Closing of Calf State parks
Well if the great Governor has his way . The state parks will be almost gone. Funny it is one of the only things that really brings in revenue and creates tax dollors . Both with the fee to get in and the tourist, sports industries ect....$$$ .Many towns and cities depend on the parks which brings in sale$ tax..etc..
Why don't they just do a straight a cross cut and let each department deal with it..?
DWBHAPPY
This to me sounds like a scare tactic.. although they might be brazen enough to follow through with it, who knows..
The worst part, of course, is that it means an even bigger decrease in future state revenue which means they will have to cut even more services to avoid the shortfalls.
Obama won't bail out Calyfornia because we have a Republican governor.
I sometimes wonder how much more prosporous California would be if it left the Union. I mean, don't we pay out a lot more than we get back here in CA? Federal tax wise? I head this before, I guess I should look before I speak.
If we left the union then Californians wouldn't have to pay for unfunded BS Federal mandates. We could shut the border and tell immigrants to all go to Hell.
Bush was hostile towards California because he knew that if he came to California and sucked everybodies d-- that he'd still lose here because California is ALWAYS democrat NO MATTER WHAT. Obama just ignores California and takes us for granted because he knows that he could order an airstrike on San Francisco and still win in this state because it is inconcievable for California to go Republican.
Shutting down all those stupid parks will mean fewer tourists in a State that depends on tourism. It will be good for surfers though because who needs a bunch of state employee's regulating? Just park it off in the boonies, walk in, and surf. So for die hard surfers- it's OK. Camp under the over pass with your knife.
California no longer leads. It isn't the Bellweather state anymore. It has become a big urban welfare operation. Businesses leave this state- they dont come here- they leave- because the business climate sucks and the people are a bunch of assholes.
I like it here because I love a good apocalypse. When I get tired of the freak show I go drill.
Crap, here's the list.....
List of the 220 State Parks to be closed.
Leo Carrillo SP
Los Angeles SHP
Los Encinos SHP
Malibu Creek SP
Malibu Lagoon SB
Pio Pico SHP
Point Mugu SP
Rio de Los Angeles SP
Robert H. Meyer Memorial SB
Santa Susana Pass SHP
Topanga SP
Verdugo Mountains
Will Rogers SHP
California State Capitol Museum
Governor's Mansion SHP
Leland Stanford Mansion SHP
Railtown 1897 SHP
State Indian Museum SHP
Sutter's Fort SHP
Bethany Reservoir SRA
Calaveras Big Trees SP
California Mining & Mineral Museum
Caswell Memorial SP
Columbia SHP
George J. Hatfield SRA
Great Valley Grasslands SP
Indian Grinding Rock SHP
McConnell SRA
Carpinteria SB
Chumash Painted Cave SHP
El Capitan SB
Emma Wood SB
Gaviota SP
La Purisima Mission SHP
McGrath SB
Point Sal SB
Refugio SB
San Buenaventura SB
Anza-Borrego Desert SP
Cuyamaca Rancho SP
Indio Hills Palms
Palomar Mountain SP
Picacho SRA
Salton Sea SRA
Annadel SP
Bale Grist Mill SHP
Benicia Capitol SHP
Benicia SRA
Bothe-Napa Valley SP
Candlestick Point SRA
East Shore SP State Shoreline
Jack London SHP
John Marsh Home SHP
Mount Diablo SP
Petaluma Adobe SHP
Robert Louis Stevenson SP
Sonoma SHP
Sugarloaf Ridge SP
Brannan Island SRA
Delta Meadows
Folsom Powerhouse SHP
Franks Tract SRA
Marshall Gold Discovery SHP
Stone Lake
California Citrus SHP
Chino Hills SP
Mount San Jacinto SP
San Timoteo Canyon
Wildwood Canyon
Angel Island SP
China Camp SP
Mount Tamalpais SP
Olompali SHP
Samuel P. Taylor SP
Tomales Bay SP
Caspar Headlands SB
Caspar Headlands SNR
Greenwood SB
Hendy Woods SP
Jug Handle SNR
MacKerricher SP
Mailliard Redwoods SNR
Manchester SP
Mendocino Headlands SP
Montgomery Woods SNR
Navarro River Redwoods SP
Point Cabrillo Light Station
Russian Gulch SP
Schooner Gulch SB
Van Damme SP
Westport-Union Landing SB
Andrew Molera SP
Carmel River SB
Fort Ord Dunes SP
Fremont Peak SP
Garrapata SP
Hatton Canyon
Henry W. Coe SP
John Little SNR
Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Marina SB
Monterey SB
Monterey SHP
Moss Landing SB
Pfeiffer Big Sur SP
Point Lobos Ranch
Point Lobos SNR
Point Sur SHP
Salinas River SB
San Juan Bautista SHP
Zmudowski SB
Admiral William Standley SRA
Azalea SNR
Benbow Lake SRA
Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP
Fort Humboldt SHP
Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP
Harry A. Merlo SRA
Humboldt Lagoons SP
Humboldt Redwoods SP
Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP
John B. Dewitt Redwoods SNR
Little River SB
Patrick's Point SP
Pelican SB
Prairie Creek Redwoods SP
Reynolds WC
Richardson Grove SP
Sinkyone Wilderness SP
Smithe Redwoods SNR
Standish-Hickey SRA
Tolowa Dunes SP
Trinidad SB
Ahjumawi Lava Springs SP
Anderson Marsh SHP
Bidwell Mansion SHP
Bidwell-Sacramento River SP
Castle Crags SP
Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP
Shasta SHP
Weaverville Joss House SHP
William B. Ide Adobe SHP
Woodson Bridge SRA
Pismo SB
Armstrong Redwoods SNR
Austin Creek SRA
Fort Ross SHP
Kruse Rhododendron SNR
Salt Point SP
Sonoma Coast SP
Border Field SP
Carlsbad SB
San Pasqual Battlefield SHP
Silver Strand SB
Torrey Pines SB
Torrey Pines SNR
Estero Bluffs SP
Hearst San Simeon SP
Limekiln SP
Los Osos Oaks SNR
Montaña de Oro SP
Morro Bay SP
Morro Strand SB
William Randolph Hearst Memorial SB
Año Nuevo SNR
Año Nuevo SP
Bean Hollow SB
Big Basin Redwoods SP
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
Butano SP
Castle Rock SP
Castro Adobe (Rancho San Andres)
Gray Whale Cove SB
Half Moon Bay SB
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP
Lighthouse Field SB
Manresa SB
Montara SB
Natural Bridges SB
New Brighton SB
Pescadero SB
Point Montara Light Station
Pomponio SB
Portola Redwoods SP
San Gregorio SB
Santa Cruz Mission SHP
Seacliff SB
Sunset SB
The Forest of Nisene Marks SP
Thornton SB
Twin Lakes SB
Wilder Ranch SP
Bodie SHP
Burton Creek SP
D. L. Bliss SP
Donner Memorial SP
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point SP
Emerald Bay SP
Empire Mine SHP
Grover Hot Springs SP
Kings Beach SRA
Lake Valley SRA
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Mono Lake Tufa SNR
Plumas-Eureka SP
South Yuba River SP
Tahoe SRA
Ward Creek
Washoe Meadows SP
Antelope Valley CA Poppy Reserve (SNR)
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland SP
Colonel Allensworth SHP
Fort Tejon SHP
Providence Mountains SRA
Red Rock Canyon SP
Saddleback Butte SP
Tomo-Kahni SHP
Tule Elk SNR
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1281336487#/group.php?gid=87755529685&ref=nf
Lol... I thought it said "Stinkyone Wilderness SP" and laughed out loud. 
So... what... ? Do these places just shut down? Close their gate and hang a "no trespassing" sign out front? Are the campspots now just up for grabs? Will they become privatly managed? If they stop manageing these places, are they going to lock the restrooms or bulldoze them over? Since Reserve America takes reservations for six months out, ff you have reservations for a campsite is the state going to refund the $40? What's going on? When is this happening? I'm freaking out man. 
I enjoy camping too much with my family and friends. I don't mind if there are no services, I just want to make sure that there are still some places to go.
They lock the gates and let the weeds grow. If you want to camp, bring bolt cutters.
Go live at Leo Carillo with all the other homeless.
We must stop the Governor's plan to close over 200 of our state parks. Just this week, the Governor announced a new proposal to eliminate state funding for our state park system – which will close more than 80% of the 279-unit state park system. His proposal to cut $143 million from our state parks is 10 times worse than last year's proposal. CSPF is kicking off the Save Our State Parks campaign again, and we need your help to take action TODAY and tell the Governor and your state legislators that gutting funding to state parks is unacceptable.
State park advocates need to make their voices heard RIGHT NOW. Your contact to your legislators is critical.
State park advocates need to make their voices heard RIGHT NOW. Your contact to your legislators is critical.
As of June 3rd we have had over 30,000 people send over 87,000 letters to Sacramento!
Please take action below and tell your legislators to reject the proposal and save our state parks.
Your letter will be sent to your legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger
*If State Senator Hollingsworth is your representative, please call his Capitol office at 916-651-4036 or his district office at 951-676-1020 - No fax will be sent.
http://ga3.org/campaign/budget_may09
Talking Points
Beginning July 1st, the Governor will cut the parks core funding in half and then eliminate all core funding in twelve months. Without this money, there will be no choice but to close the majority of our park system.Even if you are not planning to visit a park soon, the governor's short-sighted proposal will impact you and every California resident. It is the very definition of "penny-wise, pound foolish". Consider the facts:
FACT: The General Fund budget that state parks receive accounts for less than 1/10 of one percent of the entire state budget.
FACT: Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to state parks – and all indications are that this year was going to be even higher.
FACT: For every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state's General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks.
That means eliminating all funding for state parks could actually result in the state losing over $350 million dollars in revenue.
For the financial well-being of our state, we must oppose this reckless plan. I have had the displeasure of notifying you of threats to our parks in the past. But this is the worst threat to park system in its 150 year history.
Closing parks will have a ripple effect that will cause further economic turmoil in towns across the state already reeling from bad economic decisions made in Sacramento. Closing state parks not only loses potential revenue within the park, but will cause losses to the local economies in communities that surround the state parks as well.
To stop this short-sighted plan, we need to show the strength of our 100,000 members, so we need you to take the following two actions?before it is too late.
Last year, when the Governor proposed his first ill-conceived plan to close 48 state parks, it was only because of the public outrage that our parks remained open.
Our members came out in force and descended upon our state capital with over 50,000 petitions of outrage.
This year his plan is even more drastic. So we must once again show the Governor that we will not stand idly by while he makes bad decisions that will impact our families and our state's fiscal stability.
And during these horrible economic times when more and more residents are relying upon our state parks as low-cost alternatives to expensive vacation plans, this is the worst time to enact such a short-sighted plan.
We need you today to sign the enclosed petitions and send them back immediately, along with the most generous emergency contribution today, to save our state parks - before it is too late.
Thank you in advance for once again coming to the rescue of our parks.
Go live at Leo Carillo with all the other homeless.
-feedbag
Actually, I usually check the surf at daylight and I see homeless people walking into the back entrance gate with their gear for their morning wash all the time. Towel in hand.
At least they are bathing.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. May 29, 2009 - Last evening, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) received the list of state parks that will be closed if Governor Schwarzenegger's plan to eliminate General Fund support for the state park system is approved. A total of 220 state parks are proposed for closure.
"No part of California was spared," declared Elizabeth Goldstein, President of the California State Parks Foundation. "Entire regions of the state will see all of their nearby state parks closed and virtually every kind of park is on the chopping block-from redwood parks on California's north coast, to the deserts in the Inland Empire, coastal beaches on the Central Coast to wooded campgrounds along Lake Tahoe in the Sierra. These closures will affect almost every California resident. Anyone looking at this list will be astounded by the magnitude of what is being proposed."
Only 59 parks are proposed to remain open, largely based on the presence of special funding, or because a park has an agreement with local governments for its operations.
"It is a sad day, indeed, when California's first state park-Big Basin Redwoods State Park-is proposed to be shuttered in the name of short-term and modest economic savings," said Goldstein. "The very reason that state park and the 219 others on the closure list were set aside was to preserve, protect and provide public access to some of California's wonders and history. These parks are the very definition of our environmental legacy and the products of charitable contributions, public-private partnerships and countless volunteer hours that have, for almost 100 years, leveraged the public funding that supports them."
"The closure list shows, in a stark way, how devastating a proposal it is to eliminate state funding for the park system," said Goldstein. "It simply cannot be done without inflicting maximum pain on the public, local businesses, the tourism sector, and our environment, for what ultimately amounts to less than 0.62 percent of the funding needed to shore up the state's budget deficit. Not only will Californians lose access to a public trust resource that is theirs, but California's travel and tourism industry will be hit hard. Locally-owned bed and breakfast establishments, nearby restaurants, retail shops, tour operations and many more businesses that rely on parks for visitation and economic activity will be devastated. At a time when the state needs to encourage and retain economic activity, this proposal shuts the door to a vital part of our economy."
"The California State Parks Foundation, through our Save Our State Parks campaign, invites the public to join with us and organizations across the state as we fight this proposal. Now is the time to let our legislators know that shutting state parks and causing further economic impacts in our communities is unacceptable. More information and ways to get involved can be found at www.calparks.org."
About SOS
The Save Our State Parks (SOS) Campaign is a statewide, grassroots campaign to keep California's magnificent state parks open. In partnership with organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals around the state, the California State Parks Foundation is leading SOS Campaign activities and generating awareness and action about these unacceptable budget proposals. For more information visit www.savestateparks.org
About CSPF
With our 100,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) is the only statewide independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California's magnificent state parks. CSPF is committed to improving the quality of life for all Californians by expanding access to the natural beauty, rich culture and history, and recreational and educational opportunities offered by California's 279 state parks-the largest state park system in the United States. For more information about California's state parks, visit www.calparks.org.
Sac State study claims state parks pay for themselves
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=y1eosvt49891ow&xid=y1e14b6g2fh7yt&done=.y1eosvt498t1ow#
A team of researchers at Sacramento State University have released a new research numbers on Monday they say shows that the state parks system more than pays for itself by generating sales tax revenue.
In the face of a $24 billion budget deficit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting all $150 million in annual general fund money to the parks system. Under the administration's plan, 220 of the state's 279 parks would be closed for at least two years.
That could be a bad move, according to researchers at Sac State's Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration, which said that 75 million people visit California state parks annually. According to survey results taken from the fall of 2007 through this February, these visitors spend $4.3 billion in "park-related expenditures" each year. This money generates $300 million in sales tax revenue to state government. This includes $122 million in sales tax revenue each year generated by out of state visitors.
"You've got 80 percent of the state parks budget being picked up by non-Californians just in the generation of sales tax," said Dr. Anthony Sheppard, a professor in the Parks and Tourism Department.
Sheppard worked on the economic analysis portion of the study, which also involved five other professors and 33 students at three California State University campuses. It cost over half a million to produce, paid for by the California Parks and Recreation Department. All data was taken by in-person interviews with visitors at state parks. The full study will be released later this summer.
"I've never seen such high marks for a government service as I have on this study in terms of overall visitor satisfaction with state parks," said Dr. David Rolloff, the lead researcher on the study.
"You've got 80 percent of the state parks budget being picked up by non-Californians just in the generation of sales tax," said Dr. Anthony Sheppard, a professor in the Parks and Tourism Department.
Sheppard worked on the economic analysis portion of the study, which also involved five other professors and 33 students at three California State University campuses. It cost over half a million to produce, paid for by the California Parks and Recreation Department. All data was taken by in-person interviews with visitors at state parks. The full study will be released later this summer.
"I've never seen such high marks for a government service as I have on this study in terms of overall visitor satisfaction with state parks," said Dr. David Rolloff, the lead researcher on the study.
Lisa Page, a spokeswoman for the governor, defended the plan.
"To achieve the level of savings needed without borrowing or tax increases, there are so many places to look," Page said. "That has forced us to puts some cuts on the table that would have been unthinkable a few months ago."
Page noted that the 59 parks that are staying open have significant other sources of revenue, whether it is an agreement with local government of strong gate receipts that allow it to operate with little or no general revenue funds. She said that the administration is exploring public-private partnerships and other options that might allow additional parks to remain open.
When asked whether the cuts were likely to cause longer term damage to the economy and tax receipts, Page said "The Governor understands that there are very real consequences to these difficult cults. With a $24 billion deficit, there are no good options."
Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, a private non-profit that advocates for parks, said that public-private partnerships could only save some of the parks. She also expressed concerns about the idea.
"Public-private partnerships have been a hallmark of the California state parks system for its entire history," Goldstein said. "But what is referred to in the modern lexicon as ‘public-private' often means privatization."
She went on to call the closure plan "penny wise and pound foolish." Beyond the impacts to local economies, she said, shuttering the parks for two years, as called for in the plan, could create all sorts of other problems. Marijuana-growing, poaching and vandalism are already problems as state parks, and are certain to grow worse as supervision decreases. Many state parks also contain museums with valuable art, historic artifacts and other displays.
"They're going to lock the door, set the alarm and walk away for two years?" Goldstein asked. "It may cost us more money to reopen these places than it would have cost us to maintain them."
(Disclosure: Anthony Sheppard is the main contributor to The Capitol Weekly's movie column)
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Printed from the East Bay Express Web site: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/park_closings__real_or_political_tactic_/Content?oid=991028 |
Park Closings: Real or Political Tactic?The governor's proposal to close most of California's state parks would only put a small dent in the state's $24 billion budget problem.June 3, 2009
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's is proposing to close most of California's 279 state parks as part of a plan to solve the state's severe budget problems. But the proposal is already sparking an uproar, in part because it would only save California's general fund about $150 million at a time when the state is facing a $24 billion crisis. In other words, shutting down most of the state's parks, from towering redwoods forests to pristine beaches, will solve less than 1 percent of the problem. Which makes one wonder whether Schwarzenegger is serious about the idea, or if he's simply using it as a scare tactic in order to coerce both Democrats and Republicans back to the bargaining table. Closing state parks will be extremely unpopular, especially in a steep recession. Camping or spending a day at a beautiful state park is one of the few cheap and fun things that most people can still afford to do. It's also no secret that conservatives love the park system just as much as liberals. In fact, it's about the only thing in the budget that's apolitical, and so the threat of closing parks may be the best way to goad both sides into negotiating a new financial agreement. The question is whether the threat of closing the parks will convince conservatives to support tax increases necessary to help balance the budget. It's a tough call, since Republicans, including the governor, view the defeat of last month's budget measures as a repudiation of tax hikes. |
This is the best thing to happen to California State parks in like forever. No more clueless, inland fucks, littering all their used Cheeto bags and dirty diapers into every nook and cranny of every campground in the state. Fuck Reserve America
Stinkeye.. I get your beef with Reserve America, but youir giving inland kooks way too much credit. Have you attempted to get a campsite at a campground that was booked solid? It's usually pretty easy because while Reserve America makes it easy enough for anybody to reserve a campspot you would be suprised by the amount of times they fail to make it to the actual campground. Give it a shot.
Now, you are also talking about campsite in that are big with the beach scene and have flocks of tourist from the Inland Empire creeping in to your surf spot (which only really happens in the summer). You are really forgetting about places that are around Big Sur or the Redwoods, where there are no inland fucks leaving their empty bags of cheetoes lying around. Just incredibly nice places to camp with your family and get away for a few days. Your also thinking like somebody who only camps during the summer. I camp year round, I love camping during the middle of the winter. Campsites are empty on the weekends, the waves are better, and it's not fire season so you can make a nice big campfire to warm you up. I LOVE camping during the winter.
You also realizes that when these parks get shut down, local economies that depend on the tourism becomes effected, which means they have less state tax to pay, less people to employ, etc. This will cost our state additional job losses and an even greater deficit in our state income.
It's just so short sighted it's incredible.
Parks will come back with the economy..........I would rather they cut recreational services then necessary services (which are taking cuts to). People act like this is perm. problem but worst case scenario is you have to stay in a hotel room when you travel for the next 9-18 months till the recession is over. If you can't afford a hotel room then don't travel. If you can, enjoy the fact that it will be less crowded then if times were good.
Better then firing your trash man, or firing some more teachers so peoples kids are in classrooms with 60 other kids piled in like cattle.
Is what it is............
No. You're wrong. You didn't read the facts above man. read how much income is lost to the state if they did this. You are forgetting about the amount of sales tax that is generated by campgrounds. When we go down to San Elijo, don't we stop and buy beer, firewood, etc? Well, that generated local sales tax which generates the cash needed for local emergency services such as poice, fire, etc. So, it's actually causing a decrease in local services because of the lost revenue stream from the loss of tourism.
Don't forget man, in Southern California there are a lot of towns that survive from tourism. This means that these towns will lose major revenue, which once again, weakens our state tax base. Which means less police, fire, etc.
By the way... you pay for your trash pick up, man. It's a privetly ran company.
the loss of tourism.
-mofo
is that really such a bad thing in state that is WAY over crowded?
maybe we need to take this gamble to reduce the CA population? hopefully it'll help reduce the crowds in the lineups
Dude, it's not a good thing. No way to spin it that it's a good thing. What, is CA suppose to depend on industry for it's income? Pfft, we lost that awhile ago. Farming? Nope.
California depends on one major factor for it's tax dollars (besides taxing us peeps living here). That would be tourism.
I guess they could just always raise our tax rates, no need to have all those tourist cluttering up your way of life. I'm sure they are just constantly in your way. Like friggin rats, everywhere. Right?
I went into the john here at work to drop a duece and there were three of them in the corner, I had to shoo them out so I could relax in peace. Friggin tourists.
