Arnold Schwarzenegger has dumped his plan to close 48 state parks. The Sacramento Bee reports: Backpedaling from his earlier plan, the Republican governor will not seek to close 48 state parks, ask for early release of 22,000 inmates or give…
Saving California’s state parks
The state of California threatens to close 48 state parks. These posts outline suggestions for keeping the parks open.
Silicon Valley columnist recommends ditching computer, taking walk in the park
by tom • February 15, 2008 • 3 Comments
Vindu Goel, whom I’ve hiked with quite a few times in the past couple years, uses his bully pulpit as Silicon Valley pundit to join the fight to save California parks. If lawmakers approve the closings, the next logical step…
California parks department’s defense of closing 48 parks
by tom • February 4, 2008 • 8 Comments
A PDF from California Department of Parks and Recreation outlines why the parks in question were targeted and points out a few telling details, such as: Elimination of public access at the 48 parks will result in a revenue loss…
California state parks budget crisis — in brief
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 3 Comments
This article from Capitol Weekly lays out the original proposal. Among the key facts: Budget cuts would save $13.3 million — about a dollar for every family in California. Closures would shut out an estimated 6.5 million of 79 million…
Saving California’s state parks — don’t leave it up to the politicians
by tom • February 3, 2008 • 0 Comments
Rick from Hike Half Dome sent along a note about a message making the rounds advising some general rabble-rousing and attention-grabbing and getting up in the grill of our political leadership. While I’m certainly not opposed to making politicians’ lives…
California state parks: more thoughts on keeping them open
by tom • January 16, 2008 • 4 Comments
Excellent suggestions have been pouring in (here’s the link to all comments on yesterday’s post), which has the salubrious effect of sparing me the trouble of having to think up good ideas of my own. So, thanks folks. A post…
What are we going to do to save our state parks?
by tom • January 15, 2008 • 9 Comments
That is, save our ability to hike in them? Is it enough to send pleadings to lawmakers or should we take more direct action? I’d like to hear other people’s suggestions before throwing any ideas of my own out into…
Anybody got $14.5 billion lying around?
by tom • January 11, 2008 • 8 Comments
That’s the difference between how much money California expects to rake in next year via taxation, fees and such, and how much it would like to spend. As mentioned yesterday, 48 state parks are on the governor’s chopping block. When…
Henry W. Coe State Park on Arnold’s chopping block
by tom • January 10, 2008 • 12 Comments
I don’t have all the details just yet, but I’ve learned that our beloved Henry Coe State Park is among the parks and beaches that would be closed under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget. Here’s the first draft of the budget…