Tag Archive for 'Arnold Schwarzenegger'

Parks Safe For Now

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 14, 2008
in Politics and State and Local Parks
. 1 Comment

In a highly expected and not-at-all surprising announcement this week, Governor Schwarzenegger said he would NOT close 48 State Parks, shortfund schools, or release thousands of inmates from prison to balance the state’s budget.

Instead, he’s planning on borrowing money from investors that he hopes to pay back with future revenues from California’s lottery, which sounds like something you’d read in an email from the member of some royal Nigerian family.

Expect fees in some of the more popular parks to rise — but hey, at least you can still use them, right?

Via Two-Heel Drive.

Update on the California Park Closings

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 14, 2008
in Politics and State and Local Parks
. 0 Comments

For those fellow Californians who are tracking Gov. Schwarzenegger’s threatened closing of 48 state parks, the San Jose Mercury News has some updates and analysis of the issue.

The good news: If enacted, the parks likely wouldn’t close until 2009, and groups across the state are preparing counter-assaults on the proposal, pointing out it would only eliminate one tenth of one percent of California’s deficit, and that Arnold would become the first California Governor ever to close State Parks to balance a State Budget.

The bad news: Nobody thought the National Park Service would close the Grand Canyon and Washington Monuments during a 1995 budget crisis, but they did.

Either way, this is a very interesting political situation that I’ll be following closely. And, if it comes down to it, maybe some of us can spend some time volunteering in Topanga State Park to keep it open?

Via Two-Heel Drive.

48 State Parks to Close?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 10, 2008
in Politics and State and Local Parks
. 4 Comments

Today, Gov. Schwarzenegger released a list of the 48 State Parks, Recreation Areas, Reserves, and Beaches that he wants to close to help get California’s budget back in the black.

The list reaches across the entire state, and would close many well-trafficked areas — including our very own Will Rogers, Topanga Canyon, and (slightly non-local) San Jacinto State Parks. It’s not clear whether the trailheads themselves will be off-limits, or if it just means closing down the services and rangers, but either way — when the parks are on the chopping block, it’s time to make some noise.

Bob Coomber left a comment on Two-Heel Drive that rightly recommends raising a political ruckus by calling or emailing your state and federal representatives to let them know you want to keep California’s park system up and running. The Drive also has a link to a more in-depth story in the Mercury Press, which shows Arnold also wants to slash education budgets and release 22,000 prisoners.

Actually, now that I think about it, this has GOT to be a way to help pass Props 94 through 97 (warning! PDF!).

Schwarzenegger’s been all over my TV talking about all the extra money California would get from expanding Indian Casinos in Southern California — and now he proposes shutting down beloved parks, cutting school budgets, and letting prisoners return to the streets? Was there any political boogeyman he DIDN’T drudge up? Maybe he could cut funding to police and fire departments … or just close all the hospitals.

Man that makes me angry. Angry enough to write some letters.

Find out your representative and get their address, phone numbers, and emails here.