, we used go to the beautiful parks and beaches there often. I have very fond memories of the area and I think it's terrible that others may not be able to enjoy them. But I have no answers either. :(

As for finding volunteers, it may be possible. The Oregon States Parks Dept. has a program that lets people camp out in a park for the season. The volunteers are responsible for basic things like cleaning toilets, picking-up rubbish, reminding park users about the park regulations, etc. They can call in the park rangers or police if there are more serious issues. It's popular with retirees and people who for whatever reason do not work that time of year.

CC - They post signs and ticket violators, but it's impossible to keep people away entirely.

[shootingstar]

Don't know if there is a volunteer program for our provincial parks.. we do have many parks some of which are amazingly beautiful. Not all have same facilties.

I worked not far from a provincial park..near the base of a mountain nearby. Maybe one day we'll get there..amongst so many other natural places to see within a 100 kms. radius from home. Going to a local 'park' in Greater Vancouver area is not necessarily same experience as going to a local park in any southern Ontario city. Here, in some 'local' parks you need real hiking boots.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/golden_ears/

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/fees/fees.html#campsitefee

Then some municipal parks can be natural gems in our area. One of our famed parks, Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver, was partially shut down for several months due to danger of fallen old growth trees plus retaining wall damage by the ocean due to a windstorm. It caused a real awareness in terms of "open access" to enjoy the park when (municipal) govn't had to shut off road, walking and cycling access. Made national news. Made us locals realize not to take what we have at home for granted.