Plan to Save Our State Parks

[fisheater]

I received this email from the California State Parks Foundation:

"In the coming months, there will be many ways you can help us save state parks. Right now, we're organizing volunteers to gather signatures to help qualify the State Park Access Pass for the November 2010 ballot. Yesterday, along with several other environmental partners, we took the first step of filing potential ballot language, the "California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010." Not only are park supporters the most passionate voices on this issue, but using volunteers will be a great cost-savings for the campaign.


"Since early 2008 we've tried to work with the Legislature and Governor to Save Our State Parks. Although we staved off the closure of 80% of the system (proposed by the Governor), and elimination of all core state funding for state parks (also proposed by the Gov), it's clear that the powers that be in Sacramento aren't riding to the rescue.

"We're done trying to convince them. We're taking our case to the people. CSPF is actively working to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010 and we need your help. We will be working hard this Fall and Winter to gather public support.

"You've demonstrated your support for state parks over the last year, can you help take it one step further and help us gather signatures in your community? If you're willing to commit to helping put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot, please join our team and find out more on our website.

"Thank you again for all of your support! 

Elizabeth Goldstein
President"

The plan is to have a $18 fee added to our annual DMV automobile registration.  It would provide the funding that the parks need and all Californians would get FREE access to our parks.   

For more information, click here.http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/

 

[VladC]

I got this too. This is bad idea, taxing every car is a very socialistic approach and will not fix a park system long term financial situation.

Vlad

 

[Jim Ernst]

I am willing to Help in anyway I can!!!

 

[VladC]

By having other people subsidize our park use fees?
Right now annual pass is $125: Pass Descriptions

Vlad

 

[FishDiver]

I have an ignorant question. What happens if the state just leaves the park gates open, collects no fees, and provides no services? Is the implication that users will destroy the parks?

 

[Divenomad]

Yeah, pretty much. If you look at various public spaces that got left unattended by the powers that be due to budget cuts, they got trashed. Illegal pot farms, needles, trash and broken glass, homeless encampments,graffiti and depending on where it was, rising rates of thefts and violent crime.

I would like to think that people would have a greater respect for public spaces simply because that have basic respect for other people, and theses spaces are few, less common than they ought to be, and they belong to all of us.

Unfortunately, experience tends to show that some people will not respect what they don't pay for.

Long ago, we faced this in a park in NY state. Everyone complained and bitched and moaned about it, so I tried to do something in the face of the inevitable. I spent about two months of 80 hour weeks organizing a sort of citizen brigade. we'd go in and clean and roam around keeping an eye on things, basically keep the place running at minimum levels. Everyone was enthusiatic about, thought it was a great idea.

Until the first day. And every other day after. When I was the only one to show up to actually do something.Not a single scheduled person showed up.Everyone had fine excuses, but they simply though someone else would do it, there was so much paper enthusiasm.My single effort into community organizing.

Nomad

 

[blewgrass]

By having other people subsidize our park use fees?
Right now annual pass is $125: Pass Descriptions

Vlad

YES! Any way to keep the parks open is great. Nice to have some leadership in the parks foundation!!! Bravo! There's a lot of Park Rangers and State Parks Staff with long faces these days. Their management is making one train wreck decision after another.

Example: Popular parks are closing all their campgrounds other than those reserved beforehand on Reserve America. This comes on a weekend that promises sellout crowds on the coast. What gives...??? That is giving away revenue!

I would gladly pay the increase in DMV fees. Put something on the ballot and the voters will step forward. We need our parks!!

I bought the $125 pass too

 

[Jim Ernst]

Yeah, pretty much. If you look at various public spaces that got left unattended by the powers that be due to budget cuts, they got trashed. Illegal pot farms, needles, trash and broken glass, homeless encampments,graffiti and depending on where it was, rising rates of thefts and violent crime.

I would like to think that people would have a greater respect for public spaces simply because that have basic respect for other people, and theses spaces are few, less common than they ought to be, and they belong to all of us.

Unfortunately, experience tends to show that some people will not respect what they don't pay for.

Long ago, we faced this in a park in NY state. Everyone complained and bitched and moaned about it, so I tried to do something in the face of the inevitable. I spent about two months of 80 hour weeks organizing a sort of citizen brigade. we'd go in and clean and roam around keeping an eye on things, basically keep the place running at minimum levels. Everyone was enthusiatic about, thought it was a great idea.

Until the first day. And every other day after. When I was the only one to show up to actually do something.Not a single scheduled person showed up.Everyone had fine excuses, but they simply though someone else would do it, there was so much paper enthusiasm.My single effort into community organizing.

Nomad

Ya..... That is A very Sad reality, Can we Nor-Cal people imagine Point Lobos in six Months from now with No Rangers and No enforcement of The rules ..... Everything would be destroyed, and it would become A homeless camp.... IMO!!

 

[mikemill]

Homeless camp of DIR divers?

 

[fisheater]

No. The plan is that when they don't have the money for rangers, THEY CLOSE ACCESS. It's already happening on the North Coast. Next year's budget plan is for more and deeper funding cuts. That means MORE closures.